Saudi Arabia eyes Olympic bid

[AustralianFan]

“Saudi Arabia is eyeing a bid to host the Olympics down the road, stating they are more than equipped to hold an event of such grandeur. The Arab nation will host the Asian Games in 2034 and while that is the focus for now, Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal made mention of bigger goals for the future.”

 

[yoshi]

Time to see how cost conscious the IOC really is...

[StefanMUC]

4 hours ago, yoshi said:

Time to see how cost conscious the IOC really is...

Not just *cost* conscious…

[yoshi]

Well true but tbf that's all the IOC really focus on. If they start genuinely giving a hoot about human rights and the environment, that really is a new agenda for them 

[TorchbearerSydney]

I think that is a bit unfair to the IOC- look at the next decade of Games....... France/ Italy/ USA/ USA or Japan or CAN/ AUS/ USA or Japan or CAN.....the IOC has swung towards super safe liberal democracies. It doesnt seem to be courting the more controversial and problematic Middle Eastern, Dictatorships, Communist nations at the moment.

 

[stryker]

Budweiser and any other booze company associated with sponsorship of the Olynpics. can kill this bid before the IOC does. No chance that the IOC allows their prize to be held under "dry" conditions. And no there's no chance what so that the IOC could force the Saudis to relax their rules on booze 

[SportLightning]

It's gonna be tough for Saudi Arabia to host the Olympics despite already awarded the 2034 Asian Games in Riyadh.

[StefanMUC]

6 hours ago, TorchbearerSydney said:

I think that is a bit unfair to the IOC- look at the next decade of Games....... France/ Italy/ USA/ USA or Japan or CAN/ AUS/ USA or Japan or CAN.....the IOC has swung towards super safe liberal democracies. It doesnt seem to be courting the more controversial and problematic Middle Eastern, Dictatorships, Communist nations at the moment.

 

I mentioned it elsewhere but France just had a narrow escape from electing a neofascist President (this time), Italy in a few weeks could very well fall and please look at US news and tell me the outlook isn‘t gloomy.

They all might have looked supersafe for the IOC at the time, but they also benefitted from none of the „critical“ candidates raising their hands for 24/26/28/30. Not talking 32 here because that was a whole different process.

Also, the IOC isn‘t courting those nations right now? Maybe not so obviously, but Fencing 1976 and co are experts in back room „diplomacy“. FIFA is already heavily in bed with Saudi Arabia, remember also the decision to give them the Asian Games 2034 already now - and that was made by the OCA, so there‘s a foot in the door with the IOC already.

[TorchbearerSydney]

You can quibble the process and historical events, but the IOC has been pretty proactive to get 'safe' countries like USA, AUS, Canada and Japan on board for 2028-2034. The selected LA when they didnt need to (2028 was not even up for grabs). The others have been wooed and encouraged at every turn.

Doesn't mean they will continue to do this, doesn't mean Trump wont get elected in 2024 and descended the US into some hell hole etc..but they are the hosts as of now. Which is a good thing.

[AlexandRich]

It's very unusual, interesting to look at. But first of all, there is unfairness to the IOC and second, I think it would be unrealistically difficult for Saudi Arabia to host these games, because of the climatic conditions

[stryker]

On 12/15/2022 at 8:49 AM, AlexandRich said:

It's very unusual, interesting to look at. But first of all, there is unfairness to the IOC and second, I think it would be unrealistically difficult for Saudi Arabia to host these games, because of the climatic conditions

It's not just the climate though that's the easy out for the IOC. It's the ultra-conservative Islamic culture they'd have to deal with. I've already mentioned the fact that no alcohol would be allowed. For all the concerns about LGBTQI in Qatar, in Saudi Arabia it`s far worse, then there's the likely issue of segregating men and women at the events and even in hospitality zones such as hotels. Far too many controversies for the IOC to handle and even if the Saudis promised they'd be welcoming and open, there's always the chance, like Qatar, that they could go back on their word in the lead up to the Olympics leaving the IOC powerless and not in control much as the way Qatar did to FIFA.

[Ikarus360]

Getting really tired of Gulf States as a whole shoving their tentacles in everything from sports to politics....

Qatar scandal: What just happened at the European Parliament?

https://www.politico.eu/article/eva-kaili-doha-panzeri-qatargate-what-just-happened-at-the-european-parliament/

 

[StefanMUC]

Yes, though the truth is that the West is energy dependent on their fossil fuels still, and even more so since Russia is out of the picture now.

We keep feeding this behaviour.

[iceman530]

I have the fear of God (or Allah I guess) of Saudi Arabia getting the World Cup in 2030.  

[iceman530]

Oh god, speak of the devil.......  here we go

 

Cristiano Ronaldo 'to become an ambassador for Saudi Arabia's 2030 World Cup bid' | Daily Mail Online

[stryker]

On 1/2/2023 at 6:51 AM, iceman530 said:

I have the fear of God (or Allah I guess) of Saudi Arabia getting the World Cup in 2030.  

Nothing to worry about. The Saudis can line up Ronaldo and all the celebrities they want. FIFA ticked off enough sponsors with Qatar. They won't make that mistake again. There would be far too many rules that spectators in the ultra conservative kingdom that make Qatar seem liberal would have to follow. More than just angering Budweiser. Can you imagine a WC with segregated seating between men and women in the stadiums?

[StefanMUC]

2 hours ago, stryker said:

Nothing to worry about. The Saudis can line up Ronaldo and all the celebrities they want. FIFA ticked off enough sponsors with Qatar. They won't make that mistake again. There would be far too many rules that spectators in the ultra conservative kingdom that make Qatar seem liberal would have to follow. More than just angering Budweiser. Can you imagine a WC with segregated seating between men and women in the stadiums?

Sure about that?

Just look at this photo:

https://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/cristiano-ronaldo-in-saudi-arabien-in-europa-ist-mein-job-erledigt-1.5726474

Article is paywalled and in German, but the photo is very revealing as it incredibly shows a woman without any head covering next to a Saudi official in a full stadium - they will create the images they want, setting aside their medieval rules whenever required, and it will work - if not for 2030 then for whenever Gianni’s new cycle sets in.

Also, compare to the Gulf Times photo gallery…(second photo is basically from same situation as in German article, though slightly…cropped)

https://www.gulf-times.com/article/652614/sport/ronaldo-embracing-new-challenge-at-al-nassr-after-winning-everything-in-europe

[stryker]

8 hours ago, StefanMUC said:

Sure about that?

Just look at this photo:

https://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/cristiano-ronaldo-in-saudi-arabien-in-europa-ist-mein-job-erledigt-1.5726474

Article is paywalled and in German, but the photo is very revealing as it incredibly shows a woman without any head covering next to a Saudi official in a full stadium - they will create the images they want, setting aside their medieval rules whenever required, and it will work - if not for 2030 then for whenever Gianni’s new cycle sets in.

Also, compare to the Gulf Times photo gallery…(second photo is basically from same situation as in German article, though slightly…cropped)

https://www.gulf-times.com/article/652614/sport/ronaldo-embracing-new-challenge-at-al-nassr-after-winning-everything-in-europe

Both photos are not showing spectators in the stands. Sporting events in Saudi Arabia are strictly segregated according to gender. It's not just sporting events either. Hotels (facilities) and public transport are segregated. Restaurants have recently desegregated. Abayas are no longer mandatory but women are still expected to dress conservatively, far more than what Qatar requires.

I have no doubt that the Saudis would promise a relaxing of their medieval rules but then go back on it last minute because they saw what happened with Qatar. All you have to do do is promise change then go back on your word last minute knowing there's nothing FIFA or the IOC for that matter can do. Budweiser found this out and I guarantee as FIFA's biggest sponsor they will push for the WC to not be held in a 100 percent dry country.