Context:
How Olympic cities are selected | Explained
Background:
- Prime Minister declared India’s intention to host the Olympic Games, preferably in 2036, during the opening ceremony of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai.
- He mentioned India’s ambition to host the Youth Olympics in 2029 although the quadrennial event is currently scheduled for 2030.
- Only 3 Asian countries have ever hosted the Olympics — China, South Korea and Japan, with Japan hosting the games twice in 1964 and 2020.
How was a host country initially selected?
- Step 1: Cities vying to host the Games would initiate a multi-year evaluation process by expressing their interest through their national Olympic committees and submitting questionnaires for review by the IOC.
- Step 2: IOC Evaluation Commission thoroughly examined the bids, conducted venue inspections, and, in accordance with the Olympic Charter, selected the host city 7 years in advance during an IOC session vote.
What was the new approach?
- 3 main aspects — flexibility, sustainability and cost-effectiveness
- Motto: ‘The Games adapt to the region; the region does not adapt to the Games’.
- 2-stage process — A continuous dialogueandA targeted dialogue
- A continuous dialogue –
- A non-committal stage not specific to any particular edition.
- A discussion between the IOC’s Future Hosts Commission (FHC) and interested parties.
- Targeted dialogue –
- ‘Preferred hosts’ answer the FHC’s questions and provides guarantees on infrastructure, accommodation, security and public services
- FHC then prepares an advisory report for the executive board which has the power to either recommend a single host or shortlist more than one for elections by the IOC members.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship:
1. The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won.
2. New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d)
