Countries, Not Cities, for Olympic Hosting
Musings by Ed Hula
As the IOC pokes along with its pause and reflect exercise this week of commission meetings in Lausanne, here’s something for the burghers of Olympic sport to consider: pick countries to host the Olympics, not by city.
Reality clearly shows the increasing influence national governments play in delivering 21st Century Olympics. Without the official approval of the head of state, no bid for the Games would be considered credible – or even allowed under IOC rules.
National governments are needed for security operations. Assuring athletes and officials that they can enter the host nation freely is another key role. And it is the head of state who has the honor of declaring the Games open.
For the sake of sustainability, taking a country-wide perspective in plans for an Olympic Games means maximum use of existing venues. In 2024 basketball was played in Lyon, 460km from host city Paris. Marseille, site for sailing, is 300 km further south. Tahiti hosted surfing, some 15,400 km from Paris.
LA28 organizers point out that their Games will be the first without new construction. That’s made possible because venues are dispersed across southern California. Then there are two in Oklahoma City, 700km east of LA where slalom canoe/kayak and women’s softball offer internationally approved venues.
The gatekeepers for every Olympic bid are the 206 national Olympic committees. Just as no bid can succeed without the head of state aboard, it is the NOC that okays Olympic plans before the IOC gets them.
Germany, in the midst of selecting a future host city, would seem to benefit from a bid organized at the national level. Four candidates are being considered to become the next nominee for the summer Games, from 2036 and beyond. A nationwide poll says that 71 percent support a return of the Olympics, with Munich and the Rhine-Ruhr region the most favored. Bavarians themselves have voted in a referendum to hold the Olympics.
Berlin and Hamburg are the other two in the running.
It’s up to the German Olympic Sports Federation to pick from one of those four. But what if the bid could be from Germany at large with events distributed across the country, using existing venues? Organizers could still use a city like Munich or Berlin as a centerpoint. Hamburg, the only one on the sea, would likely be included as a sailing host in any German bid.
Other bids in the pipeline suggest that they will be driven by national forces, and not by the mayors of Mumbai or Cape Town.
In Asia, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa are expected to jostle for the next Summer Olympics up for grabs in 2036 and 2040. Look also for a bid from Spain.
I close with a final example of how the national government is a make or break factor for a bid.
Olympic talk from Indonesia is now on mute after Israeli gymnasts were refused entry to compete in the FIG World Artistic Gymnastics championships in Jakarta last month. Disturbed by the actions against the Israelis, the IOC put Indonesia on notice that any Olympic dreams are on hold. The IOC told Indonesian officials that it will “end any form of dialogue about hosting future editions of the Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, Olympic events or conferences”.
The edict is the first substantial disciplinary action meted to an NOC under new president Kirsty Coventry. It shows she will be a tough against breaches of Olympic fair play. For Indonesia, a time to pause and reflect about its Olympic future.