What does it matter? The way we’re all going by the time 2022 rolls around it’s entirely possible that there won’t be enough countries in the world with a true “winter” for there to be any place to hold the Winter Olympics, anyway (just remember back to the last two Winter Olympics if you don’t think my observations have any merit).
astorian:
The 2012 Olympics were bidded for by some pretty top-tier countries/cities. I don’t think the Olympics has lost its luster in developed countries.
In addition to the aforementioned India, it seems that Turkey and South Africa are pretty eager to show off on the world stage.
Global climate change had little or nothing to do with the warm weather at Sochi.
Unlike many Russian cities, Sochi is NOT generally frigid during the winter. It’s a rather balmy spot most of the year, and generally gets only a few days below freezing each year. Palm trees grow there!
It was a rather odd place for the Winter Olympics.
Fair point. With the IOC having picked what I heard was the closest Russia has to a tropical getaway and FIFA having chosen Qatar to host the World Cup I’m beginning to wonder even more than I did before about the integrity of “institutions” like the IOC and FIFA.
Field Hockey.
But, there economy is on the slide so…no.
When I heard that Sochi had been given the Olympics, I had to do a double take to ensure that it was not the summer games,
I mean, its not like RUssia does not have cold areas.
I think is a great idea. Denver could host a winter Olympics pretty easily and I’d love to be able to spend ungodly amounts for tickets. I still kick myself for not going to the Park City games but I was too poor.
Let’s put it another way- is the problem really that no one wants to host, or that nobody wants to spend billions to build unnecessary new facilities?
That is, I’m sure any number of cities have hotel space, great skiing spots, and arenas suitable for ice hockey and figure skating. That OUGHT to be enough, right? But the IOC wants brand spanking NEW facilities for everything. That’s where most possible host cities draw the line.
Los Angeles currently has no NFL team. Many teams talk about moving there, but when they do, L.A. tells them, “Great! Hope you’re happy in the (aging) Coliseum!” And that’s the end of that idea.
I’m sure Turin, Salt Lake City, St. Moritz, Stockholm, Innsbruck and many other cities could do a fine job hosting with existing facilities. Will the IOC have to accept that, or will they continue to expect txpayers to spend a fortune for the prestige of the thing?
You’re assuming that the facilities still exist in those cities, but in fact they often do not. After Olympics are held, a lot of the facilities - especially the athletes’ villages - are quickly repurposed. Even Vancouver, which just held the Winter Games four years ago, could not hold another without substantial new construction.
Oh, I’ll right. I’ll host it.
…
What? We have a big backyard.
All right, but are you saying there aren’t any large cities near skiing meccas that already have plenty of hotel space and an arena large enough to hold hockey games in?
Of course there are. These cities might not have ALL the facilities needed to host the Olympics, but they wouldn’t have to start from scratch and build new facilities for everything… even though that’s plainly what the IOC wants.
Look at the London Summer Olympics. A world class city. A city with a very long and distinguished sporting heritage, with the supporting infrastructure. A very large business and tourist destination, so no shortage of hotel space.
They still needed billions and years to prepare.
Hell the facilities are a small part of the whole effort.
Well, the IOC was clearly okay with doing exactly that in 2002 (Salt Lake City) and 2010 (Vancouver.) And they were going to give it to Oslo if Oslo wanted it. Those cities match your description - large cities with skiing within a reasonable driving distance, big arenas, hotels.
It’s as much about the COUNTRY (and continent) as it is the venue. Sochi didn’t get the Olympics for being Sochi, they got them for being in Russia.
So it’s Beijing. At least we don’t have to learn a whole new country.
At long last answering the question, “when are we going to give winter athletes a chance to get black lung disease?”
As a denizen of the last US city to host one, I’m actually not surprised. It didn’t help that the 2002 Winter Olympics were so relatively soon after 9/11 (deterring some national and international travel, certainly), but it never ended up being the windfall host cities seem to think it’s going to be.
Good Things Utah Got From The Olympics
- A viable commuter rail system that’s still running and still great
- Eradication of a few of the more truly bizarre liquor laws (though we’re still one of the most restricted states)
Bad Things Utah Got From The Olympics
- A huge open air shopping center that’s now half-vacant and moldering along with some other rotting infrastructure (though nothing like what happens to some FIFA World Cup sites)
- Mitt Romney’s rise to prominence
You mean there’s anything to wonder about? 
Unless the IOC changes its ‘FIFAesque’ bidding process, there will no longer be bids from north america or europe.
I know you’re probably referring to bribes, but what specifically about the bidding process has issues? I was under the impression that the cities just submit some kind of package saying what they’ll do for the games and how they’ll do it, and wine and dine some members and that’s it
Unless they do not see themselves as in FIFAesque criminal peril for corruption, they wouldn’t even consider the US anyway.