London Mayor Wants Olympic Bid

(ATR) London mayor Sadiq Khan promises to look into another London Olympic bid if he is re-elected on Thursday.

"Exploring a bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the ultimate demonstration of my plan to build a brighter future for London after the pandemic," Khan said, according to AFP.

"My ambition is for London to host the most sustainable games ever, showcasing the Green New Deal for London with investment in low-carbon projects, action to clean up London's air and showcasing the city's status as the world's first national park city."

Khan, 50, has been leading his rivals in the polls as he runs for a second term.

He would likely receive support for a possible Olympic bid from his predecessor and current British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who as London mayor played an important part in the successful 2012 Summer Games. Strong government backing is a necessity for any successful Olympic bid.

A possible bid could also make use of existing infrastructure from the 2012 Games.

Should London win a bid, it would become the first city to host four Olympics, having done so in 1908, 1948 and 2012. It was the first city to host three times, with Paris set to equal that feat in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028.

London could face a lengthy list of competitors for a 2036 bid, given the IOC's new bidding process.

Brisbane appears all but set to win the nod to host in 2032. The IOC named the Australian city its preferred candidate earlier this year under the new system. The IOC is widely expected to approve the bid, possibly as soon as July.

The decision by the IOC to fast track Brisbane left bidders including Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia and Qatar on the outside looking in. They could now turn their attention to 2036.

The additional time could also mean the long-discussed but still dormant joint bid from North and South Korea could finally get off the ground.

Homepage photo: London City Hall

Written by Gerard Farek

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