IOC long-shot Morinari Watanabe hopes ‘crazy’ Olympic idea sparks debate

TOKYO – Japan’s Morinari Watanabe is a rank outsider to become International Olympic Committee (IOC) president but he hopes his “crazy idea” to host the Games in five cities at once can spark debate.

The International Gymnastics Federation chief, 65, is among seven candidates vying to succeed Thomas Bach as head of the IOC, with members deciding in March. The son of a Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor, Watanabe would be the first Asian in the post.

Watanabe is proposing to host the Games simultaneously in five cities across five continents in a bid to reduce costs and let the whole world share Olympic fever. He told AFP in an interview that he wants to bring “reform” to the IOC and embrace the possibility of “something new”.

“Whether it happens or doesn’t happen is not so important – we must open discussions and make new ideas,” said Watanabe.

“I give the first time some crazy idea, but young people have more ideas. My job is to open the door.”

Watanabe is seen as a long shot to succeed Bach in a field that includes British Olympic legend Sebastian Coe, France’s David Lappartient and Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry. Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, Jordan’s Prince Faisal Al-Hussein and Sweden-born Johan Eliasch are also in the running.

Watanabe, who has led the world gymnastics body since 2017, is one of four international sport federation leaders on the ballot, along with athletics’ Coe, cycling’s Lappartient and skiing’s Eliasch.

Watanabe said the Olympic format of having one host city, which has been in place since the modern Games began in Athens in 1896, has become “stifling”.

He proposes instead to have five cities sharing events, beamed around the world in a rolling 24-hour broadcast. His idea involves an enlarged programme of 10 sports for each city, with events being hosted in the time zone and climate that suits them best.

He said his plan would allow Games organisers to “create the best conditions for the athletes”.

“It would be done across different time zones so they wouldn’t need to compete early in the morning or late at night,” he said.

“When it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere, so you could have the marathon and the athletics events there.”

Watanabe believes IOC sponsors could also benefit from having a global network of host cities and said fans would feel more connected if the action was happening locally.

He said: “Most people enjoyed the Paris Olympics, but looking at it from Asia it felt like something far away.

“I don’t think there was the sense of unity that there should have been. If you host it across five continents, more people would be involved.”

Bach’s successor will be chosen at an IOC session in Athens from March 18 to 21. AFP