INDONESIA BIDS FOR 2032 OLYMPICS!
JAKARTA—Indonesia has officially joined bidding to host the 2032 Olympics following its success staging the Asian Games last year, the deputy chairman of its national Olympic committee said on Tuesday, highlighting the rising ambitions of the giant but perennially underperforming Southeast Asian nation.
Muddai Madang said letters from President Joko Widodo and the national Olympic committee were delivered to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) president in Lausanne last week by Indonesia’s ambassador to Switzerland.
“Indonesia is ready to host the Olympics,” Madang told The Associated Press. “What we need now is support from all the Indonesian people and the international community.”
Widodo, who is campaigning for reelection, made a surprise announcement of plans to bid for the 2032 games after the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang cohosted the 18th Asian Games in August, and the process has gathered momentum. The Olympics have never been held in Southeast Asia.
There were doubts Indonesia could successfully host the Asian Games, an event involving more than 10,000 athletes, but its reasonably smooth execution was praised by the IOC, paving the way for a tilt at even bigger sports events.
India is planning to bid for the 2032 games and North and South Korea have confirmed an intention to launch a joint bid. Australia and Russia have also expressed interest.
Problems with the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, a developing country that like Indonesia suffers endemic corruption, may count against the chances of the Indonesian bid.
By some estimates it cost Brazil about $20 billion to host the Olympics, the kind of bill that is likely to raise objections in Indonesia, despite projections it will be among the world’s 10-biggest economies by 2030 with a population nearing 300 million.
Tokyo is hosting the 2020 Olympics. Paris and Los Angeles have already been selected to host the following two games, in 2024 and 2028, respectively.
Antara News added that the ambassador received “a positive response” from IOC Executive Director Christophe Dubi, who promised to keep Indonesia informed regarding the Olympic host selection process.
“The IOC has recognized Indonesia’s capability while organizing the 2018 Asian Games and Para Games that were successful,” Hadad told Antara News. “I think this is quite a strong foundation.”
Indonesia’s intent to bid for the 2032 Games was first hinted by the 2018 Asian Games Organizing Committee President Erick Thohir in June last year before President Widodo officially announced their intent in August.
“After the excellent experience of the Asian Games, we now believe that we can host the very biggest sporting event,”Widodo said at the time. “In Indonesia we believe we can host the Olympic Games 2032.”
There were, however, several issues with last year’s Asian Games, including a significant malfunction of the ticketing system which contributed to many largely empty stadiums.
Jakarta’s notorious traffic also made traveling between venues in the city problematic, though generally the Games was hailed a success.
As well as Indonesia, India have also expressed an interest in staging the 2032 event as have Australia and Germany, while officials form North and South Korea met with the IOC on Friday regarding plans for a joint bid.
Thomas Bach has appeared very open to the idea of such a joint Pyongyang-Seoul bid, repeatedly talking up the role of the Olympics in helping the Korean peace process.
In what is undoubtedly a big boost to Indonesia’s intentions though, Bach has also expressed confidence that Indonesia could host a “very successful” Olympics. AP and Insidethegames