Competing With Egypt And Mexico, What Are Indonesia's Opportunities To Host The 2036 Olympics?

Olympic Illustration (Twitter @IOC)

YOGYAKARTA Indonesia's opportunity to host the 2036 Olympics is interesting to note, considering that two other countries, namely Egypt and Mexico, also volunteered to host the world's biggest sporting event.

Launching Antara, Monday, November 21, Mexico at the end of last October stated that it was ready to host the 2036 Olympics.

"We are starting the steps once again to host the 2036 Olympics," said head of the Mexican Olympic Committee Maria Jose Alcala.

A month before Mexico volunteered, Egypt also said it was ready to host the 2036 Olympics.

The statement was made by the Egyptian Sports Minister, Ashraf Sobhi on the sidelines of a meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach in Cairo, at the end of last September.

"President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has given Egypt permission to advance as host of the 2036 Olympics," said Sobhi.

Competing with Egypt and Mexico, does Indonesia have a chance to host the 2036 Olympics?

Indonesia's chances of hosting the 2036 Olympics may be greater than Mexico and Egypt.

This was based on Thomas Bach's statement at a press conference at the Media Center of the G20 Summit located at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC), Badung Regency, Wednesday, November 16, 2022.

Bach welcomed President Jokowi's enthusiasm regarding Indonesia's candidacy to host the 2036 Olympics.

Previously, Jokowi expressed Indonesia's readiness to host the 2036 Olympics. He will make the capital city of the archipelago (IKN) a match venue.

"Thank you very much. I can only welcome the readiness of Indonesia. Because this is in line with the new philosophy of the IOC, which in the future first wants to emphasize what President Jokowi said about how important the Olympics can contribute to unity," Bach said, referring to Antara.

Bach then praised Indonesia as an important example of harmony and diversity in line with one of the long-term goals of the IOC, namely Unity in Diversity.

"Indonesia is a real example that with the diversity of existing cultures, harmony can be created among the diversity of culture, religion/confidence, and political ideology that coexists. This is a brilliant example of the spirit of the Olympics," he said.

"Therefore, if the Olympics are held in Indonesia, it will be a place to voice the message of Unity in Diversity, tolerance, and brotherhood, which once again is in line with the Olympic motto and G20 Summit. about togetherness," continued Bach.

Bach then commented on the IKN election as the one that will be proposed by Indonesia as the host of the 2036 Summer Olympics. According to him, the IKN election has other messages in an effort to train the community.

"This Olympics may be held in a sustainable city and a pilot for sustainable and healthy life, in the archipelago, which emphasizes the importance of health and physical activity," he said.

"So this is a very interesting project that I welcome warmly, and we from the IOC offer cooperation to help develop this project further so that we can jointly create the best Olympic projects for Indonesia and the international community," Bach said.

However, Bach certainly could not give Indonesia a direct choice. There is a mechanism that must be passed in determining the host of the Olympics.