Five cities have submitted their application files for the Winter Olympic Games by the deadline of Friday 14 March. The IOC Executive Board has until 9 July to select the successful candidate cities.

While safety concerns have exerted a major influence on recent hosting decisions, individuality will the critical factor for future host cities, IOC Executive Board member Prof. Dr. Ugur Erdener told HOST CITY.

The pool of applicants – Krakow, Oslo and Almaty, Lviv and Beijing – presents a strong emphasis on growth markets, with only one Western European city and none from America. This is particularly notable given that the 2022 Winter Olympic Games will be preceded by two editions in new territories.

“There was a very successful organisation in Sochi and everybody was very happy being there,” Erdener told HOST CITY. “It was one of the very best Olympic Games organised. The next Winter Games will be held in PyeongChang, and now we have potential candidates from Europe and Asia again.

“We will have to see their applicant files, their projects and some of their explanations and then we can have some ideas. At the moment we don’t have any idea of the projects details, budget et cetera.”

Under the new leadership of Dr Thomas Bach and his revitalised top table, the IOC is keen to uphold the value of its flagship events. “The Olympic Games is the top priority for the IOC and the Olympic Movement,” Erdener said.

However, this does not necessarily give an established, known host like Oslo an advantage. The IOC will always be interested in something new to promote.

“It should be a unique activity; it is very important that all Winter, Summer and Youth Olympic Games should be unique – this is very important for the IOC,” said Erdener. 

“We have to be more attractive, especially for TV – because TV is the most important factor for all kinds of sports facilities, especially for the Olympic Games.”

As President of the Turkish Olympic Committee, Erdener led Istanbul’s bid for the 2020 Olympic Games. “I congratulated my friends in the Tokyo team; it was a very fair competition and there was only one place for the winner for 2020.

“After having seen some delays in Rio 2016 project, probably some of our colleagues thought that a safe city would be better. As we all know, still there are some discussions about Rio project.”

IOC members will vote for the host city of the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games during the IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur on 31 July 2015.

Prof. Dr. Erdener is also president of the World Archery Federation and president of the Organising Committee for SportAccord Convention, which takes place in Belek, Turkey from 6-10 April.

For the full exclusive interview with Prof. Dr. Erdener, register for HOST CITY and make sure you get the next issue.

Countries interested in hosting a FIFA event are now spoilt for choice. FIFA has invited its 209 member associations to register their interest in the Women’s World Cup 2019, Club World Cups from 2015 to 2018, Beach Soccer World Cup 2017, U-17 Women’s World Cup 2018 and the U-20 Women’s World Cup 2018.

With women’s football growing in popularity in recent years, FIFA will be particularly hopeful of a large number of members applying to host the Women’s events. “The development of football for girls and women remains one of FIFA’s top priorities,” it said in a statement on Thursday.

FIFA said it would prefer the Women’s World Cup and U-20s World Cup events to be hosted in one country. “In principle, FIFA would prefer the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2018 to be hosted and organised by the same member association.”

The Women’s World Cup 2019 will involve 24 teams, while 16 teams will compete in the U-20 Women’s World Cup 2018. 

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup has grown significantly in stature and significance over the last few editions. Now with 24 teams, it enjoys the second-biggest profile of all FIFA’s flagship events,” FIFA said.

“The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is the second most important women’s FIFA event. The so-called ‘springboard for the stars’ tournament serves as a staging post towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup, not only for players but also for the hosts.” 

The Women’s World Cup 2010 in Germany holds the attendance record of 395,295 spectators, achieving an average global in-home audience per live match of 2.8 million. 

The bidding timeline for these women’s competitions requires the member associations that wish to host these events to submit a declaration of interest by 15 April 2014. The deadline for delivery of the hosting agreement together with all the signed bidding documents is 31 October 2014, with the final decision on the hosts currently scheduled to take place at the first FIFA Executive Committee meeting in 2015.

Club World Cups

After successful editions of the Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Morocco – which will also host the 2014 edition– FIFA has also opened the bidding processes for the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 editions. Two host nations will host the events for two years.

Member associations that are interested in hosting the event are invited to submit a declaration of interest by 30 March 2014. The complete set of bidding documents has to be provided by 25 August 2014 and the Executive Committee will select the host in September 2014.

Beach Soccer World Cup

2017 will mark the ninth edition of the biennial Beach Soccer World Cup. Sixteen teams will participate in the ten to 12 day final competition, which requires just one stadium. “The location of the venue should reflect the sun, sea and sand of the Copacabana beach, the birthplace of beach soccer,” said FIFA.

Member associations should declare their interest in the Beach Soccer World Cup by 15 April 2014 and submit their definitive bids, including all signed bidding and hosting documents, by 1 October 2014. The host will be appointed by the Executive Committee at its meeting in December 2014.

The International Rugby Board (IRB)’s elite international Rugby Sevens events have attracted an unprecedented level of interest from potential host nations. 

As the expression of interest deadline closed on February 28, 25 Unions formally confirmed their interest in hosting a round of the HSBC Sevens World Series from the 2015/16 season. Fourteen Unions are also interested in hosting the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2018.

The level of interest underlines the global appeal of the newest Olympic sport. IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “This unprecedented response truly reflects the enormous prestige and appeal of Rugby Sevens in the global sporting market place ahead of our Rio 2016 Olympic Games debut.

“The submission features a blend of interest from every continent and includes existing and emerging Rugby markets. It reaffirms Rugby Sevens as a young, exciting and thriving sport that is reaching out, engaging and inspiring new audiences around the world.

"International Rugby Sevens is truly competitive, showcasing great skill and speed to full, vibrant stadia and strong and ever-growing global broadcast audiences and that is why we believe that Rugby Sevens will be a great fit for the Olympic Games and also why the Olympic Games will be great for Rugby.

“We look forward to collaborating with each interested party as we look ahead to the next phase of the process.”

The deadline for tender submissions for Unions interested in hosting Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 need to submit tenders by 5 December 5 2014, with the IRB Council selecting the winning bid at its May 2015 meeting.

The deadline for formal tender submissions for hosting a Sevens World Series tournament is set for 27 June, 2014 and the 2015/16 Series hosts will be selected by IRB EXCO in October 2014.

The dual process follows a detailed strategic review of Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Sevens World Series hosting models and key overall considerations include growing hosting and participation opportunities for the 119 IRB Member Unions, tournament format, increasing Sevens-related global commercial model values, and for the series specifically, the number of events in the calendar. 

The full list of Unions that have expressed an interest to tender for IRB Sevens World Series 2015/16 is: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, USA, Wales. 

The list of Unions that have expressed an interest to tender for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 is: England, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, USA, Wales.

The bidding process for the 2023 Rugby World Cup has yet to be announced but several countries have already expressed an interest, with key figures in Ireland and Argentina speaking out on the subject over the course of the week. 

Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport said in an interview with Newstalk that hosting the World Cup would be an achievable target for Ireland, with “at least 50/50” chance of winning a bid.

“It’s probably the biggest thing that Ireland can do, as a small country. You could never really have the Olympics in Dublin; we wouldn’t be able to do the Euros, but we could do the Rugby World Cup.

“New Zealand, which has inferior infrastructure, fewer people and is further away from the big rugby markets did really well.”

Varadkar also stressed that an Irish Rugby World Cup would be a profitable one. “There is a cost of upgrading some of the stadiums… and you do have to pay the IRB a big fee to host it – somewhere in the region of EUR 120m. If we can get more people than came to New Zealand then we can bring in the region of EUR 200m in tax revenues.”

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has not yet set its fees and the bid process is not expected to be launched until later in the year. Nonetheless, countries are positioning themselves early to bid for the event. 

Argentina’s IRB Council Representative Agustin Pichot confirmed in December 2013 that his country would bid for the 2023 event. England player Paul Tait is another longstanding proponent of an Argentinian Rugby World Cup as a way of internationalising the sport.

“With growth comes progress and for international rugby this has seen an increased awareness outside of the traditional strongholds,” Tait wrote on his blog this week. “The landscape will continue to evolve and having Argentina host Rugby World Cup 2023 would contribute to this by directly rewarding excellence and encouraging progress.”

Recent editions of the Rugby World Cup have loosely alternated between Southern and Northern hemispheres. The 2023 edition will follow two northern editions: England 2015 and Japan 2019. 

Whether the IRB will consider a FIFA-style continental rotation policy remains to be seen. The Rugby World Cup is the IRB’s main breadwinner, accounting for more than 90 per cent of revenues. 

And with the IRB investing more than £330m worldwide between 2009 and 2016, a solid financial return from the World Cup will be seen as a major priority to enable the development of the sport internationally – wherever the event is hosted.

Other nations interested in hosting the 2023 World Cup include South Africa, France, Australia and Italy. 

"Enormous prestige"

Speaking to HOST CITY from the IRB’s Dublin headquarters, head of communications Dominic Rumbles said “We are delighted that there is such a strong level of initial interest in hosting Rugby World Cup 2023.”

“To see such interest before the tender process has been launched further underscores the enormous prestige of the Rugby World Cup brand in the global marketplace.”

Explaining why there is such interest, he said: “Increasingly, governments and local agencies are seeing the event as a strong economic, trade, tourism, profile and feel-good platform and a means to inspire young people to get active, which is great.”

This view is backed up by Varadkar. “The most important thing from a government point of view is participation,” he said.

“More people are participating in sport than in the past – it’s around 47 per cent now, which is a big improvement. There are health benefits, psychological benefits and there are social benefits, and that’s why governments get involved in sports.”

Speaking to delegates at a Bandon Rugby Football Club event on Thursday, MEP Sean Kelly said a Rugby World Cup bid is “an opportunity for Ireland and we should do all we can to seize it.

“It could be a hugely historical all-island event, with massive economic and tourism benefits.”

The former president of the Gaelic Athletic Association emphasised the strength of the country’s infrastructure – a key consideration in evaluating bids for major sports events. 

“Ireland has excellent sporting facilities and proven ability to successfully host major sporting events, such as the Special Olympics,” said Kelly. 

“Ireland could easily accommodate the 377,000 or more visitors that the Rugby World Cup would bring to the country.”

The International Olympic Committee is reviewing its bidding procedure, with a renewed emphasis on the social, environmental and developmental goals of the bidding city and its country, Gilbert Felli confirmed on Thursday.

Speaking at the SportAccord Convention in Belek, the IOC’s Director of Olympic Games said: “The idea is that we want to shift the focus a little bit, in a way that we encourage potential candidate cities to tell us how they see the Olympic Games fitting best in their social environment, their long term development plans, with regard to sports and general infrastructure, to environmental protection – to get more diversity into the bidding procedure.”

Felli’s comments expand on the “Olympic Agenda 2020”, a key theme of which is to communicate the value of bidding for and hosting the Olympic Games.

The current two-phase procedure is being reviewed “to make sure the IOC does not ask too much too soon”. Concerns have been raised that too much information is requested at the applicant phase, deterring potential applicants. 

The reviewed process will also mean that information requested will be more focussed on the long term goals of the applicant, rather than on the event itself. “And in the end, to have it less a tender for a franchise and more an invitation to Olympic Games on the background of the culture and the perception of a sustainable development in the future host country,” said Felli.

Other proposals to broaden the appeal of bidding include reducing and controlling costs for bid cities, the possibility of joint bids from several cities in two or more countries, and reviewing the IOC’s requirements “to see how the Olympic Games could be awarded to cities in new territories and emerging economies”.

As a distance swimmer, Janet Evans broke seven world records and won five Olympic medals. But she is in a different kind of race now, as vice chair and director of athlete relations at LA24 – the bid committee for Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is one of four cities bidding for the 2024 Olympic Games, along with Budapest, Paris and Rome. How these cities interpret Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s “strategic roadmap for the Olympic movement”, will be crucial to their success.

Evans spoke with Host City at SportAccord Convention about how her city’s ambitions are aligned with those of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Use what you already have

A primary challenge for cities bidding for and hosting the Olympic Games is to have venues that are used an on-going basis in the city, while also being optimised for Games time. 

This is not only a logistical issue but also a financial and reputational one – so much so that the IOC, which holds the rights to the Olympic Games and brand, has placed venue sustainability at the heart of its strategy. 

The first of the 40 recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020 states “The IOC to actively promote the maximum use of existing facilities and the use of temporary and demountable venues.”

Evans says, “It’s interesting that 97 per cent of our venues will be built before 2024 irrespective of our bid. A lot of new venues are already going up for various sporting events within southern California. The only permanent venue we’d have to build would be a new kayak venue.”

The iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum served as the Olympic Stadium in 1932 and 1984 and would take centre stage again in 2024. Over the years the venue has hosted NFL, Major League Baseball, soccer and entertainment events in addition to regular sporting events staged by its owner, the University of Southern California (USC).

USC Athletics is funding a US$270m renovation of the Coliseum that is planned, Evans says, “irrespective of our bid”. These works are scheduled to take place between 2017 and 2019.

Another big conundrum for host cities is how to accommodate athletes during the Games. As with sports venues, possible solutions include building for legacy use, or using temporary or existing facilities. LA24 has opted for the latter, arranging for USC and the city’s other big university, UCLA, to accommodate athletes on its campus during the Games. 

“It’s a great place for athletes as there are a lot of training facilities,” says Evans. “A lot of our athletes in the US come through the university training system so we are very pleased with our choice of UCLA.”

Listen to the IFs

Another challenge faced by Olympic bidding and organising committees is to make sure their venue plans are in line with the priorities of the international federations (IFs) that govern Olympic sports. Many IFs have expressed frustration with the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (OCOG) for Rio 2016, with construction running behind schedule. 

Olympic Agenda 2020 sets out to avoid this happening in future by determining to “enhance the role of the IFs in the planning and delivery of the Olympic competitions, including the study of transferring technical responsibilities from the OCOGs to the IFs.”

Evans says having most of the venues already built enables LA24 to focus on engaging with IFs during the bidding phase; and events like Host City and SportAccord Convention give bidding cities the opportunity to do so.

“It’s wonderful to be here to listen and learn and understand what federations would like to see in a bid and help bring that into our bid and understand things,” says Evans.

Between January and April 2016, Evans and LA24’s sports director Doug Arnot met with all 28 Olympic IFs to ask them about their priorities for their sports. “It was a real listening and learning exercise, so we could go home and take that back to our team and say, here’s what this IF would really like to see.

“And another thing we feel is that if and when we win the Games, since our venues are built, we can spend seven years working not only on venues and upgrades but also on making the athlete experience great. So I think the sustainability of LA and the fact that our venues are built is really powerful.”

Athletes at the heart

Another key aim of Agenda 2020 is to “put the athletes’ experience at the heart of the Olympic Games”. This is the Evans’ main area of focus now –  “I know that’s what President Bach wants to see,” she says.

To achieve this, she is tapping into the US’s enviable network of Olympians and Paralympians – not just US natives but also Olympic alumni who have competed for other countries in the Games and now live in the US.

LA24 is running a road show of “Athlete Town Hall” meetings. “We want to ask for the input and advice of athletes. We felt there was no better way to receive that input than to speak to them in person.

“We are looking for opinions and advice and things that we can make better and things that were loved by the athletes.”

The first Athlete Town Hall meeting was in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area of south Florida in early April. LA24 is to conduct between 12 and 15 of these meetings over the course of 2016 in cities throughout the US.

“We see this as a national bid, not just a bid for the state of California or the city of Los Angeles. It’s a bid from our entire country to bring the summer Games back to the US for the first time since 1996.”

Culture and creativity

Another aim of Agenda 2020 is to achieve a “further blending of sports and culture”. Los Angeles is famed for its entertainment industry, but Evans says this is just one part of the mix. 

“I think Los Angeles is in a true renaissance. We have US$88bn of infrastructure going into our new transport system, in our airport; our city is changing everything – it’s vibrant and hip. We have this great accumulation of the entertainment world as well as technology and creativity.

“I believe if we have the honour of hosting the Games there are so many interesting things we could do to help promote sport and bring youth into the Games. Los Angeles is a mecca of creativity, of innovation, of change and I think that’s evident when you come to our city.”

Recent allegations and revelations of doping and bribery in some Olympic sports are a reputational threat to the Games. Asked what LA24 can do to safeguard against these threats, Evans says “I think there’s a lot of joy and positive things that are in this movement. That’s what we all believe in – I believe in the Olympic movement and what it does for future generations and in what athletics can portray to the world. 

“We want to bring the positive – I want to find out what the athletes can bring to other people. I want everyone to experience the Olympics for what they really are, which is what I see as the Olympics, which is this great celebration of humanity, peace and friendship and continuity.

“So I think that’s what we need to remember: the Olympics are an incredible movement and I’m just proud to be a small part of it.”

[Source: British Athletics] Working in partnership with Glasgow Life, VisitScotland and Athletic Ventures, UKA is delighted to bring the Championships to Glasgow for the first time. It will be 24 years after the event was last staged in the UK, when the 10th edition took place at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh in 2003. 
Given Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s historic success at the European Cross Country Championships, topping the medal table across three decades with 201 medals, including 81 gold, competing on home soil will be a major highlight for British athletes aiming for podium finishes. 
The 2027 Championships will take place in the iconic Bellahouston Park, renowned for hosting major concerts during Glasgow Summer Sessions, Papal visits, and the 1978 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. 
This bid win comes at an exciting time for UK Athletics, with the Novuna GB & NI team achieving their highest-ever medal table finish at the recent World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, securing four gold medals.  
With a packed summer ahead, including Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the UK hosting the European Athletics Championships for the first time in Birmingham, UKA is proud to continue showcasing the nation’s strong track record in delivering world-class international athletics events. 
Jack Buckner, UK Athletics CEO on behalf of Athletic Ventures said: “We are delighted for Glasgow to be awarded as hosts for the European Cross Country Championships in 2027. Cross country is at the heart of athletics in the UK with many of our top runners beginning their journey on the muddy routes, making this an incredibly special competition to be hosting. We have a rich history of top performances from a Novuna GB & NI team perspective, so bringing this event back to the UK where it first began will be one not to be missed! 
This competition will come after an already exciting time for athletics in the UK, hosting the European Athletics Championships this August and we want to thank European Athletics for continuing to entrust us with hosting their events, 
We know this championship will create an incredible atmosphere and showcasing why this country loves cross country and we cannot wait to get started.” 
Cherry Alexander, European Athletics Vice President said: “I am incredibly excited to bring this competition back to the UK, having worked on the inaugural event in Alnwick way back in 1994 it feels like a very special full circle. We know the UK, and specifically Scotland have a rich history with cross country and I am looking forward to seeing what Athletic Ventures, UK Athletics, Glasgow Life, and UK Sport create for Glasgow 2027.” 
Glasgow Life Head of Events, Julie Pearson, said: “We’re delighted Glasgow has been chosen to host, for the first time, the SPAR European Cross Country Championships and look forward to working with partners to stage this prestigious event in 2027. 
“Glasgow is renowned internationally as an expert, friendly host for world-class sporting events. Global athletics highlights that have demonstrated the city’s strong track record include the 1978 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, 1990 European Athletics Indoor Championships, 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2019 European Athletics Indoor Championships, and 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships. And the 2026 Commonwealth Games will further cement Glasgow’s reputation as a trusted destination for showcasing exceptional athletics. 
“Our city is committed to encouraging and inspiring participation in sport and physical activity to make a positive impact that benefits Glasgow and its communities – and leveraging the power of major sustainable and inclusive events is key to that. The SPAR Cross Country Championships offers a valuable opportunity to unite and enthuse competitors and spectators from near and far, so we can’t wait to welcome everyone to Bellahouston Park in the heart of Glasgow for the event’s 33rd iteration, and ensure its success.” 
Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Events at VisitScotland, said: “Glasgow is the perfect stage for hosting world-class sporting events and so it’s fantastic that the city has been chosen for the 33rd SPAR European Cross Country Championships in 2027. The decision is a testament to work carried out by partners to bring the event to Glasgow and adds to the growing roster of events coming to Scotland next year. 
“Events not only help boost the local visitor economy but play an important role in our communities, helping bring social and economic benefits to the areas where they are held. We look forward to the return of the Championships to Scotland.”

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord today confirmed that the SportAccord Convention will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 9-13 May 2027. Following the postponement of the 2026 edition, SportAccord and its partners in Azerbaijan have worked closely together to secure dates that will deliver the best possible experience for all participants. 
Baku, recently named World Capital of Sport, will provide an exceptional setting for what promises to be one of the most anticipated editions of the Convention in recent years, bringing together leaders from the International Olympic Committee, International Federations, host cities, rights holders, and the wider sports industry. 
SportAccord President Prof. Dr. Uğur Erdener said: "Baku holds a special significance for me, and I have no doubt it will deliver an extraordinary edition of our Convention. The commitment shown by our Azerbaijani partners throughout this process has been exceptional. This edition will also mark an important moment for SportAccord itself, as we continue to evolve our vision for what this Convention can and should be for the global sports movement." 
Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports, H.E. Farid Gayibov said: "Baku is ready. As World Capital of Sport, the city looks forward to welcoming the global sports community and delivering a Convention that reflects our ambition and our enduring partnership with SportAccord. We are confident that 9-13 May 2027 will mark a defining moment for the future of international sport." 
SportAccord is also continuing to build a strong programme of initiatives for the remainder of 2026, with further updates to follow in the coming weeks. With SportAccord in advanced discussions with several world-class cities regarding future editions of the Convention, the organisation expects to announce additional host locations for the coming years, reflecting a strong and exciting pipeline ahead.

Uzbekistan will host the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly on 26 January in Tashkent, with authorities using the occasion to outline recent developments in the country’s sporting structure and event-hosting capacity.

A statement released ahead of the Assembly pointed to a period of expanded international engagement, competitive results and infrastructure investment as evidence of the country’s growing role within regional and global sport. The statement said these efforts were part of a longer-term strategy aligned with national sports policy.

Competitive highlights include the national football team’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first in the country’s history, following success at regional level. The statement also cited Uzbekistan’s 13th-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, along with medal performances at youth and para-sport events during 2025.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, commenting during a visit to Tashkent in 2025, described Uzbekistan as “a football nation that is implementing large-scale projects,” and noted the opening of the National Football Center.

Infrastructure projects completed during the past year include Olympic City, a multi-venue sports complex opened in August 2025. The site has been designated as the main hub for the 4th Asian Youth Games scheduled for 2029.

Otabek Umarov, First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan and OCA Vice President for Central Asia, said recent outcomes reflected “the coordinated work of athletes, coaches, federations and specialists across the sports system.”

In addition to the upcoming OCA General Assembly, Uzbekistan has hosted several international sports meetings and competitions in recent years. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, following the FIA Annual General Assemblies in Tashkent in 2025, said the visit demonstrated “a clear focus on long-term development and youth.”

Looking ahead, Uzbek sports authorities confirmed that the 2026 calendar includes the World Triathlon Championship Series in Samarkand (25-26 April), the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand (15-28 September), and the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Tashkent (8-10 October).

[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.