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When it comes time for the IOC to award the Olympic Games, they go looking for a partner to deliver an exceptional Games experience for the athletes, the spectators, the sponsors, the media, and the world at large. The biggest risk they have taken in recent years were the 2004 Athens Olympics - the smallest country to host the Olympics since Finland hosted the 1952 Helsinki Games. Yes, China has issues, but as an Olympic partner, they were NEVER going to be a risk. Just look at the result! As an Olympic partner, what does India offer the IOC? At the moment, empty seats and empty promises, delayed preparation and a highly undeveloped market. It would take more than just a few Olympic cycles to get to that level and there are many other potential Olympic partners that offer everything that the IOC is looking for. Delhi 2010 has tarnished the Commonwealth Games brand. The IOC would never allow their sacred and holy brand to enter into that kind of risk - it is just too valuable. India has a long, long, long way to go before they host an Olympic Games.

Consider that Tokyo trumps Toronto in terms of: Population - the Tokyo Metropolitan Area's population is more than 6 times the size of Greater Toronto - Japan's population is more than 3 times the size of Canada's Economy - Tokyo was described by Saskia Sassen as one of the three command cities of the world economy - Tokyo is ranked by PriceWaterCooperHouse as the world's richest city by total GDP; while Toronto is No.22 - Japan has the world's third largest GDP, compared with Canada at 10 - Japanese citizens are marginally wealthier than Canadians Influence - Tokyo is the capital city of one of the world's most powerful nations (3 largest economy, 10th largest population) - Tokyo was ranked No.3 among global cities by "Foreign Policy" while Toronto was 14 Sport - Japan has historically performed better at the Summer Olympics than Canada (123 gold vs 58) - Tokyo has hosted the 1964 Olympics and co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup; while the biggest event Toronto has hosted was the Pan American Games Infrastructure - Tokyo has probably the best public transport system in the world; while Toronto is very much a car dependant metropolis - Tokyo's existing stadia is already better than Toronto's - Additional stadia will be less likely to become "white elephants" in the world's largest city than Toronto - Tokyo must be considered more reliable than Toronto in delivering facilities on schedule Timezone - 2020 would be 12 years since another Olympics was hosted in a similar timezone to Tokyo's; while it would be just 4 years for Toronto Drought - Japan's drought for hosting Summer Olympic Games is 12 years longer than Canada's - Japan's drought for hosting any Olympic Games is also 12 years longer

Considering how things have been going, I'm not sure if you're joking or not.

The Baron is correct. I'm not even ethnically Chinese. And goodness' knows, I'm no cheerleader for the Beijing regime and never have been--didn't even think Beijing should have been awarded the Olympics, but then the IOC didn't ask for my opinion. I think Eusebius above is right as to the checklist of what's needed for India to put a serious bid together. But I stand by my previous comments--ain't gonna happen in the next 100 years. The crux of the issue, especially if you want to compare Developing China with Developing India, comes down to fundamental cultural differences and has nothing to do with how many people are joining the middle class. It is simply this: when the chips are down and the will to accomplish something big is there, the Chinese have a culture of moving heaven and earth to make it happen, whatever it takes and that includes rolling over and squashing obstacles (sometimes literally). Situation with Indians is completely different. Anyone who's tried to herd cats will get the idea.

I don't see any situation in the next 100 years where any location in India could successfully host a SOG. In fact, when I saw this poll, it took 10 minutes before I could stop laughing enough to write.

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OK, am starting to watch the OC on YouTube now. 2 immediate observations: 1. Drumming sequence is just too long-- and the saffron-lighting is just boring. They should've changed or varied it for this long a sequence. 2. Will that Hindenberg-ata/aerostat thing hover over the stadium while they have the track events??

I haven't seen any of it--so I can't vote yet. But this kids' painting "from underneath"...uhmmm, Manchester '02.

Apparantly the aerostat is going to be used alot more in the Closing ceremony, the mirrors on its belly are also going to be used alot more. I have also read something that says they are going to make it appear like a chandelier, but im not entirely sure what that has to do with India. I agree about the Ghandi segment though. Even though the sandpainting was clever in terms of an art form, it really has no place in stadium theatre - unless you are going to do it on a hugely impressive large scale taking up the entire stadium floor - which would have been quite the eye catching. Believe it or not, the Ghandi part would have been even more minor that it was if not for the last minute decision to include that light fixture of his appearing out of the ground. That was supposed to have been done just a day before the opening ceremony, I think that while it was great seeing the joyous spirit of the participants, there needed to be more form to parts of it. It just seemed like they couldn't be arsed doing some decent choreography and just let them run around doing whatever they pleased. At times it just looked like a big mess. I know they were trying to portray the theme of *organised chaos*, but it didn't translate that well in the Celebration segment. They also needed to make a bigger impact with the opening segment, it was just abit samey to other ceremonies. Even if it was a high impact emotive pa address, much like how Athens had the lightning effects with the whole *citizens of the world welcome to Athens, Olympic Games welcome back to Greece*. These are a Games taking place is new exotic territory, but it was all just abit bleh.

I keep saying this and I keep hearing the same arguements. Toronto has as much of a chance to win 2020 if they choose to bid for it!!! Arguements about that it would be too close to Vancouver 2010 or the PanAms in 2015 don't really make that much sense based on previous bid winners. In fact, one post actually mentioned that 2020 will be in Europe because the European IOC voters expect the games every ten years... absurd. IF and I say "if" Toronto were to bid for 2020? This bid would resemble what they put forth for the 2008 bid (close to the waterfront, near the downtown core and quite accessible to Public Transit and Hotels). This land has barely been touch and has "Olympics" written all over it! In fact, none of this area is being used for the 2015 PanAM Games. Toronto will build a NEW Athletics Facility that will be used for Track and Field, Opening/Closing Ceremonies and the Football (soccer) Final (the PanAM facility will not be used except for soccer and maybe Field Hockey). They will build a NEW Aquatic Centre that will host Swimming and Diving. (the new UofT Centre will host synchro and Water Polo events) Toronto will not need a Veledrome since a new one is being built in Hamilton. (Keep in mind that Hamilton is close to Toronto.... and in 1976, the Sailing events were not held in Montreal!!! They were held in Kingston, Ontario. Rio won the 2016 Games based on two facts... the continent had never hosted a SOG and they had the facilities built after they hosted the PanAM Games in 2007. Toronto has hosted several World Class Triathlons on the Lake Ontario Waterfront so I can see Ontario Place running this (as well as Beach Vball) As for the other events needed... Toronto has pretty much everything in place to do this (or will have these facilities completed) well before the IOC makes their visits to inspect the projects that will be needed for a successfull games. As for Finances, you can see it anyway you want? Canada is practically the only country in the World that didn't really suffer over the recession of 2009-10. (we saw few to none forclosures on houses because of ridiculous banks lending money to people who couldn't afford it) Lastly... to those people who mentioned spending the money on those less fortunate instead of "wasting" money on this bid effort or establishing the games if they are actually won.... I have to note the buses of the homeless moved out of Atlanta and Beijing before the games began (so that foreign visitors would not feel uncomfortable) How much money did that cost??? Based on the Cities that have expressed an interest in bidding, it seems that Toronto will have a very good shot at winning. Look at the Toronto bid book from 2008's bid and discuss the "flaws"? Even though the IOC stated they had the best "compact" bid for 2008!!! (and were approached by many IOC members with the sentiment that they should come back VERY soon) 2020 is VERY soon!!! 2008's bid was bad timing for Toronto (or any other city) with Beijings bid. It was time that the IOC went to the most populous country in the world for 2008. With that being said, it was with the same sentiment that Rio is hosting 2016 (time to go to South America). With that being said, some might argue that Africa will be the next move? I cannot see this before the 2030's or before the Continent is at least even close to the financial viability as South America (not just one or two countries) That is my opinion and it seems quite logical. Winning a bid for an Olympic Games is almost always a popularity contest. The best bid doesn't always win and the IOC is very unpredictable!!! (ask Paris) You cannot win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket!!! This IS a lottery!!! You might have the most ticket (or votes) but the numbers change and just when you think you have it "in the bag" you lose!!! (ask Paris... or even Athens in 1996) So state your opinions based on facts... not just "it's this continents time"? Look at the positives for each potential bid and weigh them against the other bids. Then come to your conclusions