Economic impact on host cities brings out the big guns: 2018 Olympic Games
The Olympics Games will find themselves in London in 2012, making it the third time that the city will be hosting the Games and making it the first city in the world to do so. With the Olympics held every two years, the cities for the 2014 and the 2016 events
have already been decided. What is on stake for Pyeongchang, Munich and Annecy is the 2018 Olympics Games, whose host city will be decided on 6th July in Durban.
The games have a huge economic impact on any city that it graces; previous host cities have put in all their efforts to lure the Olympics to their homelands. The heads of states have involved themselves in winning over the more than 100 members of the International
Olympic Committee. Before the host city of the 2012 Olympics Games was decided, both Jacques Chirac as well as Tony Blair were present at the IOC before they were about to give their decision back in 2005.
Blair’s charm and charisma was able to successfully gather the support of the members of the IOC and London stood the victor with 54 votes while Chirac could only manage 50.
Despite the fact that the Russians did not have an embassy in Guatemala City while the IOC was pondering its decision of the host of the 2014 Olympics, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin felt it necessary to pay them a visit. Putin’s two other peers
were also present in the city in order to influence a winning chance to their respective cities. President Roh Moo-hyeon was representing South Korea whereas Austria was being represented by Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer. However, it was the political influence
of Putin that prevailed and Sochi was named the city that would be playing host to the Winter Olympic Games in 2014.
Seeing the economic importance of holding the games in their cities, the heads of South Korea, Germany as well as France have not ignored making their presence felt before the IOC at this crucial stage.
Representing Germany will be President Christian Wulff. While the German Chancellor Angel Merkel will not be able to make it, she has made sure that her absence is compensated before the IOC selects the city on Wednesday. Merkel has relayed her support and
enthusiasm to the members of the IOC by addressing them in a personal letter.
South Korea will be represented by their president, Lee Myung-bak while the French side is going to be sending Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno.
With Annecy in third place and Pyeongchang slightly ahead of Munich, it is yet to be seen which head of state succeeds in bringing home the 2018 Olympic Games.
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