KUALA LUMPUR • The Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) said yesterday that an Olympic bid is not part of its immediate plans, following reports that the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) is optimistic about a joint bid.

"While the Rio 2016 Olympic Games was a successful one for Singapore (swimmer Joseph Schooling won the Republic's first-ever gold), hosting the Games is not on our cards right now as we are unable to meet the requirements and demands of organising an event of such magnitude," the SNOC said in a statement.

In 2014, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) flagged the possibility of wider bids for the Games - including joint bids from multiple cities and even events being held in more than one country.

Thomas Bach, the IOC president, had said then that the aim was to "create more diversity in the candidatures" and also because "there is no one-size-fits-all solution".

OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaafar said yesterday that if the bidding cost for hosting the Olympics could be reduced, Malaysia might have a chance to bid for the hosting rights.

He added that one of the ideas in realising the bid was to team up with Singapore.

When asked to elaborate, Tunku Imran said, however: "It was too early to discuss that matter but we had a discussion between two people.

"(Malaysia and Singapore) have fully equipped facilities such as hotels, airports and convenient transport facilities. If they (IOC) make the cost of bidding cheaper or there is a different system, I feel it would make a lot of sense."

BERNAMA