Sir Rols

And what if I want to attend cricket, kayaking and athletics in LA? Or wanted to see handball;, sailing, surfing and swimming in Paris? It’s always a trade-off for visitors. And likely to become more common under the “New Norm:. I don’t think that’s comparable. And you’re going to get bigger distances in WC 2026. India/Ahmedabad’s bid has it’s issues - political, social, climatic - it needs to address. I don’t think this preliminary (and unconfirmed venue plan is one of them or would be much to be concerned about or kill its chances.

Neither is Oklahoma City (not to mention New Jersey - cricket - to LA). Or Tahiti to Paris. Or Hong Kong to Beijing. Hardly a deal breaker, especially in the “New Norm” era. As Sebastien pointed out, to all intents and purposes the plan is still very Ahmedabad-centric. Any highlighting of other far venues is more likely for domestic market Kc purposes.

India eyes multi-city hosting for 2036 Olympics

We’ve made the feed!!!!!

Regarding he candidate files - they’re all pretty turgid reading. Lots of stuff about “putting the athletes first” which is pretty bleeding obvious and platitudinous- like politicians pledging to “put people fist”. Then there’s all the stuff they’re all spouting about “embracing the opportunities of AI”???? I mean, WTF? I’m willing to be convinced, but exactly what role can AI play in the Olympics? Is it going to write the OC press releases and marketing guff (I thought it already did - most read like it)?

Of course it is, I was joking regarding Test cricket. I still think Test cricket is the real cricket. T20 is just the bite-sized version suitable for the games. Just as Rugby 7s is the bite sized version compared to the real Rugby which is played in the RWC.

And here’s what we all play for, a spot on the Honour Roll!

To save you the trouble, here’s my potted run-down: Hussein - Arab money. Olympics in all seasons Lappartient - Olympics for Africa Eliasch - ???? Why is he even running? He’s only been a member since July Juan Antonio Samaranch (the younger) - The old JAS contacts, Knows where the bodies are buried. Will bring back bidding contests Coventry - Bach’s bitch. More of the same Coe - it’s freaking Seb Coe, what more do you want? And it would piss off Bach Watanabe - Crazy times ahead. Olympics simultaneously on five continents!

Wow, @yoshi gives me a song choice, but how can I argue with Ormond Energy. And with BOTH kinds of music… Congrats @corn_zxl, nice to see a new champ join the ranks! The updated honour roll will follow soon, but in the meantime, to whet your appetite for Singapore, give Yoshi something to panic over and in honour of the coming Lunar New Year…

All the candidate documents are available here: https://olympics.com/ioc/news/candidature-documents-for-the-ioc-presidential-candidates-now-available

JAS is the most explicit, but I take heart that basically all of them - bar Kiss-me-Kirsty - have promised to wind back EB powers and give the membership more power and decision making. I think there’s a good chance we could see a return to multiple bid voting whoever wins (besides Kirsty). I want to see Coe make it - I don’t think there’s ever been anybody better qualified and experienced for the job. And I’m encouraged that the betting markets and articles I’ve read seem to indicate he’s making ground. But basically, anyone but Kirsty would be okay - she’d be a disappointment and disaster.

BTW, the second question is multiple choice (if I set it up right)

It’s time…

I was going to wait a bit for it… but why not

A quick bump and reminder - about 12 hours to go. Are there any last minute votes out there?

While we’re on it - are you planning a late Singapore submission @Glacib?

Whoa! Wasn’t expecting that @Bear, particularly as I figured you’d be otherwise pre-occupied. Guess that means you still have electricity. Thanks and good luck!

Surely it’s far too early to speculate on the fires’ impact on the games preparations. Likely it’ll be more a peripheral factor in said preps, while adding some poignancy when the games are actually being staged. As to looking for scapegoats. I’m not an Angeleno, so I don’t have any real understanding of the situation and dynamics. I suspect even Angelenos will have diverse views on that, particularly at this moment when they’re shocked, confused and frightened. I can only go by what media reports say, and inevitably they’re being framed through the Red V Blue prism of their respective platforms. Sad state of affairs.

For years, Davey’s Paris comp logo got thrown up as an official Paris logo. Even made it into a few publications.

Thanks for checking in, and stay safe.

They still made donations. They’re conscious of these sorts of things. They’ll almost certainly make some appropriate gesture again in this case. It’s probably also going to be incorporated in the games’ “story”. Maybe even in the opening. “Rebuilding” or “Rising from the Ashes” or along those lines.

That will very likely happen. Sydney had a similar situation with big bushfires around our metropolitan area in our summer of 1993-94 - just after we’d been elected 2000 host. The IOC did in that case very soon after a significant donation to relief efforts. I believe they did similar after the big fires in Greece that swept over Olympia.

In my case, the voter’s got it right - I would have had to withdraw if I’d survived to this round. commiserations @Bear, that was some great work you put in. Still time to come up with a Singapore logo. Actually, scotch that - you’ve probably got more important things on mind. How are things going? Keeping safe? And also commiserations @Victorian. That’s three former champs out in the first round. Have a swig of this for consolation… … and lets get some real music going. BOTH kinds!

He’s already blamed Governor Newsom, Biden and some fish conservation project. So I think this is still highly appropriate. Of course the answer to these type of calamities is to “Drill, Baby Drill!” again on Day 1. I remember when @Alexjc introduced his “GILEAD… only one bad recession away” signature just after Trump’s 2016 election (I think it was), I thought it was a bit alarmist at the time. Now it’s proved to be spot-on prophetic.

Trump threatening Denmark, Panama… and Canada. Musk spewing his poison in the UK, Germany and Oz. Zuckerberg deciding fact checking isn’t worth it any more - truth is obviously too divisive to strive for now. And those of us who should be championing democracy - basically anybody who isn’t a knob-head - seem too numb and resigned to put up much of a defence - as if it’s futile any longer to count on reason to win hearts and minds. Dark f**king days. it’s so hard to be optimistic these days - war, tyranny, famine, disease, natural disaster. Take your pick. And these oligarch jackals only seem interested in cheering it on