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2020 Applicant Cities - Who will bid?


monorail

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So is Italy - that's not stopping them.

I see the 2020 Games as a the German SOG: Regardless of whether it is in Madrid or Rome, it will be financed and paid for by Germany.

@CanisMinor I wasn't aware of Italy's problems, but it is not as bad as Spain's. I can't see a Germany 2020 bid. I see a repeat Munich 2022.

@Triffle I really want a Spanish Winter Olympics in Barcelona, which would cost less and still be an Olympic experience. Canada on the other hand has escaped the debt problems plaguing the rest of the G8. Toronto should bid, because the field as it stands right now looks like it will have 3-4 bids. However, I do suggest waiting until more bids come out.

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Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish NOC, keeps encouraging Madrid to bid for 2020:

Alejandro Blanco: "Tenemos que ir a por los Juegos de 2020" (in Spanish).

Here is a "corrected" online translation of the paragraphs regarding the possible 2020 bid. I hope it's as accurate and clear as possible.

Alejandro Blanco: "We have to go for the 2020 Games"

The President of the Spanish Olympic Committee pleads for repeating the bid of Madrid

The president of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), Alejandro Blanco, has said that Madrid has to go for the 2020 Olympic Games, although he will respect the position of the town hall of the capital if the opposite is decided "because of non-sports reasons".

"The decision has to be taken by the new council of the town hall of Madrid. I will never attack the mayor if he decides not to bid, but saying this we have to go for '20 after having bet for a world-recognized candidacy", he affirmed during his intervention in the Forum Ferrándiz, where he delivered a speech on the "Evolution of the Olympic Movement".

Blanco indicated that his duty as a leader is to ask for it, because being in the race for the Olympics represents "investment, money and benefits". "We cannot value what the Games mean for a city, but the decision has to be imminent because on July 27 the COE has to send a few writings to the IOC with the city. The third is a wonderful number", he answered to the question of if the third attempt of Madrid will be the good one.

Asked on why Spain has not obtained the organization of other Games since Barcelona '92 and neither of the Football World Cup nor the Ryder Cup, the President of the COE remembered the next international competitions that will take place in Spain, such as the World Championships of basketball and handball.

"The election to win the Games is very complicated. It is necessary to present a great work and when the door is closed to vote, your work has ended. When Spain goes for a candidacy, it goes with options to win, it never presents the best economic offer, its great endorsement is the capacity of organization and the experience", he indicated. [...]

And then he also says he belives that the elections for Olympic or FIFA World Cup hosts are fair, that Spanish sport is well known all over the world and that he supports the idea of the European Games.

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Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish NOC, keeps encouraging Madrid to bid for 2020:

Alejandro Blanco: "Tenemos que ir a por los Juegos de 2020" (in Spanish).

Here is a "corrected" online translation of the paragraphs regarding the possible 2020 bid. I hope it's as accurate and clear as possible.

Alejandro Blanco: "We have to go for the 2020 Games"

The President of the Spanish Olympic Committee pleads for repeating the bid of Madrid

The president of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), Alejandro Blanco, has said that Madrid has to go for the 2020 Olympic Games, although he will respect the position of the town hall of the capital if the opposite is decided "because of non-sports reasons".

"The decision has to be taken by the new council of the town hall of Madrid. I will never attack the mayor if he decides not to bid, but saying this we have to go for '20 after having bet for a world-recognized candidacy", he affirmed during his intervention in the Forum Ferrándiz, where he delivered a speech on the "Evolution of the Olympic Movement".

Blanco indicated that his duty as a leader is to ask for it, because being in the race for the Olympics represents "investment, money and benefits". "We cannot value what the Games mean for a city, but the decision has to be imminent because on July 27 the COE has to send a few writings to the IOC with the city. The third is a wonderful number", he answered to the question of if the third attempt of Madrid will be the good one.

Asked on why Spain has not obtained the organization of other Games since Barcelona '92 and neither of the Football World Cup nor the Ryder Cup, the President of the COE remembered the next international competitions that will take place in Spain, such as the World Championships of basketball and handball.

"The election to win the Games is very complicated. It is necessary to present a great work and when the door is closed to vote, your work has ended. When Spain goes for a candidacy, it goes with options to win, it never presents the best economic offer, its great endorsement is the capacity of organization and the experience", he indicated. [...]

And then he also says he belives that the elections for Olympic or FIFA World Cup hosts are fair, that Spanish sport is well known all over the world and that he supports the idea of the European Games.

If anything Madrid would be a strong contender. One however has to consider that Italy has not hosted the Summer games in 50 years, and Barcelona hosted less then 20 years ago.

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If anything Madrid would be a strong contender. One however has to consider that Italy has not hosted the Summer games in 50 years, and Barcelona hosted less then 20 years ago.

Yes. The card Madrid would be supposed to play if they finally bid is that while the major European capitals (i.e. Rome, Paris, Berlin...) have already hosted at least once, Madrid hasn't.

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Yes. The card Madrid would be supposed to play if they finally bid is that while the major European capitals (i.e. Rome, Paris, Berlin...) have already hosted at least once, Madrid hasn't.

Yes. This is why I wouldn't count Madrid out for 2020. The IOC still remembers Samaranch. They've had back-to-back strong bids. I really think Madrid could be a force to be reckoned with for 2020. I might even be tempted to say that they would be my pick for 2020 if they bid... I'm not quite saying that, but I'm tempted....

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You all know I want Madrid to bid and win, of course, but objectively speaking, I think the project Madrid has presented is very interesting, especially because they would be one of the most compact Games ever, with a very high percentage of the venues less than a few kilometres away from the city centre. Public transport is fantastic too. And also, the Games in Madrid will help international audiences discover the greatest unknown among the major European capitals. It's not like Rio's natural beauty, but there many things in Madrid that look wonderful on photos and TV.

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Yes. This is why I wouldn't count Madrid out for 2020. The IOC still remembers Samaranch. They've had back-to-back strong bids. I really think Madrid could be a force to be reckoned with for 2020. I might even be tempted to say that they would be my pick for 2020 if they bid... I'm not quite saying that, but I'm tempted....

A possible "late" gift to Samaranch I can see that happening. I prefer Madrid over Rome any day.

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Madrid's biggest obstacle is indeed Barcelona. However, as time progresses, that particular obstacle becomes less & less of an issue.

2012/20 years after Barcelona was totally still too soon to return to Spain. 2016/24 years after still a bit too close for comfort. 2020/28 years after starts becoming less of a factor, but still an issue nonetheless. I think not until at least 2028 could Spain/Madrid then finally shake the Barcelona stigma off once & for all.

Even the other major European countries still waited at least 36 years between Olympics. So Spain constantly asking to get it much sooner than that probably can become an irritant with some of the IOC members. I'd still say that Italy would get the Summer Games again before Spain gets them a second time.

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Speaking of Madrid... BREAKING NEWS!!

El Confidencial (The Confidential) assures the Madrid 2020 bid will be made official in the near future, probably this weekend. It may only be a rumour but they seem to be pretty sure...

Link (in Spanish): Gallardón ya tiene lista la candidatura de Madrid a los Juegos de 2020

Gallardón has already prepared the Madrid bid for the 2020 Games

Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón has already decided to undertake what would be his third Olympic race. In the coming days, once the City Council shall be organized in Madrid next Saturday, he will announce that the city of Madrid will compete for the organization of the Games in 2020.

London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 stood in the way of Gallardón, who seems himself with strength to fight for victory after the blow received in Singapore 2005 and Copenhagen 2009. The curious thing is that Mariano Rajoy, Popular Party leader, has called for restraint to the charges that were elected in the elections last May 22. He did it in the National Board of his party. The response from colleagues was not long in coming.

The first step in the opposite direction marked by the PP president has been Francisco Camps, who is on the brink of signing a new contract with Ecclestone, which guarantees the Formula 1 in Valencia until 2020 in exchange for 108 million euros. The second will be Gallardón in their efforts to dress Madrid with the Olympic rings. The one who will be elected mayor of the capital of Spain is confident that Madrid bid will remain equally competitive as in 2009, when it reached the final, leaving behind cities like Chicago and Tokyo and fell defeated to Rio de Janeiro. The Secretary of State for Sports, Albert Soler, will travel to Lausanne to come together with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Jacques Rogge, to show Madrid's interest in the Games.

Gallardón believes that the basis of the Olympic project is already in place and should be given only slight alterations to the guidelines of the application. In addition, support from both the Spanish Olympic Committee in the person of its President Alejandro Blanco, who yesterday endorsed at the Forum Ferrándiz with a resounding "Madrid should go to the race for the Games of 2020", and from the various sports figures have led the politician to start what will be his third Olympic race. Juan Antonio Samaranch has also been among the people with more 'pressure' being exerted for the step to be formalized once the new municipal council is consisted. As before, Gallardón hopes to have the support of political forces. Popular Party (PP), Socialist Party (PSOE) and United Left (IU) have now been joined by Unión Progreso y Democracia (UPyD).

The approval of the project must go through one of the first plenary of the new City Hall and the idea is to be supported by all political groups, as well as the Government and the Autonomous Community of Madrid. What remains to be seen is the popular support, which in other occasions reached 90%. The official margin to give the nomination is not much, by the 29th of July the IOC has to receive a letter from the Olympic Committee of the country concerned, as a presentation of intent to go as a candidate for the appointment that will place on September 7, 2013 in Buenos Aires. After being approved by the full council, the request must go through a COE Executive Board, as approved by the assembly held last week.

Madrid 2016 Bid 'costed' more than 37.8 million

Gallardón has taken into account, before making a final decision, which could mean the project, and has opted for the projection that the city would host the Games, placing the cold analysis of the numbers that are often nothing favorable when events of this scale take place. In Madrid 2016, the City spent 37.8 million euros, of which 16.8 out of public money and the rest of the companies that joined the project as sponsors. The planned expenditure in 2016 for the construction of sports stadiums was 824 million euros, plus another 831 million for the Olympic Village. Apart from television and sponsorship revenues, it was expected that 345 million were entered by tickets to different sports. The land that was allocated for the construction of the Village is reserved and waiting to shelter the athletes, in this case in 2020.

La Peineta and the Magic Box will be again the sporting axes of the bid. Cities like Valencia have already declared their interest in sharing the Games with Madrid. The resignation of the South African city of Durban has been definitive for the mayor and his team, which include who was Madrid 2016 chairwoman, Mercedes Coghen, to be encouraged to enter the fray. The trend of the last big elections, both for World Cup and the Olympics, points to emerging countries or continents without a presence in major events as favorites in all elections of this type. It happened with Rio in 2016 and it has happened with Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, next hosts for the Games and World Cups, respectively.

Without Durban, the path is cleared. At least they think they will fight on equal conditions with cities like Paris, Rome, Berlin and Tokyo, which are emerging as rivals. Another fact that indicates that Madrid has said yes is that the COE asked for the city of Valencia the organization of the IOC Session that will decide the Olympic host and name of the new president of the Olympic movement. The request was withdrawn because of the impossibility of a city of a country aspiring to host the Games to host the event where the name of the host city is chosen. The COE asked and the answer came in the form of withdrawal of the application of the organization of the Session.

I don't like the last sentences of the last paragraph and they make me think the whole article might have been made up, because we have known for a long time that Buenos Aires will be the host of the IOC Session... Anyway, I hope this was just a lapse of concentration by the editors and that by this time next week we can be talking about Rome 2020's first rival. :D

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I don't like the last sentences of the last paragraph and they make me think the whole article might have been made up, because we have known for a long time that Buenos Aires will be the host of the IOC Session... Anyway, I hope this was just a lapse of concentration by the editors and that by this time next week we can be talking about Rome 2020's first rival. :D

it happened before IOC vote for Buenos Aires

12 de noviembre de 2009

El Comité Olímpico Español (COE) ha retirado la candidatura que había presentado para organizar la Sesión del COI del año 2013, durante la que se elegirán el nuevo presidente del organismo y los Juegos de 2020, ante la posibilidad de que una ciudad española opte a ser sede de esos Juegos.

Valencia era la ciudad que el COE propuso al COI como sede de la trascendental Sesión electoral de 2013. El secretario general del COE, Víctor Sánchez, elaboró un informe que, según fuentes del organismo nacional, fue muy bien valorado en Lausana y tenía claras posibilidades de salir vencedor, frente a los proyectos de Buenos Aires y Kuala Lumpur, ciudades que también desean acoger la Sesión.

Sin embargo, la votación por la sede de unos Juegos Olímpicos no puede celebrarse, para no romper el principio de neutralidad, en un país que tenga alguna ciudad implicada en la elección

http://www.mx.terra.com/deportes/vancouver2010/noticias/0,,OI4096685-EI14383,00-COE+renuncia+a+Sesion+del+COI+de+para+no+perjudicar+posible+candidatura.html

.
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it happened before IOC vote for Buenos Aires

Oh, I see... I didn't know Valencia wanted to host an IOC Session. But anyway, the article is a bit confusing there. Valencia withdrew just in case Madrid decided to bid again, it can't be seen as a fact that proves Madrid will bid, as the article says, because it happened a couple of years ago.

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Apparently the USA can still make a bid for 2020 and is being encouraged to do so. Also Toronto is listed as as a possible bid, but one has to wonder how much of that is coming from the hype in forums.

Yeah, of course the USA can still make a bid. The problem is, can the USOC organise a domestic bid competition, call for interested city submissions, evaluate them and then choose one to go with, all transparently and fairly, before the September 1 deadline?

Unlikely, IMO.

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This is interesting news concerning a possible American bid. Is there enough time to select a candidate city when there are quite a few that would be interested?

And as the days go by I'm really starting to believe that Toronto will bid now.

The lineup for this race is looking better with the possible additions of Madrid, US city & Toronto.

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Yeah, of course the USA can still make a bid. The problem is, can the USOC organise a domestic bid competition, call for interested city submissions, evaluate them and then choose one to go with, all transparently and fairly, before the September 1 deadline?

Unlikely, IMO.

I don't think its enough time unless one city just wants to bid.

Go Toronto!!

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Yeah, of course the USA can still make a bid. The problem is, can the USOC organise a domestic bid competition, call for interested city submissions, evaluate them and then choose one to go with, all transparently and fairly, before the September 1 deadline?

The simple answer to that is, no. Unless the USOC wants to hurry it up & do a half-ass job, there ain't no fricken way to do a PROPER domestic bid process & evaluation in only 2-1/2 months time before the 2020 application deadline.

The USOC so painstakingly went through the whole 2016 process & evalution (due to the 2012 New York debacle) because they wanted to make sure that everything was 110% right with their 2016 candidate of choice, & then had annointed Chicago as their candidate 6 months before the application deadline, that I just don't see such a super-fast, hurried process now simply because lip-service Rogge is blowing smoke outta his a$s.

And besides all that, what U.S. major cities are going to step up to the plate & have everything done in time, with proper due process, when the USOC had already made it VERY clear that there would be NO 2020 bid from the U.S.? Look at all the red-tape Chicago had to go through in their process. And lets not even get started with what kind of bureaucracy a San Francisco bid would face. Rogge's comment is nothing but a farce, & dare I say likely made in jest.

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The simple answer to that is, no. Unless the USOC wants to hurry it up & do a half-ass job, there ain't no fricken way to do a PROPER domestic bid process & evaluation in only 2-1/2 months time before the 2020 application deadline.

The USOC so painstakingly went through the whole 2016 process & evalution (due to the 2012 New York debacle) because they wanted to make sure that everything was 110% right with their 2016 candidate of choice, & then had annointed Chicago as their candidate 6 months before the application deadline, that I just don't see such a super-fast, hurried process now simply because lip-service Rogge is blowing smoke outta his a$s.

And besides all that, what U.S. major cities are going to step up to the plate & have everything done in time, with proper due process, when the USOC had already made it VERY clear that there would be NO 2020 bid from the U.S.? Look at all the red-tape Chicago had to go through in their process. And lets not even get started with what kind of bureaucracy a San Francisco bid would face. Rogge's comment is nothing but a farce, & dare I say likely made in jest.

Maybe they'll just skip the selection process and put Chicago as its candidate again.

Do you know if Chicago is even interested anymore?

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The simple answer to that is, no. Unless the USOC wants to hurry it up & do a half-ass job, there ain't no fricken way to do a PROPER domestic bid process & evaluation in only 2-1/2 months time before the 2020 application deadline.

The USOC so painstakingly went through the whole 2016 process & evalution (due to the 2012 New York debacle) because they wanted to make sure that everything was 110% right with their 2016 candidate of choice, & then had annointed Chicago as their candidate 6 months before the application deadline, that I just don't see such a super-fast, hurried process now simply because lip-service Rogge is blowing smoke outta his a$s.

And besides all that, what U.S. major cities are going to step up to the plate & have everything done in time, with proper due process, when the USOC had already made it VERY clear that there would be NO 2020 bid from the U.S.? Look at all the red-tape Chicago had to go through in their process. And lets not even get started with what kind of bureaucracy a San Francisco bid would face. Rogge's comment is nothing but a farce, & dare I say likely made in jest.

Exactly - the horse has well and truly bolted IMO for the US to launch a 2020 bid. But I don't get why people get steamed up that Rogge makes "diplo-speak" comments for public consumption. It's his job, and no different from what most politicians, business leaders etc all say for public consumption.

I don't think its enough time unless one city just wants to bid.

Even if it is only one city, the USOC still has to go through due process to determine that by putting out a call for interested parties. No, it's just not viable in the ammount of time left.

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Maybe they'll just skip the selection process and put Chicago as its candidate again.

Do you know if Chicago is even interested anymore?

As far as I know, the new mayor is not interested after what Mayor Daley went through & everything else.

Soaring Higher would probably know more, but I don't see another Chicago bid within at least the next decade. I think they still see 2016 as a big let down, to say the least.

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Exactly - the horse has well and truly bolted IMO for the US to launch a 2020 bid. But I don't get why people get steamed up that Rogge makes "diplo-speak" comments for public consumption. It's his job, and no different from what most politicians, business leaders etc all say for public consumption.

It's one thing to say diplomatic things, but quite another to just be blatantly disingenuous.

As you said, "the horse has well & truly bolted...", & for Rogge to just CASUALLY say such a thing when he, of all people, knows what a huge undertaking an Olympic bid is, the statement can hardly be taken sincerely.

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Oh, c'mon. What else is he gonna say? "We're happy we've signed a TV deal. Now we don't expect to hear from the US for another four years"? "Thanks for the money, don't call us, we'll call you"? "It's good to get a TV deal with NBC - pity it's too late for the US to think of bidding for 2020"?

Do you think Blackmun was really sitting there listening and suddenly though "OMG - Jacques just told us we should be bidding."

It's a feel good sound-bite for public consumption, as any figurehead of any public organisation is expected to do. Is every US president of the past decades being disengenuous when they say something like "We hope for peace in the middle east" instead of "We think the middle east's a basket case and it's just too hard to think of how it will ever be at peace?"? Or is the average CEO being disengenuous when he says "We care for our customers" without adding the rejoinder "but we care about our shareholders more"?

Are you really expecting Rogge to give a candid assessment of the politics of bidding at a photo-op after a major set-piece news announcement by the IOC? Would you expect anybody to do so? If you want candid assessment, maybe try for a one-on-one interview with Rogge, or Pound, or Bach. But not a feel good statement at a press conference. Especially at a time when he's trying to mend fences and rebuild goodwill with the USOC, and vice-versa.

Anyway, what did he say that was wrong? Of course he and the IOC would be happy enough to see the US bid.

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Maybe they'll just skip the selection process and put Chicago as its candidate again.

Do you know if Chicago is even interested anymore?

No, no and no. And again, No.

Chicago got slapped down and humiliated. There is no intention from the new mayor and no support from the general citizens for another 50 - 70 million bid, only to be humiliated again.

Chicago is clear - they will not bid again. The USOC is clear, they will not bid in 2020. Rogge is simply playing politics.

There is NO US 2020 BID. End of line.

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The thing with a Madrid bid is that Spain is part of a continent with a high number of potential Olympic hosts and for Spain to once again get an Olympics so close to the 1992 Games seems a bit much: Spain - 12 years - Greece - 8 years - Britain - 8 years - Spain. There are 50 countries in Europe, and many of them are very active and powerful Olympic nations. Some (like the Netherlands, France or Sweden) haven't hosted the Summer Games in a century or so, and some (like Hungary and Poland) have never hosted. I just don't see Madrid getting enough support to win that majority.

As for the USA...too late! I wouldn't hold my breath. They aren't interested.

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