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These five cities wanted to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, but they had second thoughts. How we got a “widespread Games” instead. Eight cities wanted to bid for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Seven submitted applications to host the Games. Four cities withdrew from the race before the final vote.

These five cities wanted to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, but they had second thoughts. How we got a "widespread Games" instead.

Almaty chosen to host 2029 Asian Winter Games after Saudi Arabia withdrew citing delays Reporting from Main Press Center in Milan, Italy - Almaty in Kazakhstan will host the 10th Asian Winter Games in 2029, awarded the massive event after Saudi Arabia and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) agreed to push The Kingdom's hosting of the event forward due to significant delays. Plans were for the Games to be staged at the yet-to-be-built Trojena ski resort in the new NEOM City The OCA announced a postponement of the Saudi Arabia plans last month but on Monday revealed that they had chosen Almaty as a replacement and Thursday held the signing ceremony of the Host City Contract in Milan ahead of the opening of the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.

Almaty chosen to host 2029 Asian Winter Games after Saudi Arabia withdrew citing delays

Italians offered no apologies at the Opening Ceremony of the ‘widespread’ Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics – instead they owned it The Opening Ceremony ran simultaneously in four locations with the main proceedings held in Milan’s legendary 75,000 seat San Siro Olympic Stadium and over 400km away a second stage in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Athletes also joined the parade from Livigno and Predazzo.

Italians offered no apologies at the Opening Ceremony of the ‘widespread’ Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics – instead they owned it

IOC focuses on Switzerland to host 2038 Winter Olympics, possibly shutting door to other nations until 2042 On Wednesday the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it is ready to begin targeted dialogue - a bid phase designed for building a final host contract and gaining official approval from IOC members - with Swiss Olympic by the end of this year. That would then virtually assure that the Games will go to Switzerland for the third time.

IOC focuses on Switzerland to host 2038 Winter Olympics, possibly shutting door to other nations until 2042

On Wednesday the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it is ready to begin targeted dialogue - a bid phase designed for building a final host contract and gaining official approval…

Saudi Arabia’s unlikely 2029 Asian Winter Games now postponed indefinitely, OCA confirms The Kingdom was awarded the NEOM 2029 event in 2022 when it promised to build a new ski resort in the desert, baffling critics who questioned the feasibility and sustainability of the grandiose project. Saudi Arabia was the only bidder in the race.

Saudi Arabia's unlikely 2029 Asian Winter Games now postponed indefinitely, OCA confirms

Swiss 2038 Olympic Winter Games bid releases decentralized venue plan with opening ceremony in IOC capital Lausanne – price tag set at 2.2 billion Swiss francs Officials claim that this would be the first-ever Olympics hosted by an entire country with 10 cantons and 14 municipalities directly involved in the organization

Swiss 2038 Olympic Winter Games bid releases decentralized venue plan with opening ceremony in IOC capital Lausanne - price tag set at 2.2 billion Swiss francs

GamesBids.com Top Ten: Olympic Bid Stories of 2025 and More GamesBids.com presents the 18th annual Top Ten list of Olympic Bid Stories for 2025. Warning: surprises ahead!

#FEATURE: GamesBids.com Top Ten: Olympic Bid Stories of 2025 and More #Top10

New MMA international federation to form with goal of bringing the combat sport to the Olympics FIMMA aims to unify global MMA governance to raise the standard of the sport and make a competitive Olympic bid

New Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) international federation to form with goal of bringing the combat sport to the Olympics

Ahmedabad, India officially confirmed host of the centenary 2030 Commonwealth Games The Games will be known as Amdavad 2030 using the locally used Gujarat language for the city name. India will host its second edition in twenty years following Delhi 2010.

Ahmedabad, India officially confirmed host of the centenary 2030 Commonwealth Games

South African government approves bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games and launch of continuous dialogue with IOC - GamesBids.com Summer Olympic Bids South African government approves bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games and launch of continuous dialogue with IOC GamesBids.com Olympics

South African government approves bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games and launch of continuous dialogue with IOC gamesbids.com/eng/summer-o...

Future of Olympic Esports Games uncertain after IOC, Saudi Arabia tear up 12-year deal The controversial deal inked last year ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics had come under scrutiny after the election of new IOC president Kirsty Coventry in June, who asked her membership to review all current processes and recommend changes

Future of Olympic Esports Games uncertain after IOC, Saudi Arabia tear up 12-year deal

BREAKING: Record voter turnout propels Munich towards rare referendum win for Germany’s Olympic bid (early results) Hamburg has planned a referendum May 31 and Rhine-Ruhr residents could head to the ballot boxes on April 19. No vote is required in Berlin. The DOSB will finalize bid choices at its General Assembly in fall 2026.

#BREAKING: Record voter turnout propels Munich towards rare referendum win for Germany's Olympic bid

IOC rejects Indonesia’s 2036 Olympic bid amid government ban on Israeli athletes at World Gymnastics Championships IOC ended formal dialogue as Nusantara was to join bids from Ahmadabad in India, Doha in Qatar and North Jeolla Province in South Korea among others in the 2036 Olympics race. NOC's warned to exclude Indonesia from hosting events.

IOC rejects Indonesia's 2036 Olympic bid amid government ban on Israeli athletes at World Gymnastics Championships - NOC's warned to exclude Indonesia from hosting future events

Ahmedabad, India singled out for election as host of 2030 Commonwealth Games Ahmedabad was chosen over Abuja, Nigeria denying Africa its first-ever Commonwealth Games. India would host its second edition in twenty years following Delhi 2010. Election will be November 26 in Glasgow.

Ahmedabad, India singled out for election as host of 2030 Commonwealth Games - Abuja, Nigeria overlooked a second time

PASO elects Asunción, Paraguay to host 2031 Pan American Games - GamesBids.com Other Games Bids PASO elects Asunción, Paraguay to host 2031 Pan American Games GamesBids.com Olympics

PASO elects Asunción, Paraguay to host 2031 Pan American Games gamesbids.com/eng/other-ga...

Panam Sports officials complete site evaluations in Brazil, the final stop before 2031 host city election next week The election of Rio de Janeiro-Niterói or Asunción, Paraguay will take place with 42 voting member nations on Friday, October 10 at 10:00am local time in Santiago, Chile

Panam Sports officials complete site evaluations in Brazil, the final stop before 2031 host city election next week

Emir of Qatar touts Doha’s 2036 Olympic bid to UN describing the Games as “a platform for promoting peace and understanding” Doha has joined Ahmedabad in India as those nations that have formalized campaigns

Emir of Qatar touts Doha's 2036 Olympic bid to UN describing the Games as "a platform for promoting peace and understanding"

Panam Sports visits Paraguay to begin site evaluation process for 2031 Pan American Games Asunción, Paraguay will face a joint Rio de Janeiro-Niterói bid from Brazil when Panam Sports elects a host with its 41 member nations October 10.

Panam Sports visits Paraguay to begin site evaluation process for 2031 Pan American Games - final vote against Rio de Janeiro-Niterói October 10

Germany’s Olympic bid has “long way to go” as Munich prepares for October 26 referendum. What happens next? Germany continues to move forward after last year narrowing its field of host candidates to Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and the Rhine-Ruhr region. Final decision expected next year.

Germany's Olympic bid has "long way to go" as Munich prepares for October 26 referendum. What happens next?

IOC to “normalize” relationship with IOA and restore solidarity payments, a boost to the Ahmedabad 2036 Olympic bid The resumption of the payments - a form of revenue sharing from the IOC's sponsorship and broadcast contracts that are distributed to National Olympic Committees (NOC) and International Sport Federations (IF) - is critical not only to support athletes in India, but also as an indication of renewed confidence in the IOA as it pursues its bid to host the 2036 Olympics in Ahmedabad

IOC to "normalize" relationship with IOA and restore solidarity payments, a boost to the Ahmedabad 2036 Olympic bid

Two cities – from India and Nigeria – meet deadline to bid for centennial Commonwealth Games in 2030 As had been expected, Abuja in Nigeria and Ahmadabad in India were the only two bidders to meet Commonwealth Sport's August 31 document deadline to remain in contention to host the centennial edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030

Two cities - from India and Nigeria - meet deadline to bid for centennial Commonwealth Games in 2030

Nigeria, India ramp up 2030 Commonwealth Games bids ahead of Sunday deadline Abuja in Nigeria and Ahmedabad in India seem to be the only two bids on track to meet Commonwealth Sport's 2030 Games bid application deadline. Both have sent high level delegations to CGF headquarters in London.

Nigeria, India ramp up 2030 Commonwealth Games bids ahead of Sunday deadline

India positions at front of 2030 Commonwealth Games bid race with multiple cities being considered "We can’t just tell whether Ahmedabad is the host city. We have good facilities in Bhubaneswar and even in Delhi also,” IOA President PT Usha said.

India positions at front of 2030 Commonwealth Games bid race with multiple cities being considered

India reacts to IOC criticism in an attempt to put Ahmedabad 2036 Olympic bid back on track Indian officials help resolve an IOA governance dispute, form a seven-member anti-doping panel and clarify key legislation that could help improve the future performance of athletes at the Olympics - all in a speedy response to IOC's pushback on the 2036 Ahmedabad Olympic bid

India quickly reacts to IOC criticism in an attempt to put Ahmedabad 2036 Olympic bid back on track

Qatar confirms Doha 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid amid uncertainty in IOC host selection process Snubbed twice in bids to host Olympics in 2016 and 2020, Qatar officials believe they now have the infrastructure and experience necessary and will leverage the IOC's new willingness to shift the Games to October and avoid the heat

Qatar confirms Doha 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid amid uncertainty in IOC host selection process - Press Kit linked

First glimpse of what 2026 Winter Olympians will covet: Milano Cortina 2026 unveils medals with two joined halves Each side of a medal has a split, opposite tilting surface with either the Olympic rings or Paralympic agitos in the center joining the two halves. It is said to symbolize the union of the two host cities - Milan and Cortina - that are named in the edition for the first time since Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936 in Germany

First glimpse of what 2026 Winter Olympians will covet: Milano Cortina 2026 unveils medals with two two joined halves

IOC cautions India’s 2036 Olympic bid identifying these significant fundamental concerns The IOC named three key issues that must be resolved "before serious talks regarding hosting the Olympics take place"

IOC cautions India's 2036 Olympic bid identifying these significant fundamental concerns - The IOC named three key issues that must be resolved "before serious talks regarding hosting the Olympics take place"

India’s Ahmedabad 2036 Olympic bid speeds up even after IOC hits the brake on the selection process This week Indian officials sent a high-level delegation to IOC headquarters, officially nominated Ahmedabad the host city, and the national government approved a new sport policy designed to bolster the success of an Olympic Games

India's Ahmedabad 2036 Olympic bid speeds up even after IOC hits the brake on the selection process - Indian officials sent a high-level delegation to IOC headquarters, officially nominated Ahmedabad the host city, and the national government approved a new sport policy

Interesting that the IOC's pause on the Olympic bid process by President Kirsty Coventry comes on the day of the 6th anniversary of the passing of Bach's bid bid reforms in 2019

IOC hits “pause” on bid process as new president Kirsty Coventry orders review of timing and member involvement Decision will impact current bids to host 2036 Summer Games where India is considered frontrunner, and Switzerland currently in dialogue to host the 2038 Winter Games. Members expected to be educated, but not be able to vote for host city.

IOC hits "pause" on bid process as new president Kirst Coventry orders review of timing and member involvement - Members expected to be educated, but not be able to vote for host city