38 replies to this topic

[Olympic Fan Darcy]

Is Istanbul a European bid or is it a Middle Eastern bid?

I definitely don't think you can rule out Paris even if Istanbul wins.

And now Toronto City Council have overwhelmingly voted for Toronto to bid for 2024, you've got a potential contender that allows the Games to go back to North America.

South Africa would be the leading contender, BUT if you cost the games at about $10bn can South Africa afford to host the games with so many other issues. I was reading about Durban and apparently the level of HIV/AIDS infection there is 32% !!!!!

Surely South Africa has more fundamentally pressing issues to deal with over the next 5 years than considering bidding for the Olympics?

Couldn't that be said about America, they have many problems to do with money and spain well 21% unemployment wasnt it?

[Athensfan]

Couldn't that be said about America, they have many problems to do with money and spain well 21% unemployment wasnt it?

The US is doing FAR better than Europe at the moment, so no, they should not be grouped with Spain! Part of the problem SA faces is that it requires far more infrastructure improvements than an established power like the US, therefore the Games will be more expensive.

[dysan1]

Paris v Durban v Toronto will be a tighter race... Toronto will be my technical choice, Paris my sentimental choice... As for Durban... They will get the 2022 CWG so I'm not that sure to see them with SOG 2 years after...

Who says we will even bid for the commonwealth games??? once again so many people in here live in la-la land

[Blacksheep]

Couldn't that be said about America, they have many problems to do with money and spain well 21% unemployment wasnt it?

I wish people would not go on about alleged Spanish unemployment. It is the way they actually calculate the figues that makes it worse than it actually is. Staff turnonver per annum in the retail sector in Spain is 4x what it is in the UK -- its just that employees change jobs far more frequently and when the figures are compiled this is reflected in the supposedly high unemployment rates. Its typical media ignorance - going for the Head line grabbing figure rather than investigating the actual reality on the ground.

p.s. I worked for two years commuting from London to Spain on a fortnightly basis and staff were always changing not because they were being made redundant but because they were constantly changing jobs

[intoronto]

Who says we will even bid for the commonwealth games??? once again so many people in here live in la-la land

Its from a report earlier that stated RSA would bid.

[Athensfan]

Its from a report earlier that stated RSA would bid.

In all fairness though, SA has made such announcements before and then abandoned their plans.

[stark]

Cape Town will be an iconic setting, imagine outdoor events such as marathons with the Table Mountain in the bottom

[Rafa]

I assume you also expect there to be a better domestic bid process this time around Rafa?

A domestic bid process to begin with would be good. Although SASCOC aren't doing themselves any favours in terms of their conduct and relations with government.

[Athensfan]

A domestic bid process to begin with would be good. Although SASCOC aren't doing themselves any favours in terms of their conduct and relations with government.

That's worrisome. Obviously the government can pull the plug again if they are so inclined.