Mayor "Skeptical" of Toronto Bid; Sub-Saharan Broadcast Rights

Toronto Mayor "Skeptical" of 2024 Bid

In a press conference regarding Toronto’s ice storm cleanup, mayor Rob Ford cast doubts on his city’s ability to bid for and host the 2024 Summer Olympics.

"I want to concentrate on the Pan Am Games," Ford said of the event the city will host in 2015.

"I’m a little skeptical," the mayor told the Vancouver Sun, "about putting in a million dollars after seeing the failure of our last Olympic bid."

Toronto previously bid for the 2008 Olympics, which were awarded to Beijing in 2001. The city also bid for the 1996 Games, which went instead to Atlanta.

Ford, who has battled scandal throughout his term as mayor, is up for re-election this fall. Cities must declare their intention to bid for 2024 by September of 2015.

An Ernst & Young feasibility study which found that it would cost $60 million for Toronto to bid will be reviewed by an economic development committee next Monday.

IOC Awards Sub-Saharan Rights

The IOC awarded broadcast rights through 2016 to Infront Sports & Media AG for sub-Saharan Africa.

Infront will broadcast the 2014 Winter Olympics, 2016 Summer Olympics, and 2014 Youth Olympic Games on free-to-air channels. Non-exclusive internet and mobile broadcast rights were also awarded to Infront as part of the deal.

"This agreement reflects the global appeal of the Olympic Games, and our aim is to reach audiences in all regions across the globe with the best broadcast offering," IOC president Thomas Bach said in a statement.

Over 40 countries in sub-Saharan Africa will be covered by the agreement.

"We want to not only generate viewership for sports where African athletes already perform successfully, but also boost appeal for Olympic sports gaining popularity on the continent," said Bach.

Written by Nick Devlin and Aaron Bauer

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.