The selection process for the Olympic Games host city consists of two phases which enables the IOC to examine the capability of a city wishing to host the Games and then to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the city’s proposed project.
From seven Applicant Cities to one Host City
The first phase consists of the IOC asking National Olympic Committees to nominate cities as Applicant Cities for the Games. Seven cities applied to host the 2016 Games (listed in alphabetical order): Baku (Azerbaijan), Chicago (USA), Doha (Qatar), Madrid (Spain), Prague (Czech Republic), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Tokyo (Japan).
These cities responded to the IOC’s Applicant City Questionnaire and their replies were studied by an IOC Working Group which produced a report for the IOC Executive Board. Based on this report, four of the seven cities were selected by the IOC’s Executive Board as Candidate Cities at its meeting on 4 June 2008 (in the order of drawing of lots): Chicago (USA), Tokyo (Japan), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and Madrid (Spain).
Candidature files
This launches phase two of the bid process, known as the Candidature Procedure, in which the Candidate Cities prepare their Candidature Files which are then submitted to the IOC. Each city’s credentials are then examined by an IOC Evaluation Commission. The Evaluation Commission for the 2016 Olympic Games, chaired by Nawal El Moutawakel and composed of representatives of the Olympic Movement and a number of specialists, has visited each of the four Candidate Cities and provided a report to the IOC members.
IOC members’ vote
On 2 October 2009, at the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen, after a presentation by each of the Candidate Cities, Nawal El Moutawakel will present a final report of the Evaluation Commission, which will be followed by the IOC members’ vote. The result will then be announced by the IOC President, Jacques Rogge.
First phase calendar
| 13 September 2007 |
NOCs to inform the IOC of the name of an Applicant City |
| 14 January 2008 |
Submission of Application File and guarantee letters to the IOC |
| January - June 2008 |
Examination of replies by the IOC |
| 4 June 2008 |
IOC Executive Board acceptance of Candidate Cities |
Second phase calendar
| 8 – 24 August 2008 |
Olympic Games Observer Programme – Beijing 2008 |
| 12 February 2009 |
Submission of Candidature File to the IOC |
| 2 September 2009 |
Report of the 2016 IOC Evaluation Commission |
| 2 October 2009 |
Election of the Host City of 2016 Olympic Games during the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen |
Documents
2016 Candidature Procedure and Questionnaire - 4 June 2008 - 4166 Kb
2016 Evaluation Commission Members’ Biographies - 3 April 2009 - 32 Kb
Candidature Acceptance Procedure - 20 November 2007 - 813 Kb
Games of the XXXI Olympiad 2016 Working Group Report - 4 June 2008 - 2778 Kb
Report of the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in 2016 - 2 September 2009 - 2414 K