For the second year, GamesBids.com is releasing our list of Top Ten Olympic Bid Stories for 2009. These stories, from the mainstream to the obscure, impacted the course of Olympic bids and formed an interesting plotline for 2009.
#4 -Only Three Suitors Emerge to Bid For 2018 Olympic Winter Games
In a startling development, or perhaps lack thereof, only three cities submitted applications to host the 2018 Olympic Winter Games reported the International Olympic Committee in October. This was the lowest amount for any Games (Winter, Summer or Youth) since the boycott and debt-ridden Games of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.
In contrast there were seven bidders for the 2016 Games; seven for the 2014 Winter Games; nine for the 2012 Games and eight for the 2010 Winter Games. In fact there have never been fewer than five bidders since 1988.
There was earlier speculation of interest from other cities that never came to fruition. Almaty, Kazhakhstan had been expressing interest after narrowly missing the shortlist for the 2014 Winter Games. Harbin, China had launched a bid only to be denied government support – the city failed to make the 2010 shortlist. Reno/Tahoe were ready to bid but couldn’t get a USOC nomination because it was too soon after the Chicago 2016 loss to organize or proper domestic campaign.
Instead it will be PyeongChang, South Korea hoping that their third-straight bid will be lucky; and newcomers Annecy, France and Munich, Germany. Munich will try to be the first city to host both a Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
The campaigns will end with an election in Durban, South Africa on July 6, 2011.
Reduced interest has been blamed on the poor global economy and the risk assoicated with the recent unpredictability and enormous cost of bidding for the Winter Games. Sochi, Russia won the last contest after reportedly spending in excess of $100 million on a technically inferior bid.
Watch for story #3 tomorrow.
#5 – Anti-bid Website Created Mystery and Finger-Pointing Among Rivals
#6 – Three Cities in the Running for Second Youth Olympic Games in 2014
#7 – Social Media Becomes Critical Tool In Olympic Bidding
#8 – Too Many Cheesy Bidders In Italy
#9 – Hiroshima and Nagasaki Propose Joint Bid for 2020 Olympic Games
#10 – The Maldives to bid for the 2024 Olympics
