IOC-Brisbane Getting Intimate, Indonesia Remains Confident To Host The 2032 Olympics

Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Raja Sapta Oktohari (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Raja Sapta Oktohari is confident that Indonesia is better than Brisbane to host the 2032 Olympics.

Oktohari conveyed this in response to the news about Brisbane that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had chosen as the partner of choice to initiate talks on the 2032 Olympics. Even so, this status, according to him, does not guarantee that Brisbane will be selected as the host.

"We are confident. If it is pitted against Brisbane, Indonesia is better prepared, ”said the man who is familiarly called Okto in Jakarta as quoted by Antara, Friday

"We are ready because since the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games, we have received appreciation. The Olympics have fewer athletes even though there are more countries so the handling is more or less the same as the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games, ”he added.

Brisbane, continued Okto, is arguably very active in campaigning for its candidacy to host the 2032 Olympics. Even so, Indonesia will also not be careless in seeking and continuing to have a dialogue with the IOC.

He also emphasized that even though Brisbane had been selected as the dialogue partner of choice, the IOC had not yet decided on the chosen city to host it. The IOC also hasn't even visited any city that is interested in participating in the bidding.

Previously, Brisbane in Australia had been selected as the partner of choice to start talks for the chairmanship of the 2032 Olympics. This was the first step towards being appointed to host the Olympics so Reuters called the city a strong contender for hosting that year's edition of the Olympics.

IOC President Thomas Bach said the IOC had approved the recommendations of the commission responsible for hosting the upcoming Olympics.

"The commission recommends that the IOC Executive Board hold a targeted dialogue with Brisbane 2032. The Executive Council has unanimously approved this recommendation," Bach said.