Sapporo Winter Olympics bid may be delayed

Article posted by Coliseum, April 17^th, 2023

Image: Olympic

The head of the Japanese Olympic Committee says Sapporo (Hokkaido, Japan) may delay its bid for the Winter Olympics, going for 2034 instead of 2030.

‘AP’ stated that the Japanese Olympic Committee President Yashuhiro Yamashita indicated recently that he would hold talks with the Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto. Akimoto was re-elected on April 9^th, overcoming challenges from the two anti-Olympic opponents.

Tokyo (Japan)-based the Japanese Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee in Japan for the Olympic Games movement, based in Tokyo, Japan. It is a nonprofit organization that selects teams and raises funds to send Japanese competitors to Olympic events organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

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Lausanne, (Switzerland)-based the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is a non-Governmental sports organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss Civil Code.

The Winter Olympic Games is a major international multisport event held once every four years for sports practiced on snow and ice. The first Winter Olympic Games, the 1924 Winter Olympics, were held in Chamonix, France.

‘AP’ further stated that despite the victory, the opposition was strong – much of it pegged to the ongoing corruption scandal around the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and also known as Tokyo 2020, was an international multisport event held from July 23^rd to August 8^th, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on July 21^st, 2021.

Added Yamashita, “It’s hard to go ahead with the original bid plan without gaining people’s understanding. It was clear that many local residents are concerned and anxious.”

Yamashita took over the Japanese Olympic Committee in 2019 following another scandal involving then-President Tsunekazu Takeda. Takeda also stepped down as an IOC member, the post going to Yamashita.

Yamashita’s suggestion again leaves the International Olympic Committee struggling to find a host for the 2030 Winter Games. Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada), dropped out earlier when the provincial Government said it would not finance the billion-dollar venture.

Salt Lake City is reported to have community support, but has said it prefers 2034, although it has left open 2030 as a possibility.

That would leave the United States holding the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, followed by Salt Lake.

Supporters of both Games have suggested the back-to-back configuration would force the two Games to share billions in advertising revenue and sponsorship.

However, the choice is up to the International Olympic Committee, which seems unlikely to name the venue until next year.

Two other known candidates for 2030 have jumped in recently, undoubtedly with encouragement from the IOC. Stockholm, Sweden, officials have said they would conduct a feasibility study. Swiss bidders have also shown preliminary interest.

Stockholm lost out in a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics to Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially the XXV Olympic Winter Games and also known as Milano Cortina 2026, is an upcoming international multisport event scheduled to take place from February 6^th-22^nd, 2026. The event will have the Italian Cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo as the main Host Cities.

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