The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the Global Coronavirus Pandemic: It’s Time to Bring Back the Olympic Games to a Permanent Home in Greece

By Christopher Alexander*

            The world has come to a standstill in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease or COVID-19.[1]  Government officials around the world have implemented social distancing measures to mitigate the spread, including limitations on social gatherings and closures of non-essential businesses, which has led to a great deal of uncertainty about the future.[2]  In particular, uncertainty now surrounds the fate of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo scheduled to take place this upcoming summer from July 24 to August 9, 2020.[3]

Rapid Pace Developments

        On Sunday, March 22, 2020 the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”) announced that a decision about whether to postpone or cancel the Olympic Games would be determined in a matter of four weeks.[4]  The next day, both Canada and Australia announced that neither country would send their athletes to compete in Tokyo for the 2020 Summer Olympics due to the risk associated with the coronavirus outbreak.[5]  That same day, the World Health Organization issued a warning that coronavirus pandemic was “accelerating,” at which point athletes around the world began to question the lack of divisive leadership within the IOC.[6]  Concerns involving the overall health, training schedule, and future success of all competitors would likely escalate into a debate about fairness and potentially call the results of the Olympic Games into question.[7] 

A Change of Heart Rate

            Following mounting global pressure, the IOC and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee issued a joint statement two days later on March 24, 2020.[8]  The IOC President and Prime Minister of Japan concluded that the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo should be “rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021.”[9]  The decision was made “to safeguard the health of athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.”[10]   The leaders are now hoping the Olympic Games will “stand as a beacon of hope during these troubled times….the light at the end of the tunnel” for the world.[11]  Ultimately, athletes, sports pundits, and world leaders alike believe postponement is the best decision.[12]

High Stakes Low Returns

            Historically, the Olympic Games has not been profitable for host cities.[13]  Although some profits are derived from advertising revenue, the majority of the benefits are considered intangible with little to no calculable returns such as name recognition and tourism.[14]  Japan, for instance, originally bid for the Tokyo 2020 games with an estimated cost of roughly $12.6 billion.[15]  Shortly thereafter, a subsequent audit of preliminary expenses forecasted the Tokyo 2020 games would cost nearly $28 billion.[16]  To date, Japan has only been able to generate $5 billion in revenue from sponsorship – an insignificant amount of money raised in comparison to the amount of taxpayer money expended.[17]  Now, the postponement of the Olympic Games has been forecasted to reduce Japan’s Gross Domestic Product by up to 1.4%.[18]  The 2020 Olympics has once again demonstrated the startlingly amount of taxpayer money and high cost to pay for hosting the largest sporting event in the world, once every four years, for one time use.[19]

Unsustainable Consequences

            In addition to the financial burden of hosting the Olympics, the aftermath of hosting the games also comes at a tremendous environmental and human cost.[20]  For instance, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi led to the deforestation of 6,000 acres and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing led to the displacement of 1.5 to 2 million people.[21]  The environmental costs – such as climate change, deforestation, and water pollution – coupled with the human costs – such as economic stagnation, displacement, and misappropriation of taxes – are immense.[22]  Generally, the host cities are left with vast amounts of taxpayer debt and vacant infrastructure.[23]  For these reasons, many democratic nations no longer desire to host the Olympics.[24]  In light of the costs inflicted on host cities, the IOC needs to reconsider the needless relocation of the Olympic Games with a possible solution that may be found by returning to its ancient Greek origin.[25] 

Return to the days of Greek Antiquity 

            The first few Olympic Games were held every four years in Olympia, Greece from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D. as a celebration to the Greek deity Zeus.[26]  The Olympic Games included a series of athletic competitions with representatives from city-states across Ancient Greece, regardless of ongoing conflicts.[27]  The ancient Olympic Games ended under reign of the Greek Emperor Theodosius, who sought to foster Christianity and suppress paganism.[28]  More than 1500 years later, the global concept of the modern Olympic Games was revived by the French Baron Pierre de Coubertin.[29]  The King of Greece at the time believed Greece would be an ideal country to host the games indefinitely, but Baron Pierre de Coubertin believed the games should be hosted in different countries.[30]  Greece has only hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, despite the countries attempt to keep and lobby for permanent return of the games, and then again in 2004.[31]

A Sustainable Alternative for the Olympics

The overall toll of hosting the Olympics coupled with the catastrophic financial hardship Japan is currently facing due to the coronavirus pandemic should be a wakeup call for the IOC.[32]  The time is now for the IOC to consider a permanent location for the Summer, and even Winter, Olympic Games in order to prevent another future postponement like Tokyo 2020 and minimize further costs associated with hosting the Olympics.[33]  The idea of a permanent Olympics is not a new idea – Greece offered up a 1250 acre parcel of land in Olympia, Greece where the Olympics could permanently operate as an independent city-state similar to that of the Vatican in 1980.[34]  The offer was studied and declined by the IOC at the time, but more recently the idea has gained traction for the IOC to revisit the feasibility of a permanent location for the Olympic Games.[35] 

Unfortunately, it is unlikely change will come from within the IOC as they have nothing to lose with the current status quo.[36] Instead, change will have to come from within individual Olympic Committees in countries around the world.[37]  Amid growing international calls for action on climate change and economic inequality, the IOC needs a sustainable solution and cannot continue to waste finite resources and leave cities in ruin.[38]  The IOC needs to do more and a permanent location in Greece similar to that of Disneyworld with airports, hotels, restaurants, and all the necessary sporting complexes would be a self-sufficient and sustainable solution.[39]  Bringing the modern Olympic Games back to its ancient roots would be a difficult but necessary decision that would benefit the IOC, future host cities, and earth in general.[40]

*Managing Editor of Outside Works, Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal, J.D. Candidate, May 2020, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

[1] See Coronavirus, World Health Org., https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus (last visited Mar. 24, 2020) (describing an overview of the symptoms, prevention, and treatment for coronavirus); see also Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic, World Health Org., https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 (last visited Mar. 24, 2020) (providing pandemic developments from WHO and countries around world).

[2] See Phillip Rucker, Jeff Stein, Josh Dawsey, & Ashley Parker, Trumps says he may soon push businesses to reopen, defying the advice of coronavirus experts, Wash. Post (Mar. 23, 2020), https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-says-he-may-soon-lift-restrictions-to-reopen-businesses-defying-the-advice-of-coronavirus-experts/2020/03/23/f2c7f424-6d14-11ea-a3ec-70d7479d83f0_story.html (highlighting changes to current measures to minimize illness).

[3] See Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Detailed Events Schedule Announced, Olympic (April 16, 2019), https://www.olympic.org/news/tokyo-2020-olympic-games-detailed-events-schedule-announced (outlining schedule of events, game, and other ceremonies for summer Olympics); see also Matthew Futterman, Tariq Panja, & Andrew Keh, As Coronavirus Spreads, Olympics Face Ticking Clock and a Tough Call, N.Y. Times (Mar. 5, 2020), https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/sports/olympics/coronavirus-tokyo.html (reporting on growing concerns and possible alternatives including no spectators at Olympic games).

[4] See Health and Safety Paramount as IOC Executive Board Agrees to Step Up Scenario-Planning for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Olympic (Mar. 22, 2020), https://www.olympic.org/news/health-and-safety-paramount-as-ioc-executive-board-agrees-to-continue-scenario-planning-for-the-olympic-games-tokyo-2020 (describing safeguards and scenarios with hopes of deciding the fate of upcoming summer Olympics in four weeks).

[5] See Team Canada will not send athletes to Games in summer 2020 due to COVID-19 risks, Canadian Olympic Committee & Canadian Paralympic Comm. (Mar. 22, 2020), https://olympic.ca/press/team-canada-will-not-send-athletes-to-games-in-summer-2020-due-to-covid-19-risks/?ref=twitter (noting regardless of IOC decision has been made not to send athletes); see also AOC plans for postponed Olympic Games, Australian Olympic Comm. (Mar. 22, 2020), https://www.olympics.com.au/news/; see also Tim Stelloh, Canada, Australia pulling out of Olympics because of coronavirus, NBC News (Mar. 22, 2020), https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/canada-austraila-pulling-out-olympics-because-coronavirus-n1166266 (highlighting announcements from the two countries).

[6] See Bill Chappell, Coronavirus: WHO Head Says Nations Must Attack As ‘Pandemic is Accelerating’, NPR (Mar. 23, 2020), https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/23/820290984/coronavirus-who-head-says-nations-must-attack-as-pandemic-is-accelerating (warning coronavirus cases were not stopped despite containment efforts); see also Sean Ingle, Athletes across globe call for Olympic postponement as countries pull out, Guardian (Mar. 23, 2020), https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/23/athletes-across-the-globe-call-for-olympic-postponement-as-countries-pull-out (emphasizing new calls for answers from IOC to avoid cancellation but rather postponement for athletes to compete later).

[7] See ESPN News Services, U.S. Olympic Committee says poll shows postponing Olympics is best path, ESPN (Mar. 23, 2020), https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/28944565/us-olympic-committee-says-postponing-olympics-best-path-going-forward (emphasizing massive and unequal disruption in training schedules could lead to unfair qualifying standards).

[8] See generally Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, Olympic (Mar. 24, 2020), https://www.olympic.org/news/joint-statement-from-the-international-olympic-committee-and-the-tokyo-2020-organising-committee (detailing agreeance from Olympic, 2020 Organizing Committee, and Japanese leaders on postponement of Olympic games this upcoming summer until next summer in 2021).

[9] See id. (reiterating the summer games would be postponed not cancelled);  see also Tom Schad, 2020 Tokyo Olympics officially postponed due to coronavirus outbreak, USA Today (Mar. 24, 2020), https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2020/03/24/tokyo-olympics-postponed-coronavirus-summer-games-2021/2863551001/ (noting clarity for and effect on 11,000 athletes who spent years training in anticipation of this summer’s upcoming competition); see also IOC, IPC, Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Announce New Dates for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, Olympic (March 30, 2020), https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-ipc-tokyo-2020-organising-committee-and-tokyo-metropolitan-government-announce-new-dates-for-the-olympic-and-paralympic-games-tokyo-2020 (postponing 2020 Olympic Games for a new date starting on July 23 to August 8, 2021).

[10] See id. (supporting prior calls for decision from IOC leadership); see also Nancy Armour, USOPC calls for postponement of Olympics until IOC can ensure conditions are safe, USA Today (Mar. 23, 2020), https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2020/03/23/tokyo-olympics-usopc-calls-postponement/2904370001/ (ensuring health and safety of athletes).

[11] Id. (reiterating importance of games for world); see also Promote Olympism in Society, Olympic, https://www.olympic.org/the-ioc/promote-olympism (last visited Mar. 24, 2020) (illustrating general sense of unity and defining Olympism as “a philosophy of life, exalting and combining a balanced whole the qualities of body, will, and mind. Blending sport with culture and education.  Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.”).

[12] See Dan Cancian, 2020 Olympics Postponement ‘The Right Decision,’ Athletes Say, Newsweek (Mar. 24, 2020),  https://www.newsweek.com/olympics-athletes-react-cancelation-tokyo-2020-ioc-1493982 (illustrating overwhelming support to postpone from athletes via polls and interviews set to represent the United States of America at summer Olympic games).

[13] See Jennifer Wills, The Economic Impact of Hosting the Olympics, Investopedia (June 25, 2019), https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets-economy/092416/what-economic-impact-hosting-olympics.asp (describing various cost associated with hosting Olympics), see also James McBride, The Economics of Hosting the Olympic Games, Council on Foreign Relations (Jan. 19, 2018), https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/economics-hosting-olympic-games (brainstorming possible options to lighten skyrocketing costs of Olympic set up and clean up).

[14] See Paul Dolan, Georgios Kavetsos, Christian Krekel, Dimitris Mavridis, Robert Metcalfe, Claudia Senik, Stefan Szymanski, & Nicholas R. Ziebarth, Quantifying the Intangible Impact of the Olympics Using Subjective Well-Being Data, Christian Krekel (Oct. 4, 2017), http://www.christiankrekel.de/files/dolan_et_al_2017.pdf (demonstrating tangible loss does not quantify into intangible gain); see also Edward Burgo & Fred J. Cromartie, The Benefits of Bidding and Hosting the Olympic Games are Difficult to Justify Due to the Overall Costs, Sport Journal (Feb. 8, 2018), https://thesportjournal.org/article/the-benefits-of-bidding-and-hosting-the-olympic-games-are-difficult-to-justify-due-to-the-overall-costs/ (elaborating on large investment expenditure by host cities with high risk and low return on Olympics despite IOC exaggerations); see also Time Worstall, Time For a Permanent Home for The Olympics Before It Bankrupts Another City, Forbes (Aug. 7, 2016), https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2016/08/07/time-for-a-permanent-home-for-the-olympics-before-it-bankrupts-another-city/#277d12d3134f (summarizing Andrew Zimbalist’s book Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics & the World Cup).

[15] See Associated Press, Tokyo officials say 2020 Games will cost $12.6 billion, but audit says it’s much more, USA Today (Dec. 2, 2019), https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2019/12/20/tokyo-olympics-cost-climbs-12-billion-audit/2712570001/ (describing original costs and subsequent shortfalls in forecasts with IOC limiting it’s expense contributions from sponsorships, ticket sales, and marketing to $5.6 billion and taxpayers covering disproportionate difference in costs).

[16] See id. (noting audit found projections too low and did not account for all projects directly and indirectly related to Olympic games, i.e. sports infrastructure vs. transportation infrastructure).

[17] See id. (noting amount of profit generated by government from businesses for advertisements); see also Alissa Walker, How L.A.’s 1984 Summer Olympics Became the Most Successful Games Ever, Gizmodo (Feb. 6, 2014), https://gizmodo.com/how-l-a-s-1984-summer-olympics-became-the-most-success-1516228102 (highlighting rare profitability of hosting Olympic games, of which Los Angeles was only of the only cities to do so in modern times).

[18] See Jiji Kyodo, Cancelling Olympics would reduce Japan’s GDP by 1.4%, study says, Japan Times (Mar. 7, 2020), https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/03/07/business/economy-business/canceling-tokyo-olympics-gdp/#.XnvICUp7lPY (citing SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. projections about corporate revenue shortcoming and its effect on Japan as a whole); see also Jim Chappelow, Gross Domestic Product – GDP, Investopedia (June 27, 2019), https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gdp.asp (“GDP is a total monetary or market value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific period.”).

[19] See Jack Todd, The 40-year hangover: how the 1976 Olympics nearly broke Montreal, Guardian (July 6, 2016), https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jul/06/40-year-hangover-1976-olympic-games-broke-montreal-canada (describing heavy burden of $1.6 billion in debt from Winter Olympics 1976 Montreal); see also Jonathan Liew, Tokyo 202 Olympics: Faster growth, higher costs, stronger profit margins, Independent (Oct. 12, 2018), https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/tokyo-2020-olympics-jonathan-liew-a8580951.html (“The 2024/2028 bid process, which saw Paris and Los Angeles awarded the games virtually by default, was an acknowledgement that hosting … is becoming a burden almost too onerous for any single city to shoulder on its own.”).

[20] For a general discussion on the burden, see generally supra note 13-19 and see generally infra note 21-25 and accompanying text.

[21] See Erik Assadourian, The Olympic Games: a modern plague, Guardian (Feb. 25, 2014), https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/blog/sochi-winter-olympics-environment-wetlands-forest-travel (describing Olympics as a plague with ways to minimize destruction); see also Julian Borger, Olympics blamed for forcible removal of 2m over 20 years, Guardian (June 5, 2007), https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jun/06/sport.china (describing forcible removal of residents for Olympics as a human rights abuse from a study).

[22] See Brigette Osterath, The environmental impact of the Olympics, Deutsche Welle (Feb. 14, 2018), https://www.dw.com/en/the-environmental-impact-of-the-olympics/g-42524580 (depicting via photos); see also Tom Rosten, The human costs of the Olympics: Inside the community displaced by the 2016 Rio Games, Salon (July 2, 2018), https://www.salon.com/2018/07/02/the-human-costs-of-the-olympics-meet-the-people-displaced-by-2016-rio-games/ (depicting via video).

[23] See Peter Berlin, How the Olympics rotted Greece, Politico (July 10, 2015), https://www.politico.eu/article/how-the-olympics-rotted-greece/ (highlighting Greece’s downward spiral started shortly after hosting the Olympics); see also Scott Davis, The Rio Olympics were a financial disaster and it keeps getting worse, Business Insider (June 15, 2017), https://www.businessinsider.com/rio-olympics-financial-disaster-2017-6 (highlighting Brazil’s economic and political issues did not resolve after hosting the Olympics); Keith Flamer, The Olympic Shames: Rio and Athens Sports Venues Abandoned, Forbes (Feb. 28, 2017), https://www.forbes.com/sites/keithflamer/2017/02/28/the-olympic-shames-rio-and-athens-sports-venues-abandoned/#73268860ca0c (stating “[t]he Olympic dream morphed into a nightmare”).

[24] See Uri Freidman, What If the Olympics Were Always Held in the Same City?, Atlantic (Aug. 5, 2016), https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/08/rio-olympics-permanent-host/494264/ (“Given these realities, many of the governments jockeying to host the Olympics these days are autocratic” because “Russia and China aren’t accountable to voters” for ballooning costs, wasted resources, and much more pressing matters to resolve for constituents).

[25] See Ilya Somin, The Dark Side of the Olympics – and How to Fix It, Reason, Reason (Feb. 9, 2018), https://reason.com/2018/02/09/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics-and-how-to/ (emphasizing financial cost is not only issue but also cost of “human rights abuses, enormous waste, and propaganda or dictatorships” associated with hosting Olympic games).

[26] See Welcome to the Ancient Olympic Games, Olympic, https://www.olympic.org/ancient-olympic-games (last visited Mar. 24, 2020) (describing historical nature of ancient Olympic games in Olympia, Greece); see also The Real Story of the Ancient Olympic Games, Uni. of Pa. Penn Museum, https://www.penn.museum/sites/olympics/olympicorigins.shtml (last visited Mar. 24, 2020) (detailing an overview of games, athletes, and competitions).

[27] See id.; see also The United Nations and the Olympic Truce, United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/events/olympictruce/background.shtml (last visited Mar. 25, 2020) (explaining ancient tradition of putting aside conflicts for competition and modern day truce).

[28] See Mark Cartwright, Ancient Olympic Games, Ancient History Encyclopedia (Mar. 13, 2018) https://www.ancient.eu/Olympic_Games/ (describing paganism end due to Christianity).

[29] See also The Real Story of the Ancient Olympic Games, supra note 26 (detailing revival of ancient Olympic games in form of modern day Olympic games).

[30] See Freidman, supra note 24, (detailing how King George of Greece believed Athens could be the “peaceful meeting place of all nations” and insisted Olympic games be held in Greece); see also Jonathan Zimmerman, Enough with the world tour: Bring the Summer Olympics back home to Greece, Salon (Aug. 23, 2016), https://www.salon.com/2016/08/23/enough-with-the-world-tour-bring-the-summer-olympics-back-home-to-greece/ (detailing Baron Pierre de Coubertin beliefs that “every country should celebrate the Olympics in turn” on rotating Olympic games).

[31] See History.com Editors, First modern Olympics is held, A&E Television Networks (July 28, 2019), https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-modern-olympics-is-held (noting first modern Olympics and 108 years before hosting again in Greece).

[32] For further discussion on the costs as well as specific expenses and losses for Japan to host the Summer Olympics in Tokyo 2020, see infra notes 13-25 and accompanying text.

[33] See id.; see also Aidan Campbell, It’s Time to Return the Summer Olympics to Greece – Permanently, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Found. (Aug. 19, 2016), https://fdrfoundation.org/its-time-to-return-the-summer-olympics-to-greece-permanently/ (“vast quantities of resources, both human and environmental, are squandered in the construction of brand new Olympic venues, only to have them lie partially (or totally) unused after the games”).

[34] See William Gomberg, International Olympics Catastrophe: Why the Olympics Needs a Permanent Home, Brown Political Review (May 11, 2017), http://brownpoliticalreview.org/2017/05/international-olympics-catastrophe-olympics-need-permanent-home/ (describing politicization of Olympics following Summer Olympics Moscow 1980); Bloomberg News Staff, Editorial: Sochi proves Olympic games need a permanent home, News-Herald (Feb. 6, 2014), https://www.news-herald.com/opinion/editorial-sochi-proves-olympic-games-need-a-permanent-home/article_55ec1124-7d7f-5860-bfbe-a8ba79f280fb.html (describing previous attempts at permanent home for Olympics); see also Nate Berg, Why Can’t We Just Host the Olympics in the Same Place Every Year?, City Lab (Sept. 6, 2013), https://www.citylab.com/equity/2013/09/two-words-olympics-island/6797/ (brainstorming island in Greece governed by United Nations as an independent city state like Vatican City in Italy).

[35] See id.; see also Paul Glastris, Stop picking different cities to host the Olympic Games, Wash. Post (Aug. 2, 2016), https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/stop-picking-different-cities-to-host-the-olympic-games/2016/08/02/55a3225c-58e3-11e6-9767-f6c947fd0cb8_story.html (illustrating powerful world leaders, like International Monetary Fund Director Christine Lagarde, support Athens, Greece as permanent Olympic games host).

[36] See generally Olympic Agenda 2020: 20 + 20 Recommendation, Olympic (Dec. 9, 2014), https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Olympic_Agenda_2020/Olympic_Agenda_2020-20-20_Recommendations-ENG.pdf (illustrating lack of change in priorities from 127^th IOC Session in Monaco); see also Emma Baccellieri, Where Does the IOC’s Money Go?, Deadspin (Feb. 12, 2018), https://deadspin.com/where-does-the-iocs-money-go-1822983686 (identifying IOC profitability); David C. Young & Harold Maurice Abrahams, Olympic Games: Corruption, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic Games/Corruption (last visited Mar. 24, 2020) (noting previous corruption within IOC).

[37] See generally Georgetown Law Library, Organization and Legal Structure of the Olympic Games, Olympics & Int’ls Sports Law Research Guide, https://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/c.php?g=364665&p=2463479 (last visited Mar. 24, 2020) (identifying structure of IOC); One in seven Olympic Committees are directly linked to governments, Play the Game (Aug. 6, 2017), https://www.playthegame.org/news/news-articles/2017/0311_one-in-seven-olympic-committees-are-directly-linked-to-governments/ (demonstrating potential for political influence for hosting but also possibly for sustainability).

[38] For a further discussion on hypothesizing about fewer host city rotations or a permanent location in Los Angeles because maintaining existing infrastructure is cheaper than building and destroying year after year, see infra notes 23-24 and accompanying text. See also Charles Banks-Altekruse, Give the Olympics a Home, N.Y. Times (Feb. 28, 2010), https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/opinion/01altekruse.html (describing permanency); John Rennie Short, We Should Host the Olympics in the same place every time, Wash. Post (July 28, 2015), https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/07/28/we-should-host-the-olympics-in-the-same-place-every-time/ (emphasizing creativity to ensure international funding is provided, nationalist pride is not lost, and one country does not benefit from permanency).  

[39] See generally Sustainability, Olympic, https://www.olympic.org/sustainability (last visited Mar. 24, 2020) (demonstrating insufficient sustainability goals upon further review); see also Amy Web, Hosting the Olympics is a Nightmare for Any Country. Here’s 1 Simple Way to Fix It, Inc. (Aug. 4, 2016), https://www.inc.com/amy-webb/future-of-the-olympics.html (advocating for Disney-like Olympic Park); Gareth Evans, Olympic Games: Why cities are snubbing the ‘greatest show on Earth,’ BBC (Nov. 18, 2018), https://www.bbc.com/news/world-46236682 (“The rational end is to have one city that’s the permanent host.”).

[40] See Georgia Logthetis, A permanent home for the Olympics, Medium (Mar. 1, 2018), https://medium.com/@HellenicLeaders/a-permanent-home-for-the-olympics-373205837048 (highlighting endless cycle of wasted billions and corruption); see also Joe Myers, The cost of hosting every Olympics since 1964, World Econ. Forum (July 29, 2016), https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/07/the-cost-to-cities-of-hosting-the-olympics-since-1964/ (summarizing cost of average cost of Olympic games is roughly $8.9 billion and all potential alternative funds uses); Kevin Keane, The Olympics: an unsustainable, unequal celebration, Stand (May 29, 2017), https://www.stand.ie/the-olympics-an-unsustainable-unequal-celebration-2/ (proposing new motto for Olympics as “Fairer, Clearer, More Responsible”).