One more. After South Korea and its capital Seoul, whose mayor Oh Se-hoon met Thomas Bach in Lausanne earlier this week, a new country is entering the race for the Summer Games in 2036. Mexico announced through the president of the National Olympic Committee, former diver María José Alcalá, its decision to prepare a bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic event in 14 years. “Six months before its 100th anniversary, the Mexican Olympic Committee is proud to start the path towards a new organisation of the Olympic Games in 2036,” explained the Mexican leader, who last year became the first woman to preside over the national body. IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper told the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in Seoul last week that ten cities or countries are currently in discussions with the Olympic body to host the Summer Games from 2036. Mexico is on the list, but the country’s authorities have not given any details on the city chosen to carry the bid. According to María José Alcalá, the new situation ensures that the country will be able to make the most of its chances. “The Olympic Games have changed, President Thomas Bach has made it possible for countries to participate without being in debt, without having to perform great economic feats, but simply by showing a great capacity for organisation and sustainability,” she suggests. Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the country’s Olympic project: “If Mexico is proposing something, it’s because it’s going to do it. We are a sporting power that will host the World Cup in 2026 (jointly with the United States and Canada, editor’s note), the only country to host it three times, after 1970 and 1986.” As a reminder, Mexico City hosted the 1968 Summer Games at altitude, an edition of the Olympic event marked by Bob Beamon’s legendary world record in the long jump (8.90m), and demonstrations by black American athletes in favour of civil rights.
