After Asia, the center of gravity of the Olympic movement could well move to Oceania in the next decade. The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) announced on Wednesday 19 April that it had “expressed interest” in hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2034. New Zealand has already hosted the multi-sport event three times, in Auckland in 1950 and 1990, in Christchurch in 1974. According to Nicki Nicol, the chief executive of the NZOC, the project would be supported by the government. It would not be carried by a single city, as is the tradition, but by the whole country, using local facilities. At this stage, the process is still in its infancy. The New Zealanders do not hide it, the discussions are only beginning and the stages are numerous before confirming more formally a candidature. As a reminder, the next Commonwealth Games will be held in 2026 in the Australian state of Victoria. The 2030 edition has not been attributed yet.
