2020 SUMMER OLYMPICS

The '2020 Summer Olympics', what will be officially known as the 'Games of the XXXII Olympiad', is an international athletic event that has yet to be organized by the International Olympic Committee. The winning bid should be announced in the summer of 2013.

Contents

Potential bids

Africa

Asia

Europe

North America

Oceania

Bidding considerations

External links

References

Potential bids

Africa

★ 'Cape Town', 'South Africa'

After being eliminated during the fourth round of the 2004 Olympic race, Cape Town may also bid for the 2020 Olympics.^[1] Prominent IOC members including Dick Pound have suggested that the organization should give the Games to an African nation.^[2] Infrastructural deficiencies have been a liability against such measures. This is supported by a comment made by IOC President Jacques Rogge concerning the Cape Town bid for the 2004 Olympics, which were awarded to Athens). Rogge said that he wanted to give the games to Cape Town, and told them to keep trying.. The Cape Chamber of Commerce has indicated that Cape Town intends to bid for the 2020 Games.

Asia

★ 'Busan', 'Republic of Korea'

With the success of the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, the city's mayor announced on November 14 2005 to the Korean news agency Yonhap that they were planning to bid for the Olympic games. The official bid was made during the 17th APEC forum held on November 18 and 19 in Busan. ^[3]

★ 'Delhi', 'India'

Being very confident of holding a successful Commonwealth Games in 2010, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has confirmed that "Delhi will bid for the 2020 Olympics."^[4] The IOA had decided to bid for the 2016 games but after a failed attempt to host the 2014 Asian Games it will now bid for the 2020 games, officials confirmed. Other international sporting events that will be held in India include the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, the 4th World Military Games 2007 and the soon to be announced F1 Delhi Grand Prix in 2009/2010.

★ 'Kuala Lumpur', 'Malaysia'

Malaysia expects to be considered a developed nation by the year 2020, as expressed in ''Wawasan 2020''. There is slight expectation from the public for the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur to host the Summer Olympics to mark Wawasan 2020.^[5] Kuala Lumpur had decided to bid for the 2008 Games but it did not succeed in becoming a candidate on the shortlist.^[6] The city however is capable of hosting large athletic competitions as Kuala Lumpur was the host city for the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

★ 'Taipei' or 'Kaohsiung', 'Taiwan'

In 2005, the Premier of the Republic of China, Frank Hsieh, decided and encouraged Taiwan to bid for the 2020 Olympics, yet the government has not decided whether Taipei or Kaohsiung will be bidding.

Europe

★ 'Copenhagen', 'Denmark'

Copenhagen is considering to bid for Denmark's first Olympics. In a report by Rambøll Management it is said that Copenhagen will try to bid for the Olympics in 2020 because they concluded that it would be the most likely year that a European nation would win the bid.^[7] Copenhagen already has excellent infrastructure and only little upgrades would be necessary. ^[8]

Denmark has created a group whose purpose is to attract big events to their nation, which would increase the possibility of getting the Olympics. Denmark may be attempting to hold the World Championship in table tennis in 2010, World Cycling Championship in 2011, European Football Championship (together with Sweden) in 2016 and European Championships in Athletics in 2018. [1]

Due to the fact that London is hosting the Olympics in 2012, the IOC may be reluctant in awarding the Games to another European country so soon.

★ 'Hamburg', 'Germany'

The Hamburg sports league (HSB) issued a press release saying it will meet with the German Olympic sports league to present an application at a meeting in December 2007. ^[9] Although Berlin and Munich have also expressed interest, the HSB president claims his city is the most compact and has the best chance to host the Olympics. On the other hand, Germany is making exploratory plans for a Munich 2018 Winter Games bid, which may supersede a 2020 Summer games bid altogether.^[10]

★ 'Lisbon', 'Portugal'

Lisbon is considering a 2016 bid^[11] after holding the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship. If the 2016 bid does not succeed, a bid for the 2020 Games will be put forth. An advantage for the 2020 Games would be the opening of Ota Airport in 2017.^[12]

Other events held in Lisbon that will help the Portuguese bid are Expo '98, the 2000 Tennis Masters Cup, the 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships, and the 2003 Handball World Championship.^[13] The sporting infrastructure of Lisbon will be an advantage as the city will be hosting the upcoming 2009 Lusophony Games.

★ 'Prague', 'Czech Republic'

Mayor of Prague, Pavel Bém, has organized a team to assess whether Prague could win a bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Its estimated cost for preparations for an Olympic bid, including a proposal to connect the metro system to sports centres and to enlarge an airport, would be USD$9.1 billion. Also, most of the sport grounds must be built. More information www.olympic.cz or www.idnes.cz ^[14].

★ 'Rome', 'Italy'

After losing its 2004 bid to Athens, Rome will attempt to present a stronger bid for the 2020 Olympics. Walter Veltroni, mayor of Rome, will be supporting a Rome 2020 bid. Following the win of Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics, an Italian bid has been confirmed from prospects of the Olympic Games returning to Europe again.^[15]

★ 'St. Petersburg', 'Russia'

Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, is considering bidding for the 2020 Summer Olympics. City officials have confirmed that they are preparing to develop the city's infrastructure to strengthen their bid.^[16] However, as Russia won the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, this may play a factor in the IOC's decision. The last time Russia hosted a Summer Games was the 1980 Summer Olympics, then part of the Soviet Union. A bid by St. Petersburg for the 2020 Games would be the first Summer Olympics for the nation as a post-Soviet Russian Federation.

North America

★ 'Monterrey', 'Mexico'

Monterrey is considering a 2016 Summer Olympic bid, but Felipe Muñoz, President of the Mexican Olympic Committee, said that a bid for the 2020 Games was more feasible.^[17]

★ 'Philadelphia', 'United States'

There is also speculation that 'Philadelphia' is interested in bidding for the 2020 games. Joseph M. Torsella, head of Philadelphia Sports Congress, has stated he is interested in hosting the 2020 or 2024 Olympic Games in an interview in the local Philadelphia Daily News. ^[18]

★ 'Toronto', 'Canada'

On July 10, 2007 it was revealed that the Canadian Olympic Committee had begun work on a potential bid for the 2020 or 2024 games for Toronto, the capital of Ontario and largest city in Canada.^[19] This would be Toronto's third bid for the summer Olympic games, after unsuccessful bids for the 1996 and 2008 games.

The success of a 2020 bid from Toronto depends on the circumstances of Chicago winning the 2016 Games, as the IOC is very reluctant in awarding the Olympic Games to the same continent consecutively and to another Great Lakes city.^[20] If Chicago does not succeed in the 2016 bid, this would give Toronto a winning edge in bidding to be host of the XXXII Olympics. As well, Chicago's loss would mean that by 2020, it would have been 24 years since a summer Olympics were held in North America, the previous of which were the 1996 Games in Atlanta. It should also be noted that other nations that have yet to host an Olympic Games will be a factor for Toronto's potential 2020 bid. Canada had previously hosted the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal.

Oceania

★ 'Brisbane', 'Australia'

The subtropical city of Brisbane would seriously consider bidding for the Olympic Games in 2020 or 2024^[21], Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has said. His announcement came after IOC President Jacques Rogge said the IOC would love to see a bid from Brisbane in the future. Nonetheless, Olympic officials are urging Brisbane not to be too eager in pursuing the idea too soon, because the 2000 Olympics were held in the New South Wales city of Sydney.

Australia had also previously hosted the 1956 Summer Games in Melbourne. In 1985, Brisbane failed to win the bid for the 1992 Summer Olympics, which were held in Barcelona. However, Brisbane has experience in hosting major international sporting events, having hosted the 1982 Commonwealth Games and the 2001 Goodwill Games.

Bidding considerations

Much will depend on the city which host the 2016 Games. For example, if either Chicago or Rio de Janeiro, which are both from the Americas, win the 2016 Games, this would impact another 2020 bid from the Americas.

External links

★ International Olympic Committee

References

1. South Africa Announces Bid For 2020 Summer Olympic Games, Gamesbids.com
2. Bidding may be set aside: Pound, ''The Globe and Mail''.
3. Busan to declare bid to host 2020 Olympic Games, People's Daily Online (English edition)
4. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/6603449.stm
5. http://www.olympic.org.my/web/aboutocm/objectives/objectives.htm
6. http://www.gamesbids.com/english/archives/former2008.shtml
7. "Ritt vil alligevel have OL til København
8. Rambøll-rapporten
9. http://www.gamesbids.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1187018799
10. http://www.gamesbids.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1187541659
11. http://www.gamesbids.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1073493396
12. http://www.naer.pt/
13. http://www.wtvision.com/ingles/servicos/servicos.html
14. "Prague’s Mayor Organizes Team To Study 2020 Olympic Bid," GamesBids.com
15. http://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Cronache/2007/07_Luglio/05/olimpiadi_roma_candidata_2020.shtml
16. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070706/sp_nm/olympics_russia_stpetersburg_dc_1
17. "Monterrey 2016 Officials Present Bid Plan To Mexican Olympic Committee" GamesBids.com, July 6 2006. Last accessed August 13 2007.
18. "Going for the gold," Philadelphia Daily News, September 1 2005. Last accessed December 26 2006.
19. Third time lucky for T.O. Games bid?, www.TheStar.com, July 10 2007
20. Olympic calculations, www.TheStar.com, July 16 2007
21. ABC World Today - Brisbane Bid for 2024 Olympics