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Posted

IOC President Bach buoyed by "high level of interest" in hosting Olympic Games

Here we go. Another country has thrown their hat in the ring for the 2036 Games despite it being 12 years away. Brisbane 2032 was chosen just before the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics in July 2021. In a normal timeframe. Brisbane would've have had to wait until 2025 which is after that year's State election and with the stadium fiasco, it wouldn't had been selected.

Posted

That’s so full of PR spin & disingenuousness that you just have to laugh. :lol:

I do find the part, though, of “switching the dates” to later in the year because of “climate change” to be quite intriguing. :ph34r:
 

I remember some(one) on here, even not that long ago, saying that upsetting the sporting calendar like that was not an option, regardless of climate change, because of this & that, & yada & blah. Yet here we have it, straight from the horse's mouth that very possibility. Although, the cynic in me says it’s mainly because of something else, not necessarily related to “climate change”. ^_^

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Posted
3 hours ago, FYI said:

That’s so full of PR spin & disingenuousness that you just have to laugh. :lol:

I do find the part, though, of “switching the dates” to later in the year because of “climate change” to be quite intriguing. :ph34r:
 

I remember some(one) on here, even not that long ago, saying that upsetting the sporting calendar like that was not an option, regardless of climate change, because of this & that, & yada & blah. Yet here we have it, straight from the horse's mouth that very possibility. Although, the cynic in me says it’s mainly because of something else, not necessarily related to “climate change”. ^_^

When Bach says something like that, you can bet it has nothing to do with what he says but whoever is pulling other strings. This is clearly and alarmingly setting the narrative for the inevitable Mid East desert hosting.

 

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Posted

Saudi Arabia? Just no, please…

5 hours ago, FYI said:

I do find the part, though, of “switching the dates” to later in the year because of “climate change” to be quite intriguing

 

2 hours ago, StefanMUC said:

When Bach says something like that, you can bet it has nothing to do with what he says but whoever is pulling other strings. This is clearly and alarmingly setting the narrative for the inevitable Mid East desert hosting.

 

Yeah, that’s the part that piqued my interest. And Bach doesn’t throw out these “thoughts“ without something behind it. And the NBC contract currently only runs through to 2034 doesn’t it? I can sense some preparing the way for some personal favours to be satisfied…

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Posted
2 hours ago, StefanMUC said:

When Bach says something like that, you can bet it has nothing to do with what he says but whoever is pulling other strings. This is clearly and alarmingly setting the narrative for the inevitable Mid East desert hosting.

Germany (& the DOSB) should just bow out now. Why bother continuing on with this 2036 charade! 

39 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

And the NBC contract currently only runs through to 2034 doesn’t it? 

It's through 'til 2032. That was another reason why the push for SLC 2034, so there could be another leg up for U.S. broadcast negotiations beyond the current contract.

41 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

I can sense some preparing the way for some personal favours to be satisfied…

What favors could those possibly be (hint, hint Doh-a. Wink, wink, Ahmeda-bad :ph34r:)!! 

I can't help but feel now that Melbourne got shafted here, cause they definitely could've benefitted with such a "switch" date proposal (& would've been a much better 'new-norm' candidate than the "elected" 2032 host is). But alas, it just wasn't meant to be cause another personal favor had to be satisfied (first). It's the incredible "new-norm" continuing on it's great work here!

49 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

Saudi Arabia? Just no, please…

Trojena 2038, then?! :wacko:

But that's a pretty sad state of affairs, when even Qatar would seemingly appear to be a (somewhat, even if just a little) better alternatively than the likes of SA.

Posted
On 4/30/2024 at 8:22 AM, FYI said:

 

I can't help but feel now that Melbourne got shafted here, cause they definitely could've benefitted with such a "switch" date proposal (& would've been a much better 'new-norm' candidate than the "elected" 2032 host is). But alas, it just wasn't meant to be cause another personal favor had to be satisfied (first). It's the incredible "new-norm" continuing on it's great work here!

 

This.

While Australia fumbles with a potentially clumsily put together Olympics in 2032 on the basis that its "too cold" in Sydney and Melbourne to host in July-August, to see that window open up and for the Saudis will be a bitter pill for the big two Australian cities - especially for Melbourne.

Melbourne's Olympic Park (and Convention and Exhibition Centre at Docklands) would offer possibly the most centralised Olympics anywhere in the world. It demonstrates how ridiculous the IOC is in fumbling around with another Australian city barely half its size and venues scattered hundreds of kms apart over South East Qld. 

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Posted
2 hours ago, Rob2012 said:

 

Bach wouldn't give a sh!t --- as long as he can stand up there at the November Opening Ceremony and spout empty platitudes about women's participation at Riyadh 2036 being higher than ever he really, really won't care. 

Posted
1 hour ago, Australian Kiwi said:

Melbourne's Olympic Park (and Convention and Exhibition Centre at Docklands) would offer possibly the most centralised Olympics anywhere in the world. It demonstrates how ridiculous the IOC B&C are in fumbling around with another Australian city barely half its size and venues scattered hundreds of kms apart over South East Qld. 

Fixed that for you.

Posted

i know the federations don't get a vote like they used to, but i don't think you can just change the global sporting calendar by fiat under the paper-thin guise of 'climate change.' surely, they can push back, right?

why would an indoor sport like fencing - to take a completely random example - throw their athletes and organizers under the bus so saudi arabia can bribe their way into a SOG?

it's especially cynical to throw around climate change as the "real" reason because bach will drop it like a stone as soon as he gets what he wants and quietly move the calendar back to the high summer, because november is still a cool, rainy season in much of the northern hemisphere, and will be for the foreseeable future. 

using climate change when its convenient to score cheap political points, and earn easy PR to distract from legitimate human rights concerns, is by far a new low (and from an org that has weathered multiple bribery scandals). 

maybe the olympics shouldn't have a place in the modern world. maybe they should be disbanded altogether. 

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Posted
10 minutes ago, krow said:

i know the federations don't get a vote like they used to, but i don't think you can just change the global sporting calendar by fiat under the paper-thin guise of 'climate change.' surely, they can push back, right?

why would an indoor sport like fencing - to take a completely random example - throw their athletes and organizers under the bus so saudi arabia can bribe their way into a SOG?

it's especially cynical to throw around climate change as the "real" reason because bach will drop it like a stone as soon as he gets what he wants and quietly move the calendar back to the high summer, because november is still a cool, rainy season in much of the northern hemisphere, and will be for the foreseeable future. 

using climate change when its convenient to score cheap political points, and earn easy PR to distract from legitimate human rights concerns, is by far a new low (and from an org that has weathered multiple bribery scandals). 

maybe the olympics shouldn't have a place in the modern world. maybe they should be disbanded altogether. 

Many of the smaller federations actually depend on the revenue from the Olympics that the IOC so "generously" shares with them. In German we say "we sing the song of those whose bread we eat" (i.e. we'll do whatever the ones who pay us want).

Posted
Quote

I know the federations don't get a vote like they used to,

Under the current BNC, no one really gets a 'vote' like they use to. They just merely rubber-stamp whatever BNC say & want these days.

Posted
Quote

it's especially cynical to throw around climate change as the "real" reason because bach will drop like a stone as soon as he gets what he wants and quietly move the calendar back to the high summer, because november is still a cool, rainy season in much of the northern hemisphere, and will be for the foreseeable future. 

I'm sure that BNC will be using that on a case-by-case basis anyway, rather than a hard rule, like the July 15th-Aug 31st time window is (but more like 'was' soon enough). And that was only in place really because of NBC's deal with them. But now that they next Games to be 'selected' will be when NBC does not have a contract with them right now, BNC are 'exploring' their other possibilities ATM.

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Not gonna happen for several reasons. First and foremost, the IOC isn't FIFA. Corrupt yes, but one key difference. The IOC wants to be sure THEY are in charge, not the hosts. In other words, the IOC expects contracts to be honored and they expect hosts to be in line with international norms. We saw with the Qatar World Cyp, these despot Gulf monarchies can change things on a whim and there's nothing anyone can do about that. We saw that when the Qatarid put the brakes on booze without even telling FIFA. The IOC won't want to be in that position. The list goes on. The IOC will not

Accept forced gender segregation at sporting events, hotels, and public transport or rules that all women must wear Abaya in public

Not accept alcohol being unavailable 

Award an Olympics to a country that will bar Israel from participating especially last minute

Moving the Olympics to the fall or winter and upsetting the folks at NBC knowing they'd lost much of their North American audience

Award an Olympics so close to a war zone. The Houthis still regularly launch missiles into the Kingdom and the prospect of one landing in the middle of an event is not something they will risk let alone with Iran's saber rattling next door

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Posted
13 hours ago, stryker said:

Not gonna happen for several reasons. First and foremost, the IOC isn't FIFA. Corrupt yes, but one key difference. The IOC wants to be sure THEY are in charge, not the hosts. In other words, the IOC expects contracts to be honored and they expect hosts to be in line with international norms. We saw with the Qatar World Cyp, these despot Gulf monarchies can change things on a whim and there's nothing anyone can do about that. We saw that when the Qatarid put the brakes on booze without even telling FIFA. The IOC won't want to be in that position. The list goes on. The IOC will not

Accept forced gender segregation at sporting events, hotels, and public transport or rules that all women must wear Abaya in public

Not accept alcohol being unavailable 

Award an Olympics to a country that will bar Israel from participating especially last minute

Moving the Olympics to the fall or winter and upsetting the folks at NBC knowing they'd lost much of their North American audience

Award an Olympics so close to a war zone. The Houthis still regularly launch missiles into the Kingdom and the prospect of one landing in the middle of an event is not something they will risk let alone with Iran's saber rattling next door

i hear you, but counterpoint: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

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Posted

The other day, someone mentioned that giving the Games to Qatar would be extremely controversial. Well, giving them to Saudi Arabia would be 10X's more controversial. If BNC are really interested in that part of the world (& the $$ that goes along with it), then Qatar is the best (of the worst) bet there. Plus, the Qatari's have been playing this game a lot longer than the Saudis' have. That said, though, still thinking this is India's to be had anyway. There's probably just as much, if not more, "incentive" to go there for BNC than the other two.

Posted
On 5/24/2024 at 9:14 AM, krow said:

i hear you, but counterpoint: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The IOC is already aware of this and this is the reason they kicked Doha's 2016 bid to the curb despite the fact it ranked technically higher than the eventual winner Rio. They worried about corruption money infiltrating the vote the way it did with FIFA. And if NBC wants to resign the co tract for broadcasting rights any move outside of the traditional July August windows is a nonstarter.

I'd even go further and say until there's a Palestinian state, in light of the current situation, neither Riyadh or Doha would allow the Israelis to compete. Of course they'd promise it initially after winning the vote but in the weeks or months in the lead up to the Olympics the carpet would be pulled out from under them and an announcement likely from a member of the royal family would say Israel will not be allowed to participate. At this point the IOC would not be able to do anything other than chastise the hosts for violating the Olympic contract and apologizing profusely to the Israelis. It would backfire horribly on the IOC in the PR department.

Posted
35 minutes ago, stryker said:

The IOC is already aware of this and this is the reason they kicked Doha's 2016 bid to the curb despite the fact it ranked technically higher than the eventual winner Rio. They worried about corruption money infiltrating the vote the way it did with FIFA. And if NBC wants to resign the co tract for broadcasting rights any move outside of the traditional July August windows is a nonstarter.

I'd even go further and say until there's a Palestinian state, in light of the current situation, neither Riyadh or Doha would allow the Israelis to compete. Of course they'd promise it initially after winning the vote but in the weeks or months in the lead up to the Olympics the carpet would be pulled out from under them and an announcement likely from a member of the royal family would say Israel will not be allowed to participate. At this point the IOC would not be able to do anything other than chastise the hosts for violating the Olympic contract and apologizing profusely to the Israelis. It would backfire horribly on the IOC in the PR department.

Saudi Arabia is still in negotiations with the United States to sign a normalization agreement with Israel (therefore recognizing the country). This is something that would have been completely unimaginable 10 years ago, but it is today; even October 7 did not kill these negotiations (simply slowed down).

Over the past 5 years, Bahrain, UAE and Morocco have signed normalization agreements with Israel. Israel is absolutely not a problem for Arab leaders today; and since they are all dictatorships at worst, authoritarian regimes at best, that's the only thing that matters.

Posted
54 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

Saudi Arabia is still in negotiations with the United States to sign a normalization agreement with Israel (therefore recognizing the country). This is something that would have been completely unimaginable 10 years ago, but it is today; even October 7 did not kill these negotiations (simply slowed down).

Over the past 5 years, Bahrain, UAE and Morocco have signed normalization agreements with Israel. Israel is absolutely not a problem for Arab leaders today; and since they are all dictatorships at worst, authoritarian regimes at best, that's the only thing that matters.

That's all true, but we really cannot know 12 years out how the political landscape in the Middle East will look like then. If the IOC was to award either SA or Qatar so early on the Olympics, they'd be really crazy. There's no need to rush it and if all materialises for 2036, they will probably have some candidates that only need the "traditional" seven years lead time anyway. If those candidates would be the right ones to please whatever agenda they might have in Lausanne is another matter entirely of course.

Posted

Except of course what kicked Doha 2016 away was the International Olympic Committee. If there's one thing we've learnt recently, it's that there is no longer a committee. There is Bach, who makes all (& we really do mean all) decisions, there is the executive board which gives an impression of oversight, and there are the people to whom Bach owes favours, whether for getting him into position (Ambani, P*tin) or for enabling him to change the IOC structure to his will (Coates, Al-Thani). Many of the people in the second group are on the executive board themselves, and may also be in a position to demand favours from Bach for help he's given them over the years (Brisbane). What this means is the old decision making system involving criteria and due process now doesn't exist, and all that'll need to happen for Doha to win is for Al-Thani to call in his debt from Bach. It's why Qatar is ahead of Saudi, and why that Spanish story is still plausible until proven otherwise. 

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