Thomas Bach loves traveling. Without restraint. But the IOC President is not playing tourist. He travels useful. Visiting India on Monday April 27, he discussed with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the country's possible candidacy for the 2028 Summer Games. And even encouraged him to prepare for it without too much delay in order to optimize your chances. Two days later, he did it again in Australia. With the same idea: not to close the door to any city planning to enter the race for the Games.
Having landed in Australia the day before, Thomas Bach wasted no time. He toured the Olympic Park of the Sydney Games in 2000, this Wednesday April 29, where he was able to watch again, "with goosebumps", the images of Cathy Freeman's victory in the 400m final. “A great moment of the Games and even more than that, a great moment in the history of Australia,” he suggested. He met the press. Above all, the IOC President spoke at length with Tony Abbott, the Australian Prime Minister. At the heart of the discussion, Brisbane's plan to bid for the 2028 Summer Games.
Skillful, Thomas Bach gave a resolutely optimistic speech to the political leader. “With the love that the Australian people have for sport in general and the Games in particular, and the presence on the IOC of John Coates and James Tomkins, a bid would garner great sympathy. And his chances of winning in 2008 would be very strong,” assured the IOC President at a press conference. Before specifying that he was going to meet, Thursday April 30, the leaders of the Brisbane 2028 project.
Incidentally, Thomas Bach warned: “Australia would have a chance. Presenting itself 28 years after the Sydney Games would not be too early, because there is no established rule of geographical alternation at the IOC. But the country will have to expect strong competition, with a candidacy from India and another from at least one city in the race for the 2024 Games (Hamburg?), which has announced that it will run again for four years later in case of failure. The competition will be tight. But I know Australians like this kind of competition. »
The time has not yet arrived for New Delhi or Brisbane to sharpen their weapons, but Thomas Bach makes no secret of it: the IOC is rubbing its hands to see the race for the Summer Games attract so many among great nations. “We’re very happy,” he said. All these projects show the strength of the Olympic ideal. The race for the 2024 Games has not yet officially started, but there is already talk of one that could take place in 2028. We can say that the Olympics are currently in great shape. »
Asked about the next battle for the 2024 Games, the German leader suggested that the competition, currently already rich in Boston, Rome, Hamburg and most certainly Paris, could soon see its ranks swell by at least one other city. “We are currently discussing with another potential candidate,” he confided without naming her. The race could well be even tighter when the applications are submitted on September 15, 2015." Then Thomas Bach concluded, without hiding a hint of pride: "All this demonstrates that we are on the right track with our Agenda 2020. All the cities competing for the 2024 Games make reference to it. This Agenda even constitutes one of their motivations. »
