Mexico withdraws 2036 bid, eyes Youth Olympics or Pan Am Games

Olympic Games 2036: Mexico withdraws bid to host the summer games. @COM_Mexico

Mexico has withdrawn from the race to host the 2036 Olympic Games. The president of the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM), Maria José Alcalá, made the announcement on Tuesday following the presentation of new sponsors for the national team, which will take part in Paris 2024.

Former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and the COM announced in October 2022 that Mexico would try to host the Olympic Games in 2036 or 2040. This would be the second time in history that the country has hosted the universal event, after the XIX Olympic Games in 1968.

"We've been in contact with the International Olympic Committee and we've seen that the competition is very tough," the former diver told the press after presenting the new sponsors of the Mexican team that will take part in Paris 2024.

CAMBIO DE PLANES

México 🇲🇽 baja su candidatura en busca de los Juegos Olímpicos de Verano del 2036 y se perfila por buscar la sede de los Juegos Olímpicos de verano DE LA JUVENTUD que corresponden a ese mismo ciclo olímpico, es decir, del 2032: pic.twitter.com/3HdeehiBXa
— Katy (@katilunga) January 16, 2024

The IOC's Commission for the Future Olympic Games - host cities - has predicted that there could be up to 10 bids for the 2036 event. The IOC has amended the Olympic Charter to make it more flexible. It has changed the date of the election from 7 years before the Games and changed the host city from a single city/region/country to several cities, regions or countries.

Alcalá's rejection of Mexico leaves Poland, Turkey, Indonesia and India as the remaining candidates to host the 2036 Olympic Games, after Paris in 2024, Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032.

Estoy muy contenta de compartirles que a partir de hoy @Grupo_bimbo, una gran empresa mexicana, será patrocinador del @com_mexico, acompañando a las y los atletas en el sueño olímpico no solo de @Paris2024 sino hasta Los Ángeles 2028. ⁰Muchas gracias por confiar y apoyar a… pic.twitter.com/Y37dYuUIuo
— Mari Jose Alcala, OLY (@maryjosealcala) January 16, 2024

Mexico will now only consider bidding for the Youth Olympic Games, said Alcalá Izaguirre. "We are turning around to see if we can bid for the Youth Olympic Games, where we would have a great chance."

The 2026 edition of the Youth Olympic Games will be held in Dakar, Senegal, and no host has been named for 2030 or beyond. "It would be before the 2036 Games... We are in talks with the IOC."

Alcalá added that Mexico could also bid for the 2027 Pan American Games after Nuevo León and Guadalajara expressed interest in hosting the continental event following the withdrawal of Barranquilla, Colombia, as host by Panam Sports for breach of contract.