The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has unveiled seven countries as being in the running to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.
Representatives from India, Germany, Qatar, Hungary, Turkiye, South Africa, and South Korea are all now in preliminary discussions with the IOC.
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The next phase involves the drawing up of a shortlist next March, with countries on the shortlist then progressing to a more intensive strategic dialogue phase (brought in under the IOC's current president, Kirsty Coventry).
A preferred host or hosts – it is likely that more than one option will be named as a preferred host – will be named in 2028, while final confirmation of the IOC's decision is expected in mid-2029.
Out of the seven countries listed, only South Korea (Seoul) and Germany (Berlin and Munich) have staged the Summer Games.
South Africa is bidding to become the first African host nation for the Olympics, while Qatar is aiming to become the first Muslim-majority nation to do so.
Cape Town was the last South African city to bid for Olympic Games hosting rights, putting its name forward for the 2004 edition – that event was eventually awarded to Athens, Greece, through a vote in 1997.
Turkiye, meanwhile, has bid for five previous Olympic Games, while Hungary most recently put itself forward for the 2024 event, which took place in Paris instead.
In terms of recent major sporting event experience among the seven prospective hosts, three have staged the men's soccer World Cup in the last 20 years – Germany in 2006, South Africa in 2010, and Qatar four years ago.
India, meanwhile, is set to stage the men's Cricket World Cup in 2031, and also hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
Germany has put forward Munich as its host city option.
Coventry, elected IOC president early last year, commented: "Wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change – athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do. That is why, for every future host, delivering the best possible experience for the athletes must always be the starting point."
While other would-be host nations have until October 31 to come forward, this is extremely unlikely with less than four weeks before the deadline.
Los Angeles, USA, will put on the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, with Brisbane in Australia set to stage the Games in 2032.
