More boon than bust
Updated: 2014-08-20 17:06
(China Daily)
|
||||||||
Despite concerns about increasing budgets for major sporting events, staging the Olympics provides more benefits than burden for host cities - especially in developing countries, an IOC executive board member said.
Although Istanbul's bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics fell short in September 2013 when Tokyo was voted the host, Ugur Erdener, the Turkish Olympic Committee president, shrugged off the disappointment and is positive about the city's ability to host the biggest sporting event in the world.
"The Turkish government and the Turkish people are ready to host Olympic Games in the future," Erdener, also an executive member of IOC, said during a round-table interview on Monday in Nanjing.
Istanbul's failed bid was its fifth try since launching its first, for the 2000 Summer Olympics.
The largest city in Turkey won't give up pursuing the Games, said Erdener, citing the 2008 Olympics' boost to urban development in Beijing.
"An Olympic Games operation is a good opportunity, especially for developing countries to solve infrastructural issues. By hosting the Olympics, our government can improve the infrastructures for the people of Istanbul.
"In well-developed cities, people often have different opinions about such big projects and worry their daily lives will be affected negatively. But in my country, like in China, the public supports major sporting event bids," said the 64-year-old professor at Hacettepe University in Ankara.
With the IOC planning to discus reforms in December about the 2020 Games, Erdener said the Nanjing Youth Olympics were already providing examples of frugality and simplified event procedures.
"If we think about all the budgets (for the Games and city development), it can be difficult (for developing countries to handle).
"If the organizing committee fits the event's operation budget into its overall city development plan (like Nanjing did), it won't be that huge, mostly," Erdener said.
- In pictures: Highlights of Nanjing Youth Olympics
- Fencing world champion upset at Youth Olympics
- Youth Olympics gold not sole goal for Fan Zhendong
- Cayman Islands gymnast Lloyd makes history at Youth Olympics
- Yogging a hit at Nanjing Youth Olympics
- UCI president Cookson gives all thumbs up to Youth Olympics
- Nigeria pulls out of Youth Olympics due to Ebola
- Australian Dutton wins first gold at Nanjing Youth Olympics
- Ebola threat sees three athletes miss Youth Olympics
- Kim Soo-hyun arrives at Nanjing for 2014 Youth Olympics
- Star Stefanie Sun holds concert in Beijing
- Faye Wong's manager refutes star's drug rumors
- Lu Yi and daughter Bei Er pose for street snaps
- Photoshoots of actress Li Xiaomeng
- Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards
- Fan Bingbing, first Chinese actress in Barbie Hall of Fame
- Awarding ceremony of 2014 hito Pop Music held in Taipei
- Zhao Liying's photo shoot for Children's Day
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games |
Leading leaden lives |
Former security chief under probe |
China helps fight international war on drugs |
Crackdown on terrorist attacks |
My China Story: Meeting the master |
Today's Top News
Antitrust probes 'won't deter investors'
Obama vows long-term strategy against ISIL
Ministry says trade growth needs help to reach 7.5%
Xi pledges to make China media more up to date
Missouri gov lifts Ferguson curfew
US police uses China's social media
China's US debt holdings dip lower, again
Anti-trust team lacks real muscle for enforcement
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |