OLYMPIC CITIES

1. Context 

2. The Olympic Agenda 2020 

• The IOC introduced the Olympic Agenda 2020, a roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, under the leadership of Thomas Bach, who became IOC president in 2013.
• This agenda included the 'new norm' for host city selection, emphasizing three key aspects: flexibility, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness, with a motto emphasizing adaptation.
• Traditionally, host cities were selected through a multi-year, multi-step process.
• Cities would submit their interest to the IOC via their respective national Olympic committees, followed by a series of evaluations and inspections.
• This process often led to excessive spending, massive debts, corruption, and scandals.

3. Enhanced Flexibility

• The 'new norm' brought significant flexibility to host city selection.
• The previous seven-year rule for selecting host cities was eliminated, allowing the possibility of deciding on hosts even after 2030.
• This flexibility has led to cities like Paris, Los Angeles, and Brisbane securing hosting rights far in advance, giving them ample time to prepare.
• The new approach includes a two-stage process: continuous dialogue and targeted dialogue.
• The continuous Dialogue stage involves discussions between the IOC's Future Hosts Commission (FHC) and potential hosts, allowing them to present their vision, purpose, and long-term legacy for the Games.
• During this stage, cities can plan multi-city events or collaborate with other countries.
• The targeted Dialogue phase is for more determined bids and includes discussions with the IOC's executive board.
• Preferred host candidates answer questions, provide guarantees on infrastructure, accommodation, security, and public services, and submit their final proposals.
• The executive board can recommend a single host or shortlist multiple candidates for IOC member elections.

4. Sustainability and Cost-Effectiveness

• Sustainability and cost-effectiveness are central to the 'new norm.'
• Hosts are encouraged to use existing or temporary venues whenever possible.
• New venues must align with existing developmental plans and have long-term justifications beyond the Games.
• All editions of the Olympic Games from 2030 onwards must adhere to the IOC's climate-positive commitment.
• This approach has resulted in significant budget reductions for bid budgets and a focus on reducing costs through technical support and expertise.

5. Other Potential 2036 Hosts

• Apart from India, several countries have expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
• Confirmed Bidders: Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey, and Poland are confirmed candidates, with Mexico having previously hosted the Games in 1968.
• Potential Bidders: Egypt, Seoul, China, Qatar, Hungary, Italy, Denmark, Canada, and Germany are also considering bids. Qatar's recent hosting of large-scale events, like the 2022 FIFA World Cup, makes it a notable contender. Egypt and Indonesia could make history as the first African and Southeast Asian nations to host the Olympics, respectively. 

6. India's Sporting Event History

• While India has hosted various single-sport competitions, such as World Cups and World Championships, the South Asian Games in 2016 was the last multi-discipline international event held in the country.
• The prospect of hosting the 2036 Olympics would mark a significant milestone for India, following the controversial Commonwealth Games in 2010, as it would be the nation's first major multi-discipline sporting event in many years.

7. Conclusion

• The 'new norm' in host city selection introduced by the IOC under the Olympic Agenda 2020 emphasizes flexibility, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
• This approach has opened the doors for multiple countries, including India, to express their interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
• As the process evolves, it promises a more adaptable and cost-effective approach to hosting the world's most prominent sporting event.