The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, will be a major international sports and cultural festival, celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee has begun the selection process for the host city. Six applicant cities are competing to welcome the Games. The IOC will select Candidate Cities on May 23, 2012. The host city will be elected in Buenos Aires on September 7, 2013, at the 125th IOC Session. Bidding timeline The timeline of the host city selection process was approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board as follows: 2011: May 16 – IOC sent letters inviting the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to submit bids July and August – IOC asked for NOCs to submit letters regarding compliance with the World Anti-doping Agency code by July 29. The IOC also requested submissions of proposed dates if countries want to stage the Games outside the normal period set by the IOC (July 15 to August 31). The IOC responded to NOCs on these points by the end of August September 1 – Deadline to submit the names of cities interested in hosting the 2020 Summer Games September 2 - IOC confirmed that they had received six bids November 3 to 4 – IOC held an information seminar for 2020 applicants December 8 - IOC announced the drawing lots order of applicant cities 2012 : February 15 – Submission of the application files and guarantee letters to the IOC May 23 – IOC executive board in Quebec City decides which cities are approved as official candidate cities July 27-August 12 - Olympic Games Observers’ Programme at the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London November - London 2012 debrief in Rio de Janeiro 2013 : January 7 – Submission of the official bid books February–April – Visits of the IOC evaluation commission to each bidding city TBD – Report of the IOC evaluation commission June - Candidate Cities briefing to IOC Members in Lausanne September 7 – Election of the host city at 125th IOC Session Six cities have been put forward by their respective National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to apply to host the Games. The bidding cities come from two continents, Europe and Asia. In 2020 it will have been 12 years since an Asian city hosted the Summer Olympics (Beijing 2008) and 8 years since a European city hosted the Summer Olympics (London 2012). Out of the six bidders, both Rome and Tokyo have previously hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1960 and 1964 respectively. The other four bidders have made bids in the past. It is the first time in 20 years that no city in the Americas bid to host the Summer Olympic Games. Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 Summer Olympics. Baku and Doha bid for the 2016 Games but failed to become candidate cities, while Tokyo and Madrid also bid for the 2016 Games and became candidate cities. The cities bidding for the 2020 Olympics are, in order of drawing lots: Istanbul, Turkey: Istanbul was nominated on July 7, 2011, at the 123rd IOC session in Durban, and was confirmed as Turkey’s bid on July 24, 2011. Turkey’s candidacy was announced officially by PM Erdogan on August 13, 2011. This is Istanbul’s fifth bid for the Summer Olympic Games. Istanbul is home to various modern sporting venues. The Türk Telekom Arena, Atatürk Olympic Stadium and Sükrü Saracoglu Stadium, which were built or renovated in the first decade of the 21st century, are three UEFA Elite Stadiums in Istanbul. Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo was selected by the Japanese Olympic Committee on July 16, 2011, and was confirmed as Japan’s bidding city for the 2020 Games. The city is going forward with its bid following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami which affected much of eastern Japan. Tokyo previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 1964. Japan has also hosted the Winter Olympics twice. The 1998 Winter Games were organised in Nagano. Sapporo hosted the Winter Games in 1972. Japan previously co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup with South Korea; the final was held in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Japan will host the 2019 Rugby World Cup and two of the venues for the event are located in the Greater Tokyo Area. Rome, Italy: Rome was nominated by the Italian National Olympic Committee on May 19, 2010. Italy’s capital city was chosen over Venice as the country’s bid for the 2020 Games. Rome previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 1960. It bid to host the 2004 Games but lost to Athens in the final round of voting. Rome hosted the 2009 World Aquatics Championships as well as the 1990 FIFA World Cup final. Italy previously hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Baku, Azerbaijan: It was announced at the September 1 deadline for bidding that Baku has submitted a bid to host the 2020 Olympics. Doha, Qatar: On August 26, 2011, Doha announced that they are bidding for the 2020 Games. In 2006, Doha hosted the Asian Games. The city also hosted the 2011 Pan Arab Games. Qatar was recently selected to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Several stadiums will be located in Doha. The country also hosted the 1988 and 2011 AFC Asian Cups. Madrid, Spain: Madrid was nominated by the Spanish Olympic Committee executive committee on June 1, 2011. It received official confirmation by the government on July 12, 2011. Madrid lost to Rio de Janeiro in the final round of voting in their bid for the 2016 Olympics. Spain previously hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The country hosted the 1982 FIFA World Cup and the final was held in Madrid. The city has also hosted the 1986 World Aquatics Championships. The Peninsula

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