Poland adds its name to growing list of hopeful hosts for 2036 Olympics
Poland will bid to stage the summer Olympics in 2036, Polish President Andrzej Duda says, entering the ring with other hopefuls including Indonesia and Mexico.
epa10885544 Poland's President Andrzej Duda speaks during the second European Congress on Sports and Tourism in Zakopane, southern Poland, 27 September 2023. The congress is attended by activists, coaches, athletes and people from the world of media, business and politics. The Polish president announced the start of efforts to bring the Summer Olympics to Poland in 2036. EPA/Grzegorz Momot POLAND OUT
Poland, which hosted the multi-sports European Games this summer in Krakow and Malopolska, has never hosted an Olympic Games.
“I would like to announce, after consultations with the Polish Olympic Committee, with the Minister of Sport, and with the government, that our ambition and intention is to start efforts to organise the Summer Olympic Games in 2036,” Andrzej Duda told a news conference in Zakopane, southern Poland.
Mexico and Indonesia have officially expressed their interest while a bid from India looks all but inevitable. Turkey, Hungary and cities in the Gulf region could also join.
“Our Polish friends have already successfully demonstrated they have what it takes to organise big international sporting events of the highest quality,” said Hasan Arat, executive committee member at the European Olympic Committees (EOC).
The EOC is in charge of the European Games, an event held every four years with more than 7000 athletes competing in 26 sports over 12 days.
“From everything the EOC saw there, Poland is well qualified to host the Olympic Games too,” Arat said.
There is no open bidding process or official campaigning for the Olympics as was the case in the past, following rule changes by the IOC a few years ago.
Candidates now enter into private talks with the IOC before a recommendation of one city is made to the IOC session for a vote. The IOC usually awards the summer Olympics at least seven years in advance.
Paris will host next year’s summer Games while Los Angeles will stage the 2028 Games and Brisbane hosts the 2032 Games.
