Its immediate sporting future remains very uncertain, but Russia needs more to retain its desire for greatness. Its highest-ranking leader has announced it: the Moscow regime is seriously considering a bid for the Summer Games. By 2032, or even 2036.
The information is trustworthy, since it comes from Pavel Kolobkov, the current Minister of Sports. The source inspires the same confidence: the agency TASS. Visiting Vladivostok last weekend, the former fencer, Olympic champion in individual epee in 2000 in Sydney, told the Russian media “ actively consider a bid for the Summer Games"
Not shy of secrets, the minister also revealed that he had several other application files in his pipeline for major sporting events. “ We are also thinking seriously about the Youth Games and the Summer Universiade.”, added Pavel Kolobkov.
The success of the 2018 Football World Cup seems to have given Russia its appetite again. The country is thinking big. Wide and tall. The Summer Games, the YOG, the Summer Universiade… Pavel Kolobkov does not want to deny himself anything.
The former fencer, called to succeed Vitaly Mutko last October within the government, knows that he can count on the support of Vladimir Putin. The Russian president set the tone in July, taking advantage of a meeting of World Cup volunteers to declare that the country was not going to stop there and must now think about the Games.
Pavel Kolobkov explained this to the agency TASS : " We are thinking of hosting such major events because they can stimulate the development of a region, but also of Russia as a whole. They can help strengthen our economy. That’s why we’re really thinking about it. But the final decision has not yet been made. »
Be careful, therefore. Russia is moving forward step by step. But she is not in the habit of backing down. Once its decision has been made, Vladimir Putin's regime will not have to bother with a referendum on the Olympic question. As for the risks of additional costs, the cause of a growing number of aborted projects in Europe or North America, Russia does not care.
One question remains: the Olympic city. St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko has already taken the lead. He suggested this year that the Baltic port could enter the race for the Summer Games in 2032 or 2036.
The IOC can rest easy: its decision for a double vote 2024-2028 did not stifle the desire to host the Summer Games. On the contrary, it seems to have given them a second wind. India, Australia, Korea, Germany, Indonesia, and now Russia… The whole world is preparing for the battle for the Games in 2032.
