As Bidding to Host the Olympic Games Loses Popularity, IOC Contemplates Change

The Olympic Games have a troubled history of leaving their hosts in a rough state. While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has devised reforms to almost every aspect of the Games, the IOC is still working to change aspects of the host selection procedure to ensure only the most well-equipped hosts are selected.

IOC President Thomas Bach has even stated that previous candidature processes have resulted in “too many losers.” Just bidding for the right to host the Olympics costs millions of dollars, and with a history of both corruption and overly-optimistic expectations for what certain would-be hosts can deliver, the IOC and Bach devised Olympic Agenda 2020, from which these reforms to the candidature selection procedure emanate.

At the IOC summit in Lausanne, Switzerland, Bach hinted that the selection procedures could be so radically changed that a host city could be awarded the Olympic Games without having to bid against other cities, depending on the circumstances. Bach went on to say that the IOC would not necessarily end the head-to-head bidding process for potential Olympic host cities, reports insidethegames.biz, so long as the contest “makes sense” and is “appreciated” by the candidates.

One of the principle changes proposed for fixing issues with host selection is the creation of two Future Host Commission, one each for Summer and Winter Olympic Games. These commissions, if created, will serve to “oversee interest in hosting future Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games, and report to the [Executive Board].”

Per an IOC press release regarding the future of determining Olympic hosts:

The Group emphasized five leading principles, which should always be respected when it comes to the election of hosts:

  • -To preserve the magic of the Games to ensure a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the world’s best athletes;
  • To find the best host for the world’s best athletes;
  • To preserve the IOC Session’s prerogative to elect the hosts for the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games;
  • To maintain the fundamental principle of universality;
  • To ensure good governance.

“In the framework of these principles, the Working Group proposed some key changes in order to avoid producing too many losers, as we had for past Candidature Processes,” President Bach concluded.

The new principles aim to provide additional flexibility regarding potential Games hosts, the location of Games venues and the procedure leading to the election of the hosts. They follow the key principles of sustainability, legacy and cost reduction promoted by Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations 1 to 4.

The key changes proposed are as follows:

  • Establish a permanent, ongoing dialogue to explore interest among cities/regions/countries and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to host the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games
  • Create two Future Host Commissions (Summer/Winter) – in lieu of Evaluation Commissions – to oversee interest in hosting future Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games, and report to the EB
  • Give the IOC Session more influence, as IOC Members will be involved from the very beginning of the dialogue;
  • As advisory bodies to the EB, the Commissions to be composed of non-EB members;
  • Both Commissions to include IOC, NOC, athlete, International Federation, International Paralympic Committee and Continental representation
    • Summer Commission: up to 10 representatives
    • Winter Commission: up to 8 representatives
  • Based on input from the Commissions, the EB to set up a strategic framework for host elections for specific Games editions
    • “Host” does not necessarily refer to a single city, but can also refer to
      multiple cities/regions/countries
    • Election timings are flexible and adjusted to the context and needs

Following the interim report by its Chair, John Coates, the Working Group was asked by the Executive Board to further develop the principles for presentation and discussion at the IOC Session in Lausanne next month, including any proposed changes to Rules and Bye-laws of the Olympic Charter.

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Stefan
5 years ago

Maybe Warsaw and Prague could make a joint bid for the summer games? Both Poland and Czech Republic are pretty stabile economies and together they have won 102 medals over the last five games. It’s about time Eastern Europe hosted the games – now with IOC’s new agenda and financial guarantees.

Medals at the Summer Olympics (2000-2016)

POLAND
Athletics: 9-2-2 (13)
Canoeing: 0-4-5 (9)
Weightlifting: 2-2-4 (8)
Rowing: 4-1-2 (7)
Swimming: 1-2-0 (3)
Cycling: 0-2-1 (3)
Fencing: 0-2-1 (3)
Sailing: 0-0-3 (3)
Wrestling: 0-0-3 (3)
Shooting: 1-1-0 (2)
Gymnastics: 1-0-1 (2)
Modern pentathlon: 0-0-1 (1)
TOTAL: 18-16-23 (57)

CZECH REPUBLIC
Athletics: 4-1-5 (10)
Canoeing: 1-3-5… Read more »

Swimmomtoo
5 years ago

Instead of competing for hosting Olympics, let IOC (sponsors) pay 💰 💰 💰 to host city.

Jambo Sana
5 years ago

I think the IOC extensively lost credibility with the Russia fiasco in Rio. It exposed the IOC as corrupt bureaucrats willing to sweep drug violations under the rug for the sake of appearance. They broke the trust of protecting the integrity of the games and innocent athletes. It is pretty obvious several international athletes are doping to achieve fame and fortune. IMO, if the IOC did a better job with WADA and USADA and other national testing agencies, people may put faith back in gold medals.

For example, it has widely been known the Jamaican track team is juiced to the max. The impoverished island has no decent testing and the athletes from this tiny island dominate sprinting with… Read more »

Taa
Reply to  Jambo Sana
5 years ago

Wasn’t there some kind of movement to make the drug testing independent of the IOC? I really think the whole issue of sustainability of the games rests in two financial issues; the first being the contract that is negotiated as part of the bid and secondly the fact that the IOC itself is not held financially responsible or liable for any operating deficits. It’s a total scam and fraud for them to come in and award a games and suck all the money out of the event and leave the host country to foot the bill. A lot of people easily see this and that is why many cities refuse to bid now.

DLSwim
Reply to  Jambo Sana
5 years ago

I’m pretty sure the world-class track athletes from Jamaica are tested randomly outside of competition, and at major international competitions, just like in swimming. In track, you could say that the American track team is also juiced to the max, judging from past drug test fails.

Woke Stasi
5 years ago

Bach hinted “a host city could be awarded the Olympic Games without having to bid against other cities, depending on the circumstances.” WINK, WINK!

Seems like that increases the possibility of graft. Oh well, just as long as the IOC doesn’t give the 2032 Olys to Qatar a la FIFA.

Boknows34
5 years ago

They should perhaps rotate the Olympics to global cities like Paris, Tokyo, LA, London, Sydney and Beijing which already has the major infrastructure to cope with such a massive event. Everyone just waits for their turn to come round again.

DrSwimPhil
5 years ago

The IOC and FIFA should both stick to a few countries in a rotation. USA, UK, Australia, Japan, (maybe Germany and France?) and one stop that is “new” within the rotation each go around, therefore giving chances to any “new” country that becomes legitimately developed within that cycle. Otherwise, keep it out of places that have to build, and then will collapse (Brazil, Russia, etc) post-games.

swimcoach
5 years ago

Besides the USA, what other country has successfully hosted an Olympics without the horror stories of delapidated facilites/financial ruin being the result once the Games are over? Those countries who can successfully host should be given first priority, imo.

Snarky
Reply to  swimcoach
5 years ago

Seoul
Barcelona
Nagano
Salt Lake

Stefan
Reply to  Snarky
5 years ago

As an ignorant swede I must have missed some important memo, ’cause I was pretty sure that Utah (Salt Lake) was one of the 50 states comprising the USA. I guess you learn something new every day. ;P

Swimmomtoo
Reply to  Stefan
5 years ago

Utah is on the league of its own! @Stefan!

Splash
Reply to  swimcoach
5 years ago

Canada

Lawyer
Reply to  swimcoach
5 years ago

The UK. London 2012 is a good model for sustainability/long term planning that other countries (including the US for 2028) should consider.

Togger
Reply to  Lawyer
5 years ago

It’s not what the IOC like though “Global mega city and world financial capital sees two weeks buzz for Olympics. Facilities still used because there’s ten million people there”. It’s sustainable, but doesn’t pander to IOC “effecting change” egos enough.

Even then not everything’s that well used. I regularly have meetings over in Stratford and go for a swim at the Olympic pool, it’s not as well used as my local leisure centre.

Samboys
Reply to  swimcoach
5 years ago

Australia, a lot of the Sydney venues are still in use.

Pvdh
Reply to  Samboys
5 years ago

Sydney, LA, London…these are some of the most affluent cities in the world. I’m pretty sure nobody thinks they are the problem. It’s the Athens and Rios that make people question the process.

Swimming4silver
Reply to  Pvdh
5 years ago

what about Beijing? they are still using the water cube…

SwimFan01
Reply to  Swimming4silver
5 years ago

The water cube is very worn down and they are doing renovations at the moment

Chest rockwell
5 years ago

Why not just by an island and make permanent venues to host every four years? Counties can bid to host them there and not risk losing millions……

About Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson originally hails from Clay Center, Kansas, where he began swimming at age six with the Clay Center Tiger Sharks, a summer league team. At age 14 he began swimming club year-round with the Manhattan Marlins (Manhattan, KS), which took some convincing from his mother as he was very …

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