TOKYO – After 32 years, The Olympic Games returns to Australia for the 2032 Olympics. Eleven years after hosting the popular 2000 Sydney Olympics, Brisbane is now the new host for the Games, without a rival bid. Melbourne hosted The Games in 1956.
The next host for the Olympic Games will be Paris in 2024, followed by the city of Los Angeles in 2028, and then Brisbane 9n 2032, who will have 11 years to prepare for hosting the Games.
Behind the 2032 Decision
Prior to the formal decision by IOC members, Australian’s final bid for the 2032 Games looked to be promising. Back in February, Brisbane was given the exclusive negotiating rights for the Games, leaving Olympic officials in Qatar, Hungary, and Germany blindsided with their own unanswered bids.
“We know what it takes to deliver a successful Games in Australia,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told International Olympic Committee voters in an 11-minute live video link from his office.
Brisbane’s Winning Bid Marks a Milestone in Battle Against Vote-Buying
With Brisbane being named 2032 Olympic Games host, this marks a significant milestone for the IOC and ongoing bids for future hosting opportunities, according to Eric Mitchell, Sports Analyst and Head of Media at LifeFlip Media.
Positioned at the nexus of talent, content, brands, technology, and sports – LifeFlip Media creates limitless opportunities for the storytellers, trendsetters, icons, and thought leaders who shape popular culture. Across film, television, music, sports, digital media, marketing, and beyond, we represent actors, directors, writers, producers, musical artists, comedians, authors, athletes, coaches, chefs, designers, fashion talent, consumer brands, and more.
Mitchell says that the decision by the IOC for Brisbane to host is crucial in moving forward for future bids. “The future hosts offer stability for the IOC, which was stung by the two previous Summer Games contests being tainted by allegations of vote-buying when multiple cities were on the ballot,” Mitchell told PopWrapped.
Vote-buying, according to the LifeFlip Media founder is where a lot of the problems come in – “whether it’s with corruption or imbalances in power that lead to athlete abuse or human rights violations. If you’re not keeping up with the advances that other areas of society are making, or you’re not subject to the oversight of society as a whole, it’s kind of predictable that these things are going to happen.”
Mitchell pointed to the 2016 Olympic Games and the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics as an example of these challenges:
“The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics are still under investigation by French prosecutors. They have implicated officials who then lost their place in the IOC family as active or honorary members.”
The current decision, according to Mitchell, reflects the IOC’s ability to approach potential candidates and pick them uncontested before the previously mandated seven-year advance mandated in other Olympic competitions.
Understanding the 7-Year Mandate
So, how does this seven-year mandate work and what challenges has it created?
“The first-time format was designed to cut campaign costs, give the IOC more control in dealing discreetly with preferred candidates, and removed the risk of vote-buying,” Mitchell explained.
“The project was described by the IOC as ‘a passion-driven, athlete-centric offer from a sports-loving nation.’”
Events will be staged across Queensland, including the Gold Coast, which hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games. “Brisbane has already revealed that it has 84% of its stadiums and event venues in place to fit the IOC’s modern demand of avoiding excessive spending and potential white-elephant projects.”
As for what U.S. viewers should be excited most about with the upcoming Games, Mitchell points to Sue Bird. “Bird as the flag bearer is exciting for WNBA fans and shows that women’s professional sports is on the rise. I’m excited to finally be able to watch the Games and see these global athletes take it to the next level.”
The Tokyo Games opens Friday. You can follow Eric on Instagram and Twitter at @ericlmitchell and @lifeflipmedia.
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