The 'Continuous Dialogue' Model: How the IOC Selects Future Olympic Host Cities Without a Formal Bidding Process

The International Olympic Committee no longer stages dramatic, multi-city bidding wars to award the Olympic Games; instead, it selects hosts through a closed-door, ongoing negotiation process called 'Continuous Dialogue.' By replacing public campaigns with private boardroom discussions, the IOC has eliminated the exorbitant costs and embarrassing referendum defeats that plagued recent bid cycles, moving the allocation of billions in public infrastructure entirely in-house. The stakes for global cities remain as high as ever, but the battleground has shifted from public relations spectacles to quiet, targeted feasibility studies.[1]

The traditional bidding process, which defined the Olympic movement for decades, required candidate cities to spend upwards of $50 million just to campaign. That system collapsed under its own weight ahead of the 2024 and 2028 cycles, as cities like Boston, Rome, and Hamburg withdrew following fierce local opposition and failed public referendums.

To stop the bleeding, the IOC rewrote its rulebook. The new mechanism, overseen by the Future Host Commission, divides the selection into two distinct phases. The first is Continuous Dialogue, a non-committal phase where the IOC and interested parties discuss potential concepts without formal deadlines or binding guarantees.[1]

The official Future Olympic Hosts documentation states that Continuous Dialogue allows national Olympic committees to assess their infrastructure, government support, and long-term funding without spending millions on international lobbying. Cities can enter and exit this phase without the stigma of formally 'losing' a bid.[1]

When the IOC identifies a frontrunner, the process shifts to the second phase: Targeted Dialogue. The Executive Board elevates a specific city or region to 'Preferred Host' status, granting them an exclusive negotiating window to finalize technical guarantees.[1]

Once a city enters Targeted Dialogue, the race is effectively over for everyone else. This was demonstrated when Brisbane was fast-tracked for the 2032 Summer Games, and more recently when Salt Lake City entered Targeted Dialogue for the 2034 Winter Olympics, a move confirmed by AP News.[5][6]

The timeline for these decisions has also been completely decoupled from the traditional seven-year window. For the 2036 Summer Games, the IOC has confirmed a new 'Strategic Dialogue' step, with the final host expected to be confirmed in 2029, according to The Sports Examiner.[4]

This flexibility allows the IOC to lock in reliable partners a decade in advance or delay decisions if the geopolitical climate is unfavorable. By removing the fixed election calendar, the organization avoids the spectacle of a rejected city walking away empty-handed on live television.

However, the elimination of a public race has sparked severe backlash from transparency and human rights organizations. The Sport & Rights Alliance argues that the secretive nature of Continuous Dialogue threatens fairness and inclusion, stripping local populations of their ability to scrutinize the bids.[3]

"The new process happens entirely behind closed doors, making it nearly impossible for civil society to hold the IOC or local governments accountable before a decision is finalized," the Sport & Rights Alliance noted in a 2025 report. Without a public campaign, human rights assessments and environmental impact studies are often conducted without independent oversight.[3]

The IOC counters that the new system is fundamentally more sustainable. By requiring cities to use existing or temporary venues for 80% of their infrastructure, the Future Host Commission ensures that the Games adapt to the host, rather than forcing the host to adapt to the Games.[1]

Inside The Games reports that this reshaping of the Olympic programme is directly tied to the host selection process. Cities are now encouraged to propose sports that resonate with their local youth and utilize existing arenas, rather than building massive stadiums for niche events.[2]

For prospective hosts, the financial relief is undeniable. Salt Lake City's journey to the 2034 Winter Games required a fraction of the lobbying budget spent on their 2002 bid, focusing instead on technical guarantees and venue readiness rather than international marketing.[5]

The ultimate test of the Continuous Dialogue model will be the 2036 selection. With multiple nations expressing interest, the Future Host Commission must navigate complex geopolitical waters without the shield of a transparent, points-based voting system.[4]

If the IOC can deliver a 2036 host that meets sustainability targets without triggering local protests, the Continuous Dialogue model will cement itself as a masterstroke of sports governance. If the chosen city faces severe cost overruns or human rights controversies, the closed-door process will be blamed for ignoring public warning signs.