Lausanne: Ryu Seung-min, head of the South Korean Olympic body, is scheduled to meet with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach next month to discuss South Korea's aspirations to host the 2036 Summer Olympics. The meeting is set for April 8 at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ryu, who was elected as the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) president in January and served as an IOC member from 2016 to 2024, aims to strongly present South Korea's bid for the 2036 Games. North Jeolla Province, selected over Seoul as the country's candidate for the bid, will be represented alongside central government officials during the meeting in Switzerland.
The KSOC stated that Ryu will emphasize South Korea's smooth preparations and North Jeolla's alignment with the IOC's focus on sustainable operations. Additionally, Ryu will highlight the country's potential role in promoting peace and acceptance through sport, reinforcing South Korea's commitment to collaboration with the IOC.
A task force comprising representatives from the government, KSOC, and North Jeolla Province convened for the first time on March 12 to advance the bid strategy. South Korea, which hosted the Summer Olympics in Seoul in 1988 and the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang in 2018, is aiming to become the seventh country to host multiple Summer Games.
The IOC's revised selection process, which no longer involves a direct vote by members, relies on the Future Host Commission to evaluate and recommend potential host cities. The IOC Executive Board then determines whether to engage in a "targeted dialogue" with selected "preferred hosts," who must complete a detailed questionnaire and provide bid guarantees.
Previously, Seoul proposed a joint bid with Pyongyang for the 2032 Summer Olympics, but the IOC opted for Brisbane to enter into a targeted dialogue in February 2021. Brisbane subsequently secured the bid with significant support from IOC delegates in a final vote.