The 2020 Summer Olympics (officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad) are expected to be a major international sports and cultural festival to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee has yet to begin the selection process; a host city is expected to be announced in mid-2013.

Potential bids

Africa

IOC members have suggested that the organization should award the Games to an African nation.

• Rabat, Morocco

Rabat will apply to host the 2020 Olympic Games. It's the first time that Morocco will place a bid to host the games.

• South Africa

*Cape Town

:Cape Town will likely bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games and intends on building on from the foundation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The bid is also supported by the Cape Chamber of Commerce. Cape Town has hosted a number of World Championships in various sports including Hockey, Fencing, Modern Pentathlon, Cycling and many others. Cape Town previously bid for the 2004 Olympic Games placing 3rd behind Rome and eventual host Athens. Approximately 70% of the venues required for the Games will be in place by 2013.

*Durban

:Durban’s plans to host the 2020 Summer Olympics have been boosted by the IOC deciding on that city as the venue for the IOC General Assembly’s congress in 2011. Acting chief executive of Durban Tourism Perry Moodley intimated that hosting the event was a tactical move in light of the city's plans to host a Summer Olympics. Moodley stated further: "Getting Olympic decision-makers from around the world in Durban is most important".

Asia

• Busan, South Korea

With the success of the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, the city's mayor announced on November 14, 2005 to the Korean news agency Yonhap that they were planning to bid for the 2020 Olympic games. The official bid was made during the 17th APEC forum held on November 18 and 19 in Busan. However, its bid in 2020 may be jeopardized if Pyeongchang wins its third bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, after losing bids for 2010 and 2014. South Korean capital Seoul hosted the games in 1988.

• Doha, Qatar

The IOC rejected Doha's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, although fellow applicant city Rio de Janeiro was accepted, despite the Brazilian city's lower score on the IOC's evaluation of bids. While Doha bid organisers accused the IOC of 'closing the door on the Arab World,' the IOC cited technical reasons for its rejection of the bid, such as Doha's insistence of holding the games in October. On August 7, 2008, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Heir Apparent of Qatar, revealed that the state will bid for the 2020 games. Sheikh Tamim, who is also the Chairman of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), said that Qatar was determined to learn from the lessons of its failed 2016 bid, and “bid for hosting the Olympic Games in 2020 as per set measures and standards.” The city hosted the 2006 Asian Games, and has already been selected to host the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics in 2010, the 2011 Pan Arab Games and the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

• Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has indicated that a working group has been set up, as of June 2009, to examine the possibility of Dubai hosting the Games in 2020; it is hoped they could be combined with a prospective World Expo at the same time.

• Japan

* Tokyo

:Soon after failing to win its bid to host the 2016 Olympics, intentions were expressed to try again for 2020. Tokyo hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics.

* Hiroshima and Nagasaki

:Hiroshima and Nagasaki have expressed interest in a joint bid with a message of peace and nuclear disarmament.

Europe

• Baku, Azerbaijan

The Azeri capital launched a bid for the 2016 edition of the games, but failed to make the shortlist and gain candidature status. Following the city's elimination, a government sports official vowed to bid again, stating his belief that Baku will be the next host city. Baku came last on the evaluation of the 2016 bids, with a score of 4.3. The main reasons for Baku's poor rating were the city's poor infrastructure and concerns over the budget of the proposed games.

• Budapest, Hungary

On 18 December 2008 the assembly of the City of Budapest unanimously accepted the proposal for the Act on the Preparation of the Budapest Olympic Bid, prepared by the BOM Association. The proposal is to be presented to the Parliament of Hungary.

• Istanbul, Turkey

Turkish government sports official Mehmet Atalay said that Istanbul has decided to launch another Olympic bid, believing its chances are much stronger this time. Istanbul has four previous bids for the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Games; it skipped the 2016 Games. Atalay said, "we didn't bid for 2016 because we were in a preparation period. It started with the Champions League final, which was a huge success. Turkey is a big country and it has much potential for host such events. We will keep on bidding until we get it. We have the history, we have the culture, we have the experience. We are the bridge between Europe and Asia: different culture, different religions - they all live in Turkey in a friendly environment".

• Italy

On 2 October 2009, the Italian Olympic Committee confirmed that Italy intends to put forward a bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Shortly after the International Olympic Committee awarded Rio de Janeiro the Games for 2016, the President of CONI, Giovanni Petrucci, said: "The time has come for an Italian bid for the 2020 Games. Rio de Janeiro's victory surely gives Italy the possibility (for 2020)." The country recently hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Immediately after Petrucci's announcement, Rome and Venice announced their candidacies for an Italian bid. Palermo was to submit a bid, but it withdrew from the race.

*Rome

:After losing out to Athens in 2004 - despite the bid considered as the favourite, Rome will attempt to present another bid for the 2020 Games. The Italian capital staged a highly successful Games in 1960. Giovanni Alemanno, mayor of Rome, has thrown his full backing behind a Rome 2020 bid, saying: "The choice of Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Games offers a big opportunity to Italy and Rome for the next edition in 2020. More than half a century after the fantastic Games of 1960, we can dream of bringing the Olympic rings back to the Italian capital."

*Venice

:A Venice 2020 bid will likely encompass a large part of the surrounding region of Padua and Treviso, not only the lagoon city. "Venice is an iconic city, unique in the world, which enjoys universal recognition," said the city's mayor Massimo Cacciari. "The Olympics is the biggest international event and to promote and organise the 2020 Games would allow the city and the whole metropolitan area to accelerate numerous regeneration projects." The president of Veneto, Giancarlo Galan, has also announced his support and his dedication to Venice's cause, since the Olympics would cover most of his region's large cities.

• Portugal

Portugal considered bidding for the 2016 Games, but did not submit a bid. The country has two cities expressing interest in a 2020 bid, with only one to (possibly) be selected by the Portuguese Olympic Committee:

* Porto

:The northern metropolis has proposed a bid for 2020. There's already an unofficial project, recognized by the Portuguese Olympic Comitee (www.porto2020.pt.vu).

* Lisbon, Portugal

:The country's capital of Lisbon intends to enter for the 2020 competition.

• Saint Petersburg, Russia

Governor Valentina Matviyenko has announced an intention to bid, having discussed the plan with the head of the ROC; governmental support has not been confirmed. 2024 is also a possibility. Saint Petersburg bid for the 2004 Summer Olympics but did not make the short list.

• Warsaw, Poland

Poland is planning to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

North America

By 2020, 24 years will have passed since a Summer Olympics were held in North America, when Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics. However, the Winter Olympics will have been held there twice in the mean time, in Salt Lake City in 2002 and Vancouver in 2010.

• Mexico

Guadalajara is hosting the 2011 Pan American Games while Monterrey has expressed interest in a sports festival for several years. The Mexican Olympic Committee (MOC) will announce the Mexican candidate city in 2012. Mexico City hosted the 1968 Summer Olympics, more than 50 years prior to these anticipated games.

*Guadalajara

:A federal organization, Guadalajara 2020, in conjunction with the Jalisco state government, supports an strategic project to mull a bid for 2020. The plans includes the construction of several sports venues and ambitious urban development projects such as the JVC Center, Chivas Stadium, etc. Started in 1995, Guadalajara 2020 counts its successful bid for the 2011 Pan American Games as part of the strategy to gain experience in international sport events and develop world class sport infratsructure. Guadalajara was chosen by the MOC as the applicant city for the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics.

*Monterrey

:Monterrey mulled a bid for the 2016 Games, but the Mexican Olympic Committee (MOC) did not support the bid. Felipe "El Tibio" Muñoz, President of the MOC, announced that some cities in Mexico like Monterrey will contend to gain support to bid for the 2020 games. In August 2008, Nuevo Leon's governor gave his support for a possible bid, resuming the discussion of whether or not to bid. In February 2009, plans were announced to build the Estadio Internacional Monterrey, a 75,000 capacity stadium. At the same time Club Futbol Monterrey plans to begin the construction of their own stadium by the end of 2009 with a capacity of 50,000 spectators. Both stadiums could be used for some eventual Olympic events.

• Toronto, Canada

On July 10, 2007 it was revealed that the Canadian Olympic Committee had begun work on a potential bid for the 2020 or 2024 games for Toronto. This would be Toronto's third bid for the Summer Olympics, after unsuccessful bids for the 1996 and 2008 games. Toronto was officially selected as the host city for the 2015 Pan American Games, which is said to strengthen their 2020 Olympic bid. The Canadian city of Vancouver will be hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics. The only Canadian city to host the Summer Games is Montreal, in 1976.

• United States

Several cities are either considering a bid or expected to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. It is generally perceived that American cities have a better chance of success following Chicago's failed 2016 bid. The United States Olympic Committee will sponsor no more than one official bid to the International Olympic Committee.

*Birmingham

:In June 2008, Birmingham mayor Larry Langford proposed that the city prepare a bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. The mayor's proposal has received little support, both among Birmingham's city council and the USOC. His aspirational proposal features the slogan, “Olympics 2020: Why Not Birmingham?”

*Boston

:Boston is conducting feasibility studies for New England.

*Minneapolis/St. Paul

:Legislation has been introduced in the Minnesota Legislature to create a task force to explore a 2020 Olympic bid for Minneapolis. The city's past Olympic bid history included unsuccessful bids in 1932, 1948, 1952 (when the city finished second to Helsinki to host the Summer Games), and 1956. The city also finished second to Atlanta as the U.S. bid city for the 1996 Summer Olympics. TCF Bank Stadium is expandable to 80,000 seats and would serve as Minneapolis' Olympic Stadium.

*Tulsa

:The Tulsa 2020 Committee submitted a proposal to the Tulsa City Council to launch a bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. Tulsa has been compared to a pre-Olympics Atlanta, which had a population that was 4 times as large as Tulsa's. The theme for the Tulsa 2020 Olympics, if selected, would most probably involve Native America. Venues which could be used include sports facilities at Oklahoma State University–Tulsa and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

South America

• Lima, Peru

President of the Peruvian Institute for Sports, Arturo Woodman, said that Peru would try to bid for the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Canceled bids

• Delhi, India

Anticipating success in hosting large scale events such as the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) stated that "Delhi would bid for the 2020 Olympics." Sports minister Manohar Singh Gill later stated that funding infrastructure and fighting poverty would come before a 2020 bid.

• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Expecting to be considered an advanced country by the year 2020, as expressed in Wawasan 2020, there was a slight expectation from the public for the capital Kuala Lumpur to host the Summer Olympics. However, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said Malaysia was not ready as holding the Olympic Games was a "tall order for the country" until they could become more of a sports powerhouse.

• Prague, Czech Republic

Prague bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, but failed to reach the candidature phase, coming second to last in the evaluation of applicant cities. Bid organizers had acknowledged that it was a preparatory bid, in order to gain experience, and indeed expressed the city's intention to bid for the 2020 games. In June 2009, Prague's bid was canceled due to low political support.

Trademark controversy

Anticipating bids for the Summer Olympics by Paris, France, in 2005 a Parisian, Mr Gilbert L., registered the trademarks of "Paris 2016", "Paris 2020", "Paris 2024" and "Paris 2028" and associated internet domain names. On March 14, 2007 the High Court of First Instance of Paris (Tribunal d'instance of Paris) ruled that the registration of the domain names was fraudulent and annulled the trademarks.

References

1. Bidding may be set aside: Pound, The Globe and Mail.
2. Rabat 2020
3. Sport and Recreation Budget Speech
4. Myburgh calls for a multi-purpose stadium
5. Boost for Durban’s Olympic Ambitions
6. Busan to declare bid to host 2020 Olympic Games, People's Daily Online (English edition)
7. Doha Accuses IOC Of “Closing The Door”, June 05, 2008
8. Doha sets sights on 2020 Olympics
9. Qatar Poised to Bid for 2020 Olympics
10. [1]
11. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hLDUDtJSPA-8xGZRtEy4ifvp1RGA
12. Prague, Baku To Try Again
13. Istanbul Ready For Fifth Olympic Bid
14. Istanbul2020
15. Italy poised for 2020 bid
16. Rome to bid for 2020 Olympics
17. Venice to bid for 2020 Olympics
18. Lisbon 2016 or 2020
19. Artificial island in plans for 2020 Lisbon bid
20. Ojective: Lisbon 2020
21. St. Petersburg To Bid For 2020 Summer Games
22. http://www.dziennik.pl/sport/article214534/Warszawa_zorganizuje_olimpiade_.html
23. http://www.mmwarszawa.pl/1657/2008/7/29/igrzyska-olimpijskie-w-warszawie?category=sport
24. Olympic calculations www.TheStar.com, July 16, 2007
25. [2]
26. Mexico will contend for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Monterrey may gain support
27. http://www.estadiodefutbolmonterrey.com/
28. Third time lucky for T.O. Games bid?, www.TheStar.com, July 10, 2007
29. http://thephoenix.com/Boston/RecRoom/90316-Olympic-shell-games/#
30. Birmingham, Alabama, mayor wants Olympics in 2020
31. Brown, Robbie (August 23, 2008) " Mayor Pushes Skeptical Birmingham to Dream on an Olympic Scale." New York Times
32. Feasibility Studies For Boston 2020, Netherlands 2028 Summer Games
33. http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/olympic_bids/future_bids_2016/1216134562.html
34. http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/136031527
35. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090804_11_0_TheTul998361
36. http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=10845448
37. http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/content/items/tulsa2020.PDF
38. GamesBids.com - Olympic Bid News and Information Website
39. Delhi will bid for 2020 Olympics
40. India Won't Bid For 2020 Games
41. Malaysian Olympic Committee website
42. Malaysia Not Ready For Olympic Bid
43. "Prague’s Mayor Organizes Team To Study 2020 Olympic Bid," GamesBids.com
44. It’s Official – Prague Out Of 2020 Bid
45. The Olympic games infringement case, and the winner is ... Paris, Juriscom.net, May 15, 2007

External links

• International Olympic Committee