StefanMUC

Didn't someone from the IOC (JAS jr.?) already say Calgary could host "for free"? Well, we all know how that one ended. I do agree though that the IOC could be well-advised to go for a "targeted" approach and talk to cities and see what's possible and what's not instead of just waiting which crazy-money spending dictatorship is willing to offer itself. Though of course that would be a radical change of mind (and probably loss of money) for the folks in Lausanne.

I doubt they will just do it like it was before. Read today that in Cologne, the original wooden roof was replaced by an iron construction when the Cathedral was finally finished in the 19th century, which helped it to avoid even more destruction in WW2. So there’s surely aesthetically good solutions which are fire-proof available.

Apart from of the less serious parts of your post, Macron has heard you: He wants to have everything rebuilt within five years.

Wasn‘t this just because the Athletics had already been awarded to Berlin before this concept came up?

FYI: Munich is bidding to host the 2022 edition, mostly using the 1972 legacy. Decision some time this year, there may still be other candidates though, but so far no big resistance like with the failed WOG bid for the same year.

Italy is virtually bankrupt though, even if Salvini claims he doesn‘t care. Govt is guaranteeing money it doesn‘t really have, but well, the IOC can‘t be pucky these days.

It currently takes about three hours on the road from Barcelona to Andorra, and I doubt they could build a high-speed train link there easily. However, Andorra just hosted the alpine World Cup finals and easily has the infrastructure for the alpine skiing events, probably also snowboard/freestyle. Barcelona could also easily host the "ice cluster" events, but they'd obviously have to find space for nordic events and I guess they'd have to borrow La Plagne for sliding track (that would probably the French factor in there?). But indeed, as long as the Catalonia question isn't settled, the IOC won't touch this hot potato. It's not a completely unrealistic concept once the political conflict is solved though, but not in 2030. Also, you'd wonder: Beijing-Stockholm-Barcelona...if the Winter Olympics don't find hosts anymore, they'll just recycle the summer ones? ;-)

I wonder when finally the day will come that 17.4m people realise that they‘ve been lied to all along and that those claiming to fight for them are self-absorbed cowards detached from reality? Probably never, looking at the still very narrow polls.

The lengths the IOC would go to for the Nobel Prize...2032 will be awarded in 2025 at Bach‘s last session (if he gets re-elected of course, which I don‘t doubt just yet). This would be the right pompous departure gift.

Could very well be, but of course then there‘s the risk this will blow up (metaphorically!) AFTER the IOC votes for them. As I said some weeks ago, this could eventually put the IOC in a „Denver situation“, if the Swedish public revoltes against hosting even after the bid has won. A lack of transparency would also be absolutely atypical for Sweden, that could easily backfire.

Oh dear, Nazarbayev is retiring. Who will the IOC call now if both Stockholm and Milan fall apart still before the vote? (warning: this post contains sarcasm)

Interesting video! In this context worth mentioning that there's a debate here whether the Olympic Park should become UNESCO Heritage or not. It's obviously iconic enough, however there's fear that the requirements for preserving it would clash with the need to renovate and modernise the whole area. The velodrome has of course been torn down some years ago and there will now be a new arena for basketball/ice hockey soon (co-built by Red Bull - the hockey sponsor here - and FC Bayern for its basketball team), which also puts the future use of the current ice arena (which was already there before 72) in doubt.

Absolutely horrible, and once again proof that hatred isn‘t specific to any religion. But of course fascists around the world will find ways to explain and excuse this terrorist act.

Then Lordi or Netta were marketing stunts too. They have been one of the most acclaimed underground acts in Iceland for the past 2 or 3 years, this is their image, but not just for ESC.

Salvini as a knight in shining armor...more likely in a brown fascist uniform. But that hasn‘t stopped the IOC before either.