BERLIN, May 27 (Reuters) - Up to 10 cities are considering bidding for the 2020 summer Olympics even though only one has officially submitted its application three months before the deadline, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday.
South Africa opted not to put a city forward for the 2020 race despite successfully staging the soccer World Cup last year, leaving Italy’s Rome as the only confirmed candidate before the Sept. 1 deadline.
“We are not concerned at all about South Africa pulling out,” IOC executive board member and marketing chief Gerhard Heiberg told Reuters.
“We think there are so many interested parties. Up to 10 cities are interested for 2020, so one has pulled out, fine.”
The IOC will elect the host city in 2013 and other bids could include a Japanese city and one from the Middle East.
In past campaigns, most Olympic bidders were known long before the official deadline with about half a dozen usually in the mix.
For the 2018 winter Games race, three cities applied — Annecy in France, Munich in Germany and Pyeongchang in South Korea—and a decision will be taken in July.
“The process is going on and we are in contact with them (potential 2020 applicants),” said Heiberg, who added the IOC expected a mix of major metropolis and smaller cities to compete for the 2020 Olympics.
“We hope it will be a combination of some of the big ones and some smaller ones,” he said, refusing to reveal if any city from the United States was looking to bid now that South Africa, seen as a strong candidate given the Games have never been held on the continent, was out.
“I do not want to answer this question at this stage,” he said.
Chicago was surprisingly dropped in the first round of voting in 2009 for the 2016 Games despite the on-site support of U.S. President Barack Obama. The setback left Americans frustrated and strained their ties with the IOC.
Rio de Janeiro was eventually picked as the 2016 host.
Efforts have since been made to restore a longstanding relationship that has been profitable to both sides and the withdrawal of South Africa could possibly prove a springboard for a surprise U.S. bid.
Asked whether the IOC had wanted a South African city to bid for the 2020 Olympics, Heiberg said: “Yes absolutely. They showed they could do it very well in soccer and they would do it very well for the Olympics.”
“Fine, they are not coming. They won’t come for 2020, they will come for 2024,” he said.
South Africa opted not to put a city forward for the 2020 race despite successfully staging the soccer World Cup last year, leaving Italy’s Rome as the only confirmed candidate before the Sept. 1 deadline.
“We are not concerned at all about South Africa pulling out,” IOC executive board member and marketing chief Gerhard Heiberg told Reuters.
“We think there are so many interested parties. Up to 10 cities are interested for 2020, so one has pulled out, fine.”
The IOC will elect the host city in 2013 and other bids could include a Japanese city and one from the Middle East.
In past campaigns, most Olympic bidders were known long before the official deadline with about half a dozen usually in the mix.
For the 2018 winter Games race, three cities applied — Annecy in France, Munich in Germany and Pyeongchang in South Korea—and a decision will be taken in July.
“The process is going on and we are in contact with them (potential 2020 applicants),” said Heiberg, who added the IOC expected a mix of major metropolis and smaller cities to compete for the 2020 Olympics.
“We hope it will be a combination of some of the big ones and some smaller ones,” he said, refusing to reveal if any city from the United States was looking to bid now that South Africa, seen as a strong candidate given the Games have never been held on the continent, was out.
“I do not want to answer this question at this stage,” he said.
Chicago was surprisingly dropped in the first round of voting in 2009 for the 2016 Games despite the on-site support of U.S. President Barack Obama. The setback left Americans frustrated and strained their ties with the IOC.
Rio de Janeiro was eventually picked as the 2016 host.
Efforts have since been made to restore a longstanding relationship that has been profitable to both sides and the withdrawal of South Africa could possibly prove a springboard for a surprise U.S. bid.
Asked whether the IOC had wanted a South African city to bid for the 2020 Olympics, Heiberg said: “Yes absolutely. They showed they could do it very well in soccer and they would do it very well for the Olympics.”
“Fine, they are not coming. They won’t come for 2020, they will come for 2024,” he said.
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