21 replies to this topic

[KRATK]

I don't understand how Rogge came with the idea... and it says pretty much the same things we have said in the forum in the past years. But, it's probably the first time the IOC has talked about potential games in the Southern Hemisphere. That's why for me is interesting that Rogge is talking about something not even the Chileans or Argentineans have been thinking or proposing in the past months or years (compared for example with an African bid)...

Here's the link to the original news in Spanish and the translation: http://latercera.com..._279917_9.shtml

Quote

COI didn't rule out option of Chile or Argentina to host the Winter Games

The president Jacques Rogge says that the geography of the region is unbeatable. The main obstacle is the international schedule.

The idea sounds like an impossible dream but the President of the IOC Jacques Rogge says it is not impossible to host the WOG in the Southern Hemisphere.

"In general, I would say nothing is impossible" said the Belgian in an interview with DPA, even after the problems of the project. "We need to study it", added.

Chile or Argentina are the two best options to host the Games in the South, but none of the countries have officialized their bids.

"I think it could be possible; Argentina is not a poor country. But we would have to work a lot on it", said María Belén Simari Birkner, an historic Argentinean skiier, before talking about her proposal to bring the Games to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. In Chile, Santiago is the city with the best chances to be a potential host.

"If you consider the geography, there's no problem" pointed Rogge. "In Argentina or Chile you could host the Winter Games, at least the outdoor sports". But the events of skating are the first ones with problems: "there should build new venues... we should find a solution for the skating events. You could build a new ice rink". The problem is what to do later with the venue. As José Luis Marco, Argentinean member of the Ski International Federation and a experienced member in bidding history, the "IOC doesn't want white elephants".

"What will you do with all you have to build in Ushuaia once the Games are over", said. "Besides, the snow in a different season compared to Europe would be very difficult. I really can't see it happening", said the Argentinean.

This last topic, the international sport schedule, is in reality the main obstacle that Rogge recognizes.

"This makes you shift your schedule in six mnths. We would have the Games at this moment of the year, july, august, september... You have to look if this could be compatible with a normal season of the different federations", observed.

[FYI]

At least a feasibility study should get started to explore all options now that it's been at least mentioned by the reigning king. It would be very intriguing if it could get done.

[Citius Altius Fortius]

Kratk,

I wonder why it is asked what they should do with new venues (ice rinks) in Santiago de Chile after the Games - I am sure that Chileneans are able to learn skating, too like anybody else

[KRATK]

Citius Altius Fortius, on 28 July 2010 - 10:55 PM, said:

Kratk,

I wonder why it is asked what they should do with new venues (ice rinks) in Santiago de Chile after the Games - I am sure that Chileneans are able to learn skating, too like anybody else

According to my mother, there were some ice rinks in Santiago in the 80's. Now, there are a few ones in some shopping malls but there are not really popular.

The funny thing is that skates are probably our best sport (even better than football). Chile has won a lot of world championships of skating, speed skating and hockey. The problem is... that they use roller skates, not ice skates. And there are no Olympic events of roller skates. I've heard some time ago that the COCh proposed to convert the current roller skating athletes into ice skating athlets but I don't know if this could be successful...

[Olympian2004]

But there's still the main problem that Winter Games in the Southern hemisphere would have to take place during the summer in the Northern Hemisphere -- after the end of the international winter sports competition season.

[Sir Rols]

FYI, on 28 July 2010 - 10:18 PM, said:

At least a feasibility study should get started to explore all options now that it's been at least mentioned by the reigning king. It would be very intriguing if it could get done.

The only way a feasibility study would be done would be for one of the possibles to mount an actual bid ... or at the very least test the waters with a YOG.

Still, it's good to see some sort of statement at all about a southern winter games from the top man. Even if it was just a big perhaps.

Ultimately, though, to win a future winter games it's going to take the citizens of Dunedin, Queenstown, Christchurch, Santiago, Bariloche or Ushaia to build their case and start getting in facilioties such as bob runs and ice rinks and make them viable. And start getting some medals at the games and IF meets.

And Ushaia??????
About as remote as one can get!

[KRATK]

I guess Ushuaia has a best chance to avoid the conflicts with other tournaments. Maybe hosting on april or october, instead of july-august, the only time Santiago can host.

And Ushuaia is not thaaaaat south. Is closer to the Equator than, for example, Denmark.

[Sir Rols]

KRATK, on 29 July 2010 - 06:00 PM, said:

I guess Ushuaia has a best chance to avoid the conflicts with other tournaments. Maybe hosting on april or october, instead of july-august, the only time Santiago can host.

And Ushuaia is not thaaaaat south. Is closer to the Equator than, for example, Denmark.

Yes, well, I suppose Patagonia would have the advantage of a longer season. I can remember being in Punta Arenas in February, and even then it was cold with sleet blowing in off the sea. Not much snow, though.
The whole area is just so isolated with just so little population. Which of course is part of what I loved about it. But I can't see how the facilities required for a WOGs can be justified in either Argentine or Chilean Patagonia. I reckon Santiago or Bariloche/Mendoza are about the only realistic condenders.

[LuigiVercotti]

Question is where is this coming from? Is there such a groundswell of interest in hosting an OWGs in Chile or Argentina from the relevant IOCs and IFs? Is there a political, popular or commercial push in places such as Santiago to mount a bid? Or is this just another motherhood statement from JR which is more about keeping the membership happy with positive statements, feeding the media cycle and reminding those interested parts of the global community that the IOC is always open to being courted for hosting rights (and would love invitations to come visit far off lands and be winded and dined accordingly)?

No Southern Hemisphere location has credibility for a competitive bid now and wont for donkeys years. Otherwise we're just talking about a winterised Tashkent 2000 bid . Climate, geography, scheduling and infrastructure are all killers for any Argentine, Chilean or Kiwi hopes.

[KRATK]

Sir Rols, on 29 July 2010 - 06:19 PM, said:

Yes, well, I suppose Patagonia would have the advantage of a longer season. I can remember being in Punta Arenas in February, and even then it was cold with sleet blowing in off the sea. Not much snow, though.
The whole area is just so isolated with just so little population. Which of course is part of what I loved about it. But I can't see how the facilities required for a WOGs can be justified in either Argentine or Chilean Patagonia. I reckon Santiago or Bariloche/Mendoza are about the only realistic condenders.

Agree. I don't see the Games in Ushuaia or Punta Arenas especially now the WOGs are getting bigger every time. I just don't see one of those cities after Torino, Vancouver, Sochi and potentially Munich.
Punta Arenas doesn't have even a decent stadium for football... and is bigger than Ushuaia. So if you have problems about what will happen with an ice rink in Santiago, the question is bigger in Patagonia. And then you have the problem of accomodation, transports and so on.

eusebius65, on 29 July 2010 - 08:01 PM, said:

Question is where is this coming from? Is there such a groundswell of interest in hosting an OWGs in Chile or Argentina from the relevant IOCs and IFs? Is there a political, popular or commercial push in places such as Santiago to mount a bid? Or is this just another motherhood statement from JR which is more about keeping the membership happy with positive statements, feeding the media cycle and reminding those interested parts of the global community that the IOC is always open to being courted for hosting rights (and would love invitations to come visit far off lands and be winded and dined accordingly)?

That's my question too.
Some months ago, at the time of Vancouver 2010, someone asked to the president of COCh and he almost started to laugh. "There is no way Chile will host ever a WOG. Even a SOG is more factible than a WOG." And I don't think the Argentinean committee is too much interested, considering Buenos Aires is a potential host city in the future for the Summer Games and they won't kill their chance bidding with Ushuaia or Mendoza, where they have really low chances.
Besides, the news appeared just in one newspaper, not even on TV. In Argentina, it didn't even appeared. People is not really involved with the winter sports (even really small reports of Vancouver 2010 were broadcasted) and if someone says that we could host the Games would say that you're crazy or that there are more important things to invest time and money.

So I don't think there is a lobby from South America... what is the other possibility? what message is Rogge trying to send? Probably, as you said, Rogge wants to visit Patagonia, drink some wine, eat some asado and not pay at all