The story thus far: Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly declared India’s intention to host the Olympic Games, ideally in 2036, through the opening ceremony of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai on October 14. He additionally talked about India’s ambition to host the Youth Olympics in 2029 though the quadrennial occasion is presently scheduled for 2030. Only three Asian international locations have ever hosted the Olympics — China, South Korea and Japan, with Japan internet hosting the video games twice in 1964 and 2020. With India throwing its hat into the ring, there are not less than 5 confirmed international locations curious about internet hosting the 2036 Games and 9 others reportedly in numerous levels of preparations and discussions internally and with the IOC. If India does handle to outbid the competitors, it will likely be the primary big-ticket multi-discipline sporting occasion within the nation for the reason that controversy-marred Commonwealth Games (CWG) in 2010.
How was a bunch nation initially selected?
In the older system of electing an Olympic host, cities, by way of their respective nationwide Olympic committees, would submit a letter of curiosity to the IOC to start out a multi-year, multi-step analysis course of. The bidding cities would full a sequence of questionnaires, evaluated by the IOC. The second step of the method concerned scrutiny from the IOC Evaluation Commission and a sequence of inspections of all venues earlier than the ultimate bids are put to vote at an IOC session, ending in a bunch being determined seven years prematurely as per the Olympic Charter. It usually led to extreme spending among the many bidders, to safe rights, usually ending in enormous money owed, corruptions and scandals.
However, after Thomas Bach took over because the IOC president in 2013, he put in place the Olympic Agenda 2020, as a roadmap for the way forward for the Olympic Movement, authorized by the 2014 IOC session. One a part of the agenda handled a brand new course of for host metropolis choice, referred to as the ‘new norm’, that was formally adopted through the 2019 IOC session in Lausanne.
What was the brand new method?
The new course of positioned emphasis on three important facets — flexibility, sustainability and cost-effectiveness — with the motto being ‘The Games adapt to the region, the region does not adapt to the Games’.
How has the method change into extra versatile?
With respect to flexibility, the seven-year rule was completed away with and there was better flexibility in deciding the hosts — the IOC has stated that the 2036 version might be determined at the same time as late as after 2030. In distinction, Paris and Los Angeles had been selected by way of a tripartite settlement in 2017 that assured each international locations internet hosting rights in 2024 and 2028 respectively, giving Los Angeles 11 years to organize. Brisbane too was named host for the 2032 version in 2021, 11 years forward. There is now a two-stage course of — a steady dialogue and a focused dialogue — with none mounted deadlines, to evaluate, focus on and information potential hosts.
The steady dialogue is a non-committal stage not particular to any specific version. It is principally a dialogue between the IOC’s Future Hosts Commission (FHC) and events in regards to the hosts’ imaginative and prescient for the Games, its objective and long-term legacy. This is adopted by placing collectively a grasp plan and figuring out logistical particulars, with each potential host free to work out their very own template. Also, in contrast to the previous, the Games will be deliberate to be held throughout cities and even along with one other nation. The FHC contains athletes, worldwide federations, nationwide Olympic committees and the worldwide paralympic committee. Once there may be seriousness in a bid to progress to the subsequent degree, it can enter the ‘targeted dialogue’ part with the events termed ‘preferred host’. However, in contrast to prior to now when a celebration, as soon as rejected, could be discouraged from bidding once more, now the opposite events can proceed steady dialogue for future occasions.
In a focused dialogue, the bids change into extra decided. While there may be once more no time frame for a focused dialogue, it’s anticipated to not exceed 12 months. It explores the proposals to host a selected version of the Olympic Games and brings the IOC’s govt board into the image for detailed discussions. This is the place every of the ‘preferred hosts’ reply the FHC’s questions and supplies ensures on infrastructure, lodging, safety and public providers amongst others and makes the ultimate submission. The FHC then prepares an advisory report for the manager board which has the facility to both suggest a single host or shortlist multiple for elections by the IOC members.
What about sustainability and cost-effectiveness?
In order to make sure the long-term sustainability of the infrastructure and to keep away from any public backlash, hosts are inspired so far as attainable to make use of current and short-term venues. Any new venues constructed should be in step with current developmental plans and have a long-term justification regardless of the Games. All editions of the summer season/winter/youth Olympic Games from 2030 onwards should additionally adhere to the IOC’s local weather constructive dedication.
As per the IOC’s claims, the give attention to utilizing current and short-term venues has led to an 80% lower within the bid budgets for the 2026 Winter Games in comparison with the 2018 and 2022 editions. Los Angeles has claimed to not construct any new infrastructure for the 2028 Games whereas Paris has declared utilizing 95% current or short-term venues for 2024. The IOC additionally supplies technical help and experience to ‘preferred host(s)’ on advertising and marketing, venue improvement and sustainability to scale back prices.
Who are the opposite potential bidders aside from India for the 2036 Games?
Besides India, the opposite confirmed nations are Mexico (unfold throughout the 4 cities of Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Tijuana), Indonesia (on the new capital of Nusantara which remains to be underneath development), Turkey (Istanbul) and Poland (Warsaw). India is but to determine the town/cities the place the Games will probably be organised.
Of these, Mexico is the one one to have beforehand hosted the Games in 1968. Other potential bidders embrace Egypt, Seoul, China, Qatar, Hungary, Italy, Denmark, Canada and Germany. While Qatar has been on a internet hosting spree for large-scale occasions in latest instances, with the soccer World Cup in 2022, and is scheduled to host the 2030 Asian Games, Egypt will change into the primary African nation to host if it wins, as will Indonesia in South-East Asia. Although India has hosted a number of single-sport competitions together with World Cups and World Championships through the years, the regional South Asian Games in 2016 was the final multi-discipline worldwide occasion held right here. Before the 2010 CWG, India had hosted the 2003 Afro-Asian Games, the Asian Games (1951 and 1982) and the 2007 World Military Games. However, the biggest gathering of athletes right here has been across the 5,000 mark whereas the latest Asian Games in Hangzhou noticed 11,970 athletes taking part and the Tokyo Olympics additionally had 11,420 athletes.
