The race is not yet on. It probably won't be for at least a year, more likely two. But the candidates for organizing the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in 2036 are already eyeing the starting line with an air of impatience. The most cautious warm up on the sidelines. The most daring declare themselves.
In the second camp, a newcomer has just made himself known. It was little expected. Chile has publicly announced its willingness to join the battle. The announcement came from the top of the state. It was reserved for the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric.
The Chilean head of state took advantage of the discussion on the 2024 Budget, Saturday June 1, to reveal his country's Olympic ambitions. They are intended to be precise: the Summer Games in 2036. The next edition to be awarded by the IOC, therefore the first shooting window.
«We have demonstrated that Chile has the organizational conditions, management capacity and international leadership to organize world-class sporting events, assured Gabriel Boric. This is why I am announcing that we are going to begin the process so that Chile is, for the first time in its history, a candidate for the organization of the Olympic Games in 2036. To do this, I have instructed the Minister of Sports, Jaime Pizarro, to formalize the steps through a letter of intent which has already been sent to the Chilean Olympic Committee, in order to begin the process of bidding for the organization of the 2036 Games."
The train is already in motion. At this stage, it remains in the country, the controls being held by the political authorities and the Chilean Olympic movement. The first step, respectful of protocol. But Gabriel Boric's message is clear: the Chilean Olympic committee will have to quickly shift gears and turn to Lausanne to formalize the country's ambitions with the IOC.
The Head of State suggested this while addressing his compatriots, with a very nostalgic reference to the Football World Cup organized by Chile in 1962: “My dear Chileans, I know that it is not easy to be a small country like ours in the face of great powers. But like the generation of 1962, I invite you to dream high and unite us in this magnificent challenge of hosting the Olympic Games for the first time ».
As a reminder, Chile organized the Pan American Games last year in Santiago, the capital (October 20 to November 5, 2023). Thomas Bach went there for a four-day stopover. The IOC President would have taken the opportunity to suggest to the Head of State to think about an Olympic candidacy without delay.
The Chilean site deportes13reminds it: Chile is preparing for a busy sporting year next year, with the hosting of the Under-20 Football World Cup, the Track Cycling World Championships, and the FIBA AmeriCup women's basketball. Strong. But the country, long associated with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay in a four-way bid for the 2030 World Cup, was forgotten by FIFA when it was drawing up the contours of the competition. The global tournament was awarded to Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three matches in the preliminary phase in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Chile got nothing.
At this stage, attempting a prediction for the Summer Games in 2036 is like trying to guess the future in the lines of the hand. The candidate countries, announced or potential, are already numerous. Let us cite, in bulk, Indonesia, Qatar, India, Germany, Hungary, Poland. And now Chile. Twelve years from the deadline, anything can still happen. Starting with a wave of renunciations, like Mexico, declared candidate and finally already returned to the stands.
But the Chilean president's announcement reinforces a trend that the Olympic movement should welcome: the Summer Games in 2036 could well, finally, explore new territory. Go to a country that has never hosted the event before. Among the nations mentioned, only Germany has organized them in the past. For others, it would be a first. After Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032, it would be refreshing to open a new page.
