The competition for the 2036 Summer Olympics has officially narrowed to seven countries, including South Korea. Discussions are ongoing regarding a joint bid between Jeonbuk and Seoul, but no hosting plans have been finalized.
On November 2, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that South Korea, India, Qatar, Germany, Hungary, South Africa, and Turkey are the seven nations expressing interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics. The IOC had accepted additional applications until October 31, but no new candidates emerged.
The Korea Sports Council selected Jeonju in Jeonbuk as the domestic candidate city last February. However, in September, the Jeonbuk provincial government proposed a joint hosting arrangement with Seoul to enhance its competitiveness. Last month, Jeonbuk and Seoul signed an agreement to utilize major sports facilities, including those in Jamsil, Sangam, and Jangchung.
Despite this, the Sports Council clarified in a letter sent to Seoul and Jeonbuk on October 22 that Jeonju remains the official candidate city, and any changes to the hosting plans would require a separate process beyond the agreement between the two local governments.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the relevant government department, postponed the review of Jeonbuk's Olympic hosting plans during the international sports competition evaluation committee meeting in September. The ministry plans to review the results once the discussions between Jeonbuk and Seoul are concluded.
According to the ministry, Minister Choi Hwi-young met with Lee Won-taek, the Governor of Jeonbuk, on the afternoon of November 3 at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul to discuss the 2036 Summer Olympics bid.
Minister Choi emphasized the need for both local governments to reach an agreement quickly, considering the IOC's timeline for selecting the host city. He also stated that once an agreement is reached between Jeonbuk and Seoul, the ministry and the Sports Council would support the necessary procedures to expedite the process.
The IOC has recently encouraged joint hosting to alleviate the burden on candidate cities. By partnering with cities that have existing infrastructure, such as stadiums, accommodations, and transportation, hosting costs can be reduced. South Korea aims to leverage the legacy of the 1988 Seoul Olympics as a strength in its joint hosting proposal.
However, the competition is fierce. Qatar (Doha), backed by oil wealth, India (Ahmedabad), with the largest population in the world, and South Africa (Cape Town), aiming to host the continent's first Summer Olympics, are all strong contenders. Germany (Munich), Hungary (Budapest), and Turkey (Istanbul) are also refining their hosting plans.
The seven countries will present their hosting proposals to the IOC Future Host Commission this month. The IOC Executive Board will narrow down the candidates in March, selecting some for strategic discussions. A preferred host city will be chosen by the end of 2028, with the final decision expected to be made through a vote at the IOC General Assembly in mid-2029.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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