How do they decide which country gets to host the Olympics?

The process of selecting a host country for the Olympics is complex and involves several stages. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is responsible for selecting the host country for both the Summer and Winter Olympics. The IOC follows a detailed selection process that takes into account a wide range of factors, including infrastructure, facilities, security, transportation, accommodation, and financial resources.

The first step in the selection process is for a country to express its interest in hosting the Olympics by submitting a bid to the IOC. The bid includes a detailed plan for how the country would organize and host the Games, as well as an outline of the proposed venues, infrastructure, and budget.

Once the bid has been received, the IOC evaluates it based on a set of criteria, including the country's ability to provide a safe and secure environment for athletes and spectators, the quality of the proposed venues and infrastructure, the level of government support, and the financial resources available.

The IOC then shortlists the bids and sends a team to each of the shortlisted countries to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the proposed plans. This evaluation includes a review of the proposed venues and infrastructure, as well as discussions with government officials, sports organizations, and other stakeholders.

After the evaluation, the IOC selects the host country through a vote by its members. The vote takes place at an IOC session, which is usually held two years before the Games are scheduled to take place. The host country is selected by a simple majority vote of the members.