How Olympic Cities Are Selected

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(Source: The Hindu, 10/25/2023)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, India announced its candidacy to host the 2036 Olympics at the 141st meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Mumbai.
• This article discusses the process of selecting host cities for the Olympic Games and the evolution of the process over time.

How is a country selected to host the Olympic Games?

Earlier system

• National Olympic committees would submit a letter of interest to the IOC to host an Olympics in a specific city.
• The process of selecting the host city was a multi-year process and followed the Olympic Charter.
• The bidding cities would complete a series of questionnaires which would be evaluated by the IOC.
• This was followed by the scrutiny by the IOC Evaluation Commission in which a series of inspections of all venues are conducted.
• Then, the final bids are voted on at an IOC session, which results in a host being chosen seven years in advance.
• However, the process involved excessive spending among the bidders leading to huge debts, corruption, and numerous scandals.

New process

• In 2013, the Olympic Agenda 2020 was initiated as a roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement.
• A part of the agenda, called the new norm, was related to the new procedure to select a host city.
• The new norm was officially adopted during the 2019 IOC session in Lausanne.
• The new norm adopted the motto - “The Games adapt to the region, the region does not adapt to the Games” to indicate its focus on
  • Flexibility
  • Sustainability
  • Cost-effectiveness

How has the new process been made flexible?

• The earlier seven year-rule was removed and a two-stage process without fixed deadlines was established to assess and guide potential hosts.
  • This includes a continuous dialogue and a targeted dialogue.
  • In comparison, Paris and Los Angeles were selected to host the 2024 and 2028 Olympics in 2017 while Brisbane was named host for the 2032 edition in 2021.

Continuous dialogue

• This is a non-committal stage that is not specific to any particular edition.
• It consists of a discussion between the IOC’s Future Hosts Commission (FHC) and the interested parties.
• The FHC consists of athletes, international federations, national Olympic committees, and the International Paralympic Committee.
• At this stage, discussions will be conducted about the hosts’ vision, purpose, and long-term legacy of the Games.
• In the next stage, a master plan will be developed that works out logistical details.
• Unlike the earlier process, the Olympics can now be held across cities or in partnership between countries.

Targeted dialogue

• Once the bid progresses, it will enter the ‘targeted dialogue’ phase in which the interested parties are termed as ‘preferred hosts’.
• Previously rejected parties were discouraged from bidding again but now they can continue continuous dialogue for future events.
• Although no time frame has been fixed for a targeted dialogue, it should generally not exceed 12 months.
• The IOC’s executive board will conduct detailed discussions on the proposals with the ‘preferred hosts’ answering questions posed by the FHC.
• The preferred hosts make their final submission at this stage and provide guarantees on infrastructure, accommodation, security, public services, etc.
• An advisory report is then prepared by the FHC for the executive board, which is empowered to recommend a single host or shortlist more than one for elections by the IOC members.
  • The host is then selected through a secret ballot, with the majority vote determining the winner.

Steps for sustainability and cost-effectiveness

• Sustainability: Hosts have been encouraged to use existing infrastructure or temporary as much as possible to ensure long-term sustainability and cost-efficiency.
• In case new venues are required, they must comply with existing developmental plans and have a long-term justification.
• Los Angeles has claimed that it will not build any new infrastructure for the 2028 Summer Games while Paris will use 95% of existing or temporary venues for 2024.
• Cost-effectiveness: According to the IOC, the budget for the 2026 Winter Games has decreased by 80% in comparison to the 2018 and 2022 editions due to the use of existing and temporary venues.
• ‘Preferred hosts’ will be provided technical support and expertise in marketing, venue development, and sustainability from the IOC which will help improve cost-effectiveness.
• Climate commitments: From 2030 onwards all Summer, Winter, and Youth Olympics must adhere to the IOC’s climate-positive commitment.
• The IOC has aligned with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and committed to reducing direct and indirect emissions by 30% by 2024 and 50% by 2030.

India’s bid to host the Olympics

• India has announced its ambition to host the Olympic Games in 2036 as well as the Youth Olympics in 2029.
• India last hosted a big-ticket multi-discipline sporting event in 2010 - the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in 2010.
• Other competitors: Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Tijuana), Indonesia (Nusantara), Turkey (Istanbul), and Poland (Warsaw).
• Other potential bidders include Egypt, Seoul, China, Qatar, Hungary, Italy, Denmark, Canada, and Germany.
• Although India has hosted several single-sport competitions like World Cups and World Championships, the South Asian Games (2016), the 2003 Afro-Asian Games, the Asian Games (1951 and 1982), and the 2007 World Military Games.
• Benefits:
  • Tourism potential: Hosting the Olympics elevates a country’s global status, and promotes it as an investment and tourist destination which is in line with the Union Government’s focus on generating revenue and employment from tourism.
• Economic boost: The 2008 Olympics hosted by Beijing contributed to a GDP growth acceleration of around 0.8% in China.
• Concerns:
  • Economic burden: Previous instances like the 2004 Athens Olympics have led to a significant burden on the economy of the hosting country.
  • Public opinion: Critics have claimed that the expenditure on infrastructure for the Olympics could be better utilized for the socio-economic development of the disadvantaged population.

Will India’s bid be successful?

• Favorable timing: India’s bid comes at a time when it is growing in stature as a geopolitical entity and economic heavyweight.
  • India’s status as the world’s most populous and fastest-growing major economy adds heft to its bid.
• Past experience: India can demonstrate its previous experience hosting large-scale sporting events, especially with the Cricket World Cup 2023 being hosted by the country.

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FAQs

MCQs

Question: Consider the following statements in respect of the 32nd Summer Olympics:

1. The official motto for the Olympics is ‘A New World’
2. Sport Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate, and Baseball are included in this Olympics.

Which of the above statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2021)

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2