The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that South Africa is vying to become the first African nation to host the summer Olympics in 2036. Alongside South Africa, Hungary, India, Qatar, and Turkey are also pursuing their first-time hosting opportunities, while Germany and South Korea are in discussions, having previously hosted the Games.

The IOC revealed that these seven countries are engaged in "continuous dialogue" with the governing body, with a submission deadline set for 31 October. Following this, virtual presentations will be conducted for the IOC's future host commission in November, leading to feasibility assessments by March 2027.

Key details of the bids include:

• South Africa proposes hosting across three cities: Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg.
• Ahmedabad in India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and has bid for the 2038 Asian Games.
• Budapest and Doha represent Hungary and Qatar, respectively, with Qatar having successfully hosted the 2022 World Cup.
• Istanbul is Turkey's nominated city, having previously bid unsuccessfully for the 2000, 2008, and 2020 Games.
• Germany looks to bid again after hosting in 1936 and 1972, while Seoul in South Korea aims to leverage its experience from the 1988 Games.

Additionally, the IOC noted that several national Olympic committees are exploring future hosting options beyond 2036. The UK government is in discussions to support potential bids for the 2040s Olympics and Paralympics. The 2028 Games are scheduled for Los Angeles, with Brisbane hosting in 2032, marking a 32-year gap since Australia last held the Olympics.