[Source: IOC] The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) Executive Board (EB) has invited Asunción Paraguay; Bangkok, Thailand; and Santiago, Chile into a Targeted Dialogue towards electing a host for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2030. All three are now considered Preferred Hosts.

KEY FACTS

• The International Olympic Committee has invited Asunción Paraguay; Bangkok, Thailand; and Santiago, Chile into a Targeted Dialogue towards electing a host for the Youth Olympic Games 2030.
• The IOC will now start more detailed discussions with the Preferred Hosts.
• The aim is to elect the host of YOG 2030 in 2026.

The IOC will now start more detailed discussions with the Preferred Hosts, led by their National Olympic Committees (NOCs), with the aim of electing the host in 2026 to give the future organising committee sufficient time to prepare the event.

The EB decision is based on a proposal by the IOC’s Working Group on the Youth Olympic Games chaired by the IOC Member in Slovakia, Danka Hrbeková. The Targeted Dialogue is subject to the Preferred Hosts accepting preliminary proposals to reform the YOG, related to the 2030 edition.

“We were deeply impressed by the potential of these three projects to deliver spectacular and sustainable Youth Olympic Games. All three can offer recent experience of hosting international events in multiple sports, 100% existing or temporary competition venues, full political support and a shared vision that the YOG can help to achieve a better and more active future for their country’s youth”, said Danka Hrbeková, IOC Member in Slovakia and Chair of the IOC’s YOG Working Group.

The YOG Working Group will continue to study the potential and relevance of future editions of the YOG to benefit young athletes and the entire sports movement, in consultation with stakeholders such as the International Federations (IFs), the NOCs and continental organisations, as part of the Fit for the Future review process.

“The strong interest in the 2030 edition from new regions of the world demonstrates the value that potential hosts see in the Youth Olympic Games,” said Hrbeková. “The YOG have offered tens of thousands of young athletes and volunteers a unique, global, multi-sports experience, helping to form the basis for their future careers. The YOG are also an important laboratory for innovation in Olympic sports events.”

All three projects are aligned with local and national long-term plans for development, sports, education and health, to deliver a wide range of socio-economic community benefits.

They were put forward for Targeted Dialogue based on their unique opportunities:

Asunción, Paraguay

• 100% existing or temporary competition venues, and expertise and capabilities developed during the delivery of the 2025 Junior Pan American Games
• A single cluster that would ensure festive celebrations of the YOG 
• Strong local and national government support, including a commitment to fund 95% of the YOGOC budget

Read the full IOC Feasibility Assessment for Asunción, Paraguay.

Bangkok, Thailand

• 100% existing or temporary infrastructure, including a university campus in Bangkok for the main Youth Olympic Village
• One urban and one beach cluster to ensure a memorable YOG for the athletes
• Strong support from the local and national government, with a commitment to fund 80% of the YOGOC budget

Read the full IOC Feasibility Assessment for Bangkok, Thailand.

Santiago, Chile

• 100% existing or temporary competition venues, and expertise and capabilities developed during the delivery of the 2023 Pan American Games
• One urban and one coastal cluster that would have distinct characters and ensure a good YOG experience for the athletes
• Strong local and national government support, including the commitment to fund 70% of the YOGOC budget plus any shortfall, and to guarantee the construction of the Youth Olympic Village

Read the full IOC Feasibility Assessment for Santiago, Chile.

The IOC feasibility assessments reflect information gathered during Continuous Dialogue through regular meetings and exchanges with the Interested Parties. In accordance with Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC consulted detailed information from independent third-party sources.

During Targeted Dialogue, the Preferred Hosts will be asked to submit a response to the IOC’s Future Host Questionnaire for Summer YOG, as well as a list of guarantees signed by the respective authorities.

At the end of the process, the EB will assess if one, two or three projects have met the requirements to be considered by IOC Members when they vote on the host of the 2030 YOG in mid-2026.

The next YOG will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from 31 October to 13 November 2026. This edition was postponed from 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last Summer YOG took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2018.

Find out more about hosting the YOG.