Who’ll follow Brisbane? Mexico withdraws from race to host 2036 Olympics
Mexico has dropped out of the race to host the 2036 Olympic Games citing the “tough competition”.
Gaby Lopez and Rommel Pacheco Marrufo, of Mexico, carry their country's flag during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Former Foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard and the country’s National Olympic Committee (COM) had in October 2022 announced Mexico’s intention to bid to host the Games for a second time.
Mexico had previously held the Olympics in 1968.
South Korea, India, Egypt and Qatar have also expressed an intention to bid for the 2036 Games, which will follow the Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 editions.
COM president Maria Jose Alcala said Mexico would now only consider launching a bid for the Youth Games.
“We had a talk with the International Olympic Committee and we saw that the competition is very tough,” Alcala told reporters at a sponsors’ event on Tuesday.
“We are turning around to see if we can have the bid for the Youth Olympic Games, which is where we would have a great chance.”
“It would be before the 2036 Games … We are in talks with the IOC.”
The 2026 edition of the Youth Olympic Games is scheduled to be held in Dakar, Senegal, with a host yet to be named for 2030 or beyond.
Alcala added that Mexico could also bid for the 2027 Pan American Games after the northern state of Nuevo Leon showed interest in hosting the event.
The Colombian city of Barranquilla was recently stripped of the hosting rights after failing to meet its contractual obligations.
