Norway's ruling party just voted against funding Oslo's 2022 Winter Olympics bid, essentially forcing the city to drop out of the race. It's just the latest in a long series of cities and countries who have given an emphatic "no" to hosting the Olympic quagmire.
In a non-binding referendum in February, 55.9 percent of Norwegians said they didn't want the Games. "There must be major changes in the IOC before I can help to support an Olympic application," said Tromsø Mayor Jens Johan Hjort.
Stoking some of that anger was the IOC's list of demands for an Oslo bid, which included a cocktail reception with Norway's king, with the tab on either the royal family or the Norwegian Olympic Committee. Among the IOC's other demands: Cars and drivers for IOC members, with special dedicated highway lanes Street lights synchronized to prioritize IOC traffic Separate airport entrance for IOC members Hotel mini-bars must have only Coca-Cola products Samsung phones for all IOC members All meeting rooms must be kept at exactly 68 degrees. All furniture must have "Olympic appearance." "IOC members will be received with a smile on arrival at hotel"
Oslo joins a decorated list of municipalities that have declined to pursue Olympic bids, or dropped out of the running after residents voted against it. Invariably, each blamed the rising cost and invisible benefits of hosting the Olympics. Among those who withdrew are Krakow, Poland; Stockholm, Sweden; Munich, Germany; Davos/St. Moritz, Switzerland; and Lviv, Ukraine, which dropped out just before the IOC selected three finalists (the only three cities remaining).
With Oslo out, it's down to Beijing, China, and Almaty, Kazakhstan. The vote will be held on July 31, 2015, assuming one or both candidate cities don't drop out before then.
Below, our story from May on why only the autocratic can afford to host the Olympics anymore.
Related Posts
According to a recent report from Daily Mirror, Manchester City star Leroy Sane is set to stay at the club until at least the end of the season in the midst of rumours regarding his future. The expectation is that he will still make the jump over to German giants Bayern Munich during next summer’s transfer window, but Bayern won’t be able to get their hands on him until then.
Sane’s future has been a source of great debate amongst fans and pundits alike, with nobody really knowing whether he was going to stay or go. His injuries certainly haven’t helped in that regard, but now, it would appear as if he’s taking the time on the shelf seriously as he contemplates what’s next.
Whatever the case may be, nobody can deny that he’s in the midst of one of the…
Ronald Koeman backed Antoine Griezmann but said goals would be the best medicine to boost the Barcelona forward s confidence.
Griezmann s last goal came against Ferencvaros in the Champions League on December 2, and he has just three in 16 LaLiga appearances this season.
A trip to Los Carmenes to face Granada on Saturday could help the France international, who has been involved in four goals (three goals and one assist) in his past five visits to the ground in LaLiga.
Barcelona coach Koeman said while Griezmann was working hard, goals would be best for the 29-year-old.
Any player needs confidence in himself, his team-mates and the place where he plays. This starts with the player, he told a news conference.
As a coach, I can communicate with […
Pep Guardiola acknowledged he was among those who doubted David Silva would be a success at Manchester City as he lauded the midfielder s just incredible longevity.
City captain Silva is set to make his 400th appearance for the club against Bournemouth on Sunday, having joined from Valencia in 2010.
The Spaniard has played a part in four Premier League title wins, yet, to many, his diminutive stature and silky skills did not appear a good fit for English football.
This was put to Guardiola in Friday s pre-match news conference and the City boss interjected to say he had similarly thought Silva might struggle before being proven spectacularly wrong.
Yep, me included [in those who thought Silva would struggle], he said. I think it s his character. It s not…
Jamie Carragher has criticised Liverpool s performance after a 1-0 away loss to Southampton continued their recent slump.
The Premier League champions went down to defeat courtesy of an early goal from their former striker Danny Ings on Monday.
Liverpool had drawn their previous two games against West Brom and Newcastle United, while they also recently dropped points against Brighton and Hove Albion and Fulham.
Manager Klopp felt the Southampton defeat was down to an early mistake by Trent Alexander-Arnold and a failure to award his side penalties.
But Carragher was baffled to see Liverpool not bombarding the Southampton goal in the latter stages.
Aside from their 7-0 win over Crystal Palace, the former Reds defender has been concerned by their la…
Gabriel Gabigol Barbosa and Matteo Politano have agreed permanent exits from Inter, joining Flamengo and Napoli respectively.
Flamengo are said to have paid €17million to sign Gabriel, while Politano has joined Napoli on a two-year loan with an obligation to buy.
After failing to make his mark upon arriving at San Siro for a reported €25m in August 2016, Gabigol shone on loan at Flamengo last year. He scored 43 goals in 60 games as Jorge Jesus led them to Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores glory.
The 23-year-old striker was linked with a move to West Ham but signed a five-year deal to stay at Flamengo on Tuesday.
Se é para o bem da Nação..
— Gabriel Barbosa (@gabigol)
Inter also agreed to let Politano depart after he be…
According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Getafe have opened up their doors and welcomed Barcelona in as the Spanish giants go after the signing of Getafe forward Angel Rodriguez.
The striker will be an emergency replacement for Ousmane Dembele who doesn’t appear to be returning any time soon. Barca are in desperate need of a few game changers, and especially goalscorers, as they try and chase down bitter rivals Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga table.
The man known as Angel, 32, has been with Getafe since back in 2017 when he made the jump over from Zaragoza. The Spaniard has never played outside of Spanish football and while he may not be viewed as the most conventional signing Barca could make, he certainly appears to be at the top of their radar.…
Joao Felix appeared to take a swipe at Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone by stating conditions with Portugal are more favourable than with the LaLiga giants.
The Atleti forward has been linked with a move away from the Wanda Metropolitano, with Los Rojiblancos chief executive Gil Marin believing a January exit is reasonable to expect.
Joao Felix has scored 33 goals for Atleti since arriving from Benfica for €126million in 2019 a tally only bettered by Luis Suarez (34) during that span.
But the 23-year-old has a frosty relationship with Simeone, with the pair reportedly falling out earlier this season.
And he appeared to aim a dig at his club boss after Portugal booked their World Cup quarter-final place with a comprehensive 6-1 rout of Switzerla…
Wigan will start the League One season in August with minus-four points after the English Football League issued its latest sanction against the club for a failure to pay players’ wages.
The EFL said a further four-point deduction was suspended until the end of the 2023-24 season.
That suspended sanction will kick in if club owner Abdulrahman Al Jasmi fails to deposit an amount equal to 125 per cent of the club’s forecast monthly wage bill into a designated account by May 24.
EFL Statement: Wigan Athletic
— EFL Communications (@EFL_Comms)
The additional four-point deduction would also be activated if the club fail to pay players on time at any point between now and June 2024.
The club’s 2022-23 season points tally has also been r…
Alvaro Romero scored one of the solo goals of the season against Real Madrid, and little Unionistas de Salamanca were in dreamland on the hour mark of this Copa del Rey culture clash.
Madrid, thanks to Gareth Bale, a Juan Gongora own goal and Brahim Diaz s late individual effort, eventually won 3-1 at the tiny Las Pistas stadium, where 4,000 supporters of a club that has only existed since 2013 saw their side go head to head with the 13-time European champions.
Yet Romero s stunning effort after 57 minutes will live far longer in the memory than the goals that won the day for Madrid.
The substitute had been on the field barely a minute when he ran from just inside Madrid s half to the edge of the penalty area before curling a fine left-footed finish out of the …
Bruno Fernandes started against Atletico Madrid on a big Champions League night for Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese playmaker missed Saturday s 3-2 win over Tottenham after a positive COVID-19 test.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning hat-trick to snatch the points in that game, and United boss Ralf Rangnick confirmed the reason for Fernandes being absent afterwards.
Rangnick said it would be a race against time for Fernandes to be back for duty in Europe; however, the former Sporting CP man was able to train on Monday.
Fernandes was named in a midfield that also featured Fred, Jadon Sancho and Scott McTominay. The latter returned from an injury that caused him to miss the Spurs game, as Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic dropped to t…