79 replies to this topic

[mattperiolat]

I was hearing buzz about a possible OWG bid from Poland in the future and it got me to thinking: will we ever see the Olympics in Eastern Europe? True, the Olympics visited Sarejvo and will soon get to Sochi, but that is really about it.

I get Eastern Europe may not be as economically strong or as well developed as Western Europe, but lately, I have a bit of a yen to see an Olympics in the East. A Winter Games in either Poland, Bulgaria or on of the former Yugoslav nations would be cool and what about a Summer Games bit from Prague?

Those are the ones that spring to mind but are there any other cities out there I am not thinking of that may prove viable?

[deawebo]

KYIV!!!! Kiev's stadium is really awesome, in fact more than London's one, also Ukraine is somehow good in sports... Euro 2012 will give them experience

[spectator12]

I bet Warsaw would be a fantastic olympics. & Zakopane looks like a nice setting for winter games.

[intoronto1125]

mattperiolat, on 13 December 2011 - 09:13 PM, said:

I was hearing buzz about a possible OWG bid from Poland in the future and it got me to thinking: will we ever see the Olympics in Eastern Europe? True, the Olympics visited Sarejvo and will soon get to Sochi, but that is really about it.

I get Eastern Europe may not be as economically strong or as well developed as Western Europe, but lately, I have a bit of a yen to see an Olympics in the East. A Winter Games in either Poland, Bulgaria or on of the former Yugoslav nations would be cool and what about a Summer Games bit from Prague?

Those are the ones that spring to mind but are there any other cities out there I am not thinking of that may prove viable?

Possible but in the near future no.

Wouldn't Sochi count as Eastern Europe, so that technically throws of Eastern Europe WOG for the next couple cycles. I also don't think an Eastern European summer bid can be successful, because there are more prestigious Western European cities (and more IOC members from these countries).

[FYI]

Eastern Europe has already hosted a Summer Olympics in Moscow, & techincally speaking, Athens as well. And right now, I'd say that Russia has the best chance at successfully landing another one with either Moscow again or St. Petersburg. They have the most clout & money in the region.

All the other Eastern European countries are either too small, not that stable or both for the Summer Olympics. The Winter Olympics I could see more feasible with either Poland, Bulgaria or perhaps even Slovakia. But Sochi knocks them all out of contention for the next few cycles.

[Athensfan]

I'd love to see more Games in eastern Europe. I doubt we'll see them for a couple decades though.

[Scotguy]

You only have to look at Prague's failed 2016 bid to see that the Eastern European nations have a long way to go. Euro 2012 will be good hosting experience for Poland/Ukraine but football tournaments are very different to an Olympics. Look at South Africa - hosted the WC, but still to lodge a post 2010 bid.

Also Sochi and a possible Istanbul 2020 Games would rule out an eastern european games for a long time yet, especially if Europe misses out on 2020 and say Paris bids for 2024.

[deawebo]

spectator12, on 13 December 2011 - 10:27 PM, said:

I bet Warsaw would be a fantastic olympics. & Zakopane looks like a nice setting for winter games.

Well, Zakopane will be a really great setting for WOG, if Munich isnt bidding for 2022, and Zakopane bids, i'll love to see the games there.

what about Budapest? they have good infrastructure. Or Prague with more experience. But i'd rather see KIEV!

[Rols O'Bertilsson]

deawebo, on 13 December 2011 - 11:35 PM, said:

what about Budapest? they have good infrastructure.

Everytime this topic comes up (and it does often - there are plenty of threads speculating on an eastern European games if you looked), I always say this would be my preference. For pure Olympic tradition, Hungary would IMHO be by far the most deserving candidate from the region, and my perception is also that it has its economic sh!t together best from the former eastern bloc nations.

[baron-pierreIV]

I think the Summer Games have outgrown the smaller countries of Eastern Europe; I mean even Helsinki could NOT stage a SOG now. As for the Winter, well, other than Sarajevo, they don't really have developed ski resorts, etc., etc. The only reason Sochi got it is that Russia has the moolah to give the IOC a winter "Beijing" so to speak!