Delhi wants to bid for 2020 Olympics

[Saddle Bronc 124]

BBC Link

Delhi will bid for 2020 Olympics

The Indian Olympic Association has stated that Delhi will bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.

The IOA will now not bid for the 2016 Games after India missed out on the race to host the 2014 Asian Games.

Delhi is already the venue for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, while India will co-host the 2011 cricket World Cup.

"We will start our preparations as soon as the 2010 Commonwealth Games are over," said IOA president Suresh Kalmadi. "Delhi will bid for 2020."

The bidding process for the 2020 Games will open in 2011.

"We thought of bidding for the 2016 Olympics because we already have the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and were planning to host the 2014 Asian Games," Kalmadi added.

"So by 2016 we could have had an Olympics for free, since by then infrastructure would have been in place."

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, in India to inaugurate an Olympic facility, told Kalmadi that the country should bid for 2020.

"I think you have great potential based on the general conditions of your country's progress, which will definitely also evolve in a positive way at the time when the Games are awarded in 2013," he said.

"We have a lot of expectations from India and we in the IOC think that India have great potential in sports.

"You have six years to prepare an impeccable bid. You have to unite for it."

Delhi lost out to the South Korean port city of Incheon in the race for the 2014 Asian Games last week.

Note: given its history of non-performance @ Olympics, India's bid is rather unlikely to even be looked at.

Edited April 30, 2007 by CherryXS

[almaty 19]

brother sriniv, they are now a global economic player..maybe, they will give them the Olympics

[Saddle Bronc 124]

It would help if they performed better at sports before bidding.

[almaty 19]

It would help if they performed better at sports before bidding.

i agree..need to add cricket to the olympics

[homesick_american 1]

It would help if they performed better at sports before bidding.

i agree..need to add cricket to the olympics

Yeah, but then WE wouldn't win!

Y'know what really pisses me off? The Olympics are going to get rid of softball as an Olympic sport because we (the USA) have dominated it, basically winning most of if not all the golds. To me, that's a challenge to the other countries to step up and improve their game to BEAT us, not an invitation for everyone to throw their toys out of the pram and say WAH WAH, IT'S BORING, AMERICA ALWAYS WINS! Well, so what? Romania and Russia dominate womens' gymnastics but nobody has uttered a peep about getting rid of THAT sport.

I'm starting to really hate the Olympics. I used to luuuuuuuuurve watching them but everyone's gotten so anti-American that it just pisses me off, I can't stand it anymore, I don't want to hear it. I'm in hands-over-ears saying LALALALALALALA mode.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

It would help if they performed better at sports before bidding.

i agree..need to add cricket to the olympics

Yeah, but then WE wouldn't win!

Eh, I think cricket is valid sport due to large number of Commonwealth nations which could send teams (all except Canada could)

Y'know what really pisses me off? The Olympics are going to get rid of softball as an Olympic sport because we (the USA) have dominated it, basically winning most of if not all the golds. To me, that's a challenge to the other countries to step up and improve their game to BEAT us, not an invitation for everyone to throw their toys out of the pram and say WAH WAH, IT'S BORING, AMERICA ALWAYS WINS! Well, so what? Romania and Russia dominate womens' gymnastics but nobody has uttered a peep about getting rid of THAT sport.

Eh, Isn't the US the ONLY nation in softball--so "default" gold? Nevermind, you already answered this one (as other countries could develop softball teams and "throw" them against US)

Women's gymnastics--well, you remember that ML Retton is Yank?

(plus, your hubby would probably love it if cricket were included)

[Otto 83]

It would help if they performed better at sports before bidding.

i agree..need to add cricket to the olympics

Yeah, but then WE wouldn't win!

Eh, I think cricket is valid sport due to large number of Commonwealth nations which could send teams (all except Canada could)

Y'know what really pisses me off? The Olympics are going to get rid of softball as an Olympic sport because we (the USA) have dominated it, basically winning most of if not all the golds. To me, that's a challenge to the other countries to step up and improve their game to BEAT us, not an invitation for everyone to throw their toys out of the pram and say WAH WAH, IT'S BORING, AMERICA ALWAYS WINS! Well, so what? Romania and Russia dominate womens' gymnastics but nobody has uttered a peep about getting rid of THAT sport.

Eh, Isn't the US the ONLY nation in softball--so "default" gold? Nevermind, you already answered this one (as other countries could develop softball teams and "throw" them against US)

Women's gymnastics--well, you remember that ML Retton is Yank?

(plus, your hubby would probably love it if cricket were included)

There should be no team-based competitions. It's much more enjoyable to see individuals compete.

[homesick_american 1]

Eh, I think cricket is valid sport due to large number of Commonwealth nations which could send teams (all except Canada could)

I was kidding about the 'we wouldn't win' part. I honestly don't think there are enough nations to make cricket an Olympic sport. Might as well add American football while we're at it.

Eh, Isn't the US the ONLY nation in softball--so "default" gold? Nevermind, you already answered this one (as other countries could develop softball teams and "throw" them against US)

Eh no, far from it. We're just the best.

Women's gymnastics--well, you remember that ML Retton is Yank?

Yeah, and she won her all-around gold in 1984...the year of the Soviet boycott. American women sometimes distinguish themselves at the Olympic level, but there is no question that the Romanians and Russians dominate the sport on the world and Olympic stage, and the Chinese are coming along nicely. It's a niche sport, dominated by a very small handful of countries and most individual medals go to gymnasts from those countries. Should we therefore get rid of it? Hell no.

(plus, your hubby would probably love it if cricket were included)

Nah, he wouldn't; he doesn't like sports. I torture him during football season and when Wimbledon is on.

[almaty 19]

Brother sriniv, why is India behind in international sports..is is because no priority is placed on it? lack of facilities? cultural? ...

they certainly have the populous for being successful

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Brother sriniv, why is India behind in international sports..is is because no priority is placed on it? lack of facilities? cultural? ...

they certainly have the populous for being successful

• Facilitys-wise: India can easily make-do (it inherited some from British rule)
  
• Cultural: maybe, but dubious
  
• Priority: probably on the nail here. Officials' priority is most oft making money--and they promote to team those who could "connect them in" for going in contingent. There was a joke in 1988 which stated, "I saw a man just run 200 m in 11.7 sec; is he one of our runners?" to which the reply was "no, an official trying to get his place in the contingent".
  

Indeed, 1984 showed the sorry state when several who had been ASIAD champions (maybe not record holders in respective sports worldwide, but within Asia--at least they would have had chance at medal) were stopped from going to LA.

[almaty 19]

i see, thanks for clearing that up....i am always surprised when i watch the Olympics and never see an Indian win anything or even place...