Article: Why have dramatic bidding contests to host major sporting events stopped?

[Rob2012]

Reeling off things that used to be better in the “good old days” is a fine way to start an argument: music, television, social media… It is a long and contentious list. But surely nobody can dispute that bidding races for major sports events have gone to the dogs.

Without meaning to sound like my father, when I was a lad, the contests to host Olympics or World Cups were almost as exciting as the events themselves.

In 2005, we had wild celebrations in the room in Singapore and back in Trafalgar Square when London beat Paris for the right to host the 2012 Olympics. Four years later, there was shock in Copenhagen when Rio beat Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago, including its cheerleader-in-chief, new U.S. President Barack Obama, in the race for the 2016 Games. And then, in 2010, there was the ultimate needle-scratch moment when FIFA impresario Sepp Blatter surprised even himself by saying the World Cup circus was heading to Qatar in 2022.

These were moments of genuine jeopardy that left millions elated and even more deflated. The decisions were made live on news channels, topped bulletins and were splashed over front pages. For politicians, it was as close as they would get to lifting a trophy, and for sports fans it was like winning a backstage pass to their favourite show. Or, if you are an England football supporter, they were regular reminders of just how unpopular we are around the world — character-building stuff.

Compare that to what we have now.

Hands up, who remembers how Brisbane “won” the right to stage the 2032 Olympics or even knew the decision had been made?

If that one passed you by, I suspect you missed the emails about the 2030 Winter Olympics going back to the French Alps and the 2034 edition returning to Salt Lake City....

More @ https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6278309/2025/04/22/why-have-dramatic-bidding-contests-to-host-major-sporting-events-stopped/

 

Edited April 22 by Rob2012

[Sir Rols]

1 hour ago, Rob2012 said:

Reeling off things that used to be better in the “good old days” is a fine way to start an argument: music, television, social media

I don’t care what anyone says, it’s a truth universally acknowledged that music peaked in the 1980s and has been sh!t since.

 

Edited April 22 by Sir Rols

[baron-pierreIV]

I read the article in the NY Times earlier today -- but eh, nothing new that we haven't already come across her, discussed, bemoaned, etc., etc.,  I didn't think it was worth recreating.  Very lame kvetching.  

[Rob2012]

It's the first thing I've seen written about Olympic bidding contests in mainstream news for bloody ages! Obviously it's aimed at a general sports audience, there's not going to be much new there for us, but it was an entertaining upsum of everything (even if in the end I thought it was a little too generous towards the current closed systems).

Edited April 23 by Rob2012

[Brekkie Boy]

The transparency of bidding processes would usually expose corruption so to solve that problem it seems organisations remove the transparency rather than the corruption.

[baron-pierreIV]

5 hours ago, Brekkie Boy said:

The transparency of bidding processes would usually expose corruption so to solve that problem it seems organisations remove the transparency rather than the corruption.

Not every open bid is riddled with "corruption."  And frankly, I don't see back-handed maneuvers to win a bid as "corruption."  I see them as new, innovative ways to win a competition -- thinking outside the box.  🤩