Opinion: It’s Time to Take the Olympics to Africa
It is necessary to hold the Olympic Games on the African continent after centuries of oblivion .
It seems that the International Olympic Committee wants to reserve this honor for a few “developed” countries, the same as always, the most powerful. Photo: LatinAmerican Post
LatinAmerican Post| Juan Manuel Londoño
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Leer en español: Opinión: Ya es hora de llevar los Olímpicos a África
It is about time that a real Olympic Games were held in Africa
The Olympic Games, in addition to being a sporting event, serve as a show of power and a boost to the economy of a country through tourism . For this reason, nations go to great lengths, sometimes even going into full debt, to be chosen as venues for this event.
However, it seems that the International Olympic Committee wants to reserve this honor for a few "developed" countries, the same as always, the most powerful. At least in the next 10 years we will not see a Games in South America, much less in Africa.
From what has been confirmed, this is what the picture looks like:
In 2022 the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be played in Beijing
In 2024 the Summer Olympics will be played in Paris
In 2026 the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be played in Milan
In 2028 the Summer Olympics will be played in Los Angeles
In 2032 the Summer Olympics will be played in Brisbane, Australia
Where is the rest of the world? What about the countries of Latin America and Africa? Don't they deserve to show their cultural and sporting progress to the rest of the world?
Africa in particular has not seen an Olympic Games in the entire history of the continent. In the past perhaps this could be justified due to high rates of violence and poverty. But today? There are countries that have the infrastructure and resources to host games themselves. Just as an example, there is the case of South Africa, which successfully held the 2010 World Cup.
Hoy hace 11 años comenzaba un Mundial que marcó a una generación entera: Sudáfrica 2010. La primera fiesta mundialista en África dejó el Jabulani, las vuvuzelas, partidos icónicos, actuaciones memorables, las predicciones de Paul y canciones como Wavin' Flag y Waka-Waka. ÉPICO. pic.twitter.com/ilkpwhq4Nc
— Invictos (@InvictosSomos) June 11, 2021
You can also read: Tokyo 2020: Five Latino Athletes Seeking Olympic Gold
To make matters worse, the countries that have been chosen as venues have already repeated this honor several times. The United States has hosted eight games, France five, Australia two and Italy three. There is nothing new here.
Holding a true Olympic Games on the African continent would not only be a huge step towards fostering the national pride of the nation that hosts them, but also a reaffirmation of one of the missions of the International Olympic Committee “to promote and support the development of sport for all ”. At this time, this goal is not being met.
As the host cities are chosen by the Committee more or less 7 years in advance, it will be some time before we see an African or Latin country as a possible host for the games. Hopefully, eventually, it will be achieved. After all, an African venue is the only thing that the Olympics need to conquer the world.
