stryker

It's official. Fans will only be allowed to attend the WC next year if they are fully vaccinated against Covid https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/qatar-says-only-vaccinated-fans-allowed-world-cup-2022-2021-06-21/&ved=2ahUKEwjGsdStt6nxAhXOTMAKHeFJDAQQ0PADegQIGRAB&usg=AOvVaw31QAldRAu4rz6EM3xXJAB-&cshid=1624302814676

Absolutely none. The wounds between Oslo and the IOC after the 2022 race are too fresh not to mention the public support just isn't there.

The only possible double award I could see is Vancouver and Salt Lake City. I don't see the Sapporo bid going ahead and it's hard to envision a credible bid emerging from western Europe. Of course more chips have to fall into place, one being exactly how serious Vancouver is.

It doesn't help the IOC or the organizing committee that in a country with a snail's pace vaccination roll out that Olympic athletes are now jumping the line to get vaccinated. Compound that with the fact this is now the most expensive Olympics in history along with many purpose built Olympic venues that will never see their Olympic level capacity and it probably means it will be decades (2050s would be my guess) before Japan even considers another bid for an Olympics beit winter or summer. It's a shame because there are only a handful of countries right now that can host the SOGs without necessarily breaking the bank to do so. Take Japan off the list and Korea and China are there only realistic options in Asia. As I've stated previously, once the financial numbers start coming out, the No Olympics crowd is going to have a field day.

Infrastructure spending as part of Covid recovery is a start, but it has to be able to generate jobs in the private sector. If government spending can do so, it's a success. If not, it's only a short term fix. The problem in Europe is (France has just entered a double dip recession) is countries such as Italy and Spain, whose economies were already in dire straits prior to the pandemic, have had to spend so much fighting the pandemic, they are in debt that will never be able to be paid off. The debt will have to be forgiven and the EU will have to guarantee it to keep those banks holding the debt from collapsing. Australia and the USA (the USA has its own debt problems) are in much better shape and can afford to spend on those stimulus projects. Paris has no need for another new arena. They are already building a mid-size arena that will be the new home of Paris Basketball. Beyond that, it makes no sense to build yet another new sports arena that has no clear tenant after the Olympics. The new theme is use what you have, and the stadium in Lille with its transportation connections to Paris is a far more cost-effective option that either a new arena or a temporary one. I can't imagine the IHF is too happy about it, but it's well past the time for the host cities to tell these sports federations no to these shiny new venues that have no clear tenant ready to take over. Tokyo, Pyeongchang, Athens, Beijing, and Sochi have countless examples of white elephants.

Wasn't London's basketball arena originally going to be sent to Glasgow for the CWGs? My understanding was it was simply too expensive to ship and rebuild. While it worked for London, it's still cheaper to use an existing arena and at least Lille has the rail connections with Paris. France and the rest of the EU are going to be digging out of the wreckage economically from the Covid-19 recession for years to come. They have to save money every chance they get.

I was all set to visit Copenhagen in June last year then Covid-19 happened. Hoping to get the chance next summer. Under the new norm, yes it's a possibility, but still a tall order. Neither Malmo nor Copenhagen have the need for an athletics stadium, a whitewater course, or a velodrome and those are the most problematic venues in terms of legacy. The other issue I'd see is enough hotel rooms and potential logjams on the Oresund Bridge. Having said that, I do think Copenhagen could host an Olympics, just not the summer version. Copenhagen's infrastructure at least for the ice events is much better suited for a winter games. The question then becomes where to hold the skiing and sliding events? Oslo/Lillehammer is the closest option. Not the easiest in terms of logistics but if Barcelona is kicking around the idea of a bid with nordic combined, cross-country, and ski jumping in Albertville along with alpine skiing in Andorra then surely Copenhagen could get away with teaming up with Norway. Normally I'd say it's a non-starter but with the IOC desperate to get western Europe back into the fold for the WOGs, I say why not. I remember back in 1999 Helsinki proposed a bid with Lillehammer and it was quickly dismissed by the IOC. Challenging yes, but a joint WOG with Copenhagen would be much more feasible that an SOG IMO.

Bach and Coates have been as caustic as battery acid to the Olympics over the past few years. They are clearly spinning the situation and will probably pretend after the Tokyo Olympics end that these games were an anomaly to attempt to blunt any more No-Olympics talk from future bidders. I honestly think the organizers thought when the postponement was announced the world would be well on its way to the end of the pandemic was mass vaccination programs all over the globe. It hasn't happened that way and the pandemic is likely going to last well into 2022-2023 based on current vaccination rates. These are already the most expensive Olympics in history surpassing Sochi and they might also set the record for the biggest financial loss, something I am sure Bach and Coates will move to spin as an anomaly (never mind the fact the actual costs of Rio are said to be much higher than initially reported) I also think the Olympics can be done safely if done properly, but I'm not sure the IOC really has done their due diligence on this. Not having quarantine for unvaccinated athletes or personnel is the first red flag. When looking at test events or single tournaments like the Australian Open or the NBA last year, you have far fewer athletes that you can keep in a bubble type scenario. I don't remember the article (maybe insidethegames) but a suggestion last year was made to basically spread the Olympics out all over Japan in multiple bubbles with athletes and staff in designated hotels complete with quarantine on arrival and the athletes would only be allowed to leave the hotel for training or competing. When their event concluded they would have to depart within 24 hours. This also assumed no spectators or ceremonies. Under current protocols, it's hard to see how 10,000+ athletes and personnel in the Olympic Village with multiple sites across Tokyo could be considered a bubble not to mention no quarantine for unvaccinated athletes or personnel. I wonder if the stink that some tennis players made about Australia's quarantine rules during the Australian Open may have played a part in no quarantine in Tokyo.

I don't doubt Australia could host an excellent RWC again, but while World Rugby claims to want to grow the game they tend to go back to the well far too often when it comes to hosting (Japan being an exception).I had hopes that Argentina would stay in the race. Frankly, why not let Russia host it? The 2023 RWC is being held by a traditional rugby power anyway.

So what would the IOC's recourse be if Tokyo pulled the plug? The IOC is a nonprofit organization with no political power. What are they going to do? File a lawsuit against Tokyo or the Japanese government? Laughable, not to mention the fact with the IOC's reputation not in the best of shape, an attempt to take legal action especially when a cancellation would be to protect public health, would backfire horribly on the IOC in terms of public relations.

Looks like if you want to attend the WC next year, you will have to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination. I would imagine that it will be the same for all the teams as well. https://www.firstpost.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-hosts-qatar-seeking-virus-jabs-for-all-tournaments-visitors-9538821.html

I think the only way Birmingham could be a focus of a northern England bid would be if a new stadium was built that Birmingham City could take over. In the early 2000s, the club looked at a 55,000 seat stadium that would be funded by Las Vegas Sands but the deal collapsed I believe after a dispute over a casino onsite. Alexander Stadium, even with its redevelopment, is not big enough for the Olympics. To my knowledge Birmingham City has no current interest in leaving St. Andrew's. The IOC are definitely beggars at this point which is why if the UK went for a regional bid (even though it's not necessary) I'm sure they'd gladly accept. I wouldn't worry about the likes of Doha, Jakarta, or Delhi. The IOC has made it clear albeit not explicity that no bids from the Middle East or the developing world are going to be accepted. If the UK throws its hat in the ring for 2036, it will be a leading contender. After the IOC's swift move to lock up Brisbane for 2032, perhaps Khan thinks if they start this process now, maybe the IOC will move on a UK bid for 2036. When you consider the only real safe options for a SOGs are western Europe, Russia, the U.S., Korea, Australia, and China, the IOC doesn't have a lot of options. I left Japan out since Tokyo is on pace to be the most expensive Olympics in history and such a loss financially that it will be decades (I say 2050s) before Japan bids again.

I highly doubt that the IOC would even think about challenging China over entry or covid policies. As for a host contract, what would the IOC do? Attempt to take China to court? That would be laughable and China would have the financial leverage to bankrupt the IOC. The IOC is a non-profit organization with no authority over any country's laws and regulations.

Not sure about West Ham's finances, but I speculate that due to the economic downturn caused by the covid-19 pandemic, the club is hoping the city will come down on the price. Haven't heard much about it recently. The most recent chatter was December last year. As far as the current situation, who knows? https://www.hammers.news/columnist/is-david-sullivans-grand-plan-coming-together-at-west-ham-as-london-stadium-is-valued-at-just-1-5m/ If the stadium is only worth that much, then I would think it's reasonable that West Ham could make a bid for it.

I'm a bit surprised the IHF hasn't put up a fight about this. I recall when Tokyo wanted to move volleyball to the Yokohama Arena instead of constructing a new one and the FIVB went ballistic and Tokyo quickly caved in to their demands for a new arena (I'm sure there regretting that now with the $26 billion and counting price tag) and Yokohama is closer to Tokyo than Lille is to Paris.