TOKYO -- Brisbane was formally awarded the ‘32 Games by a 72-5 vote before the conclusion of the 138th IOC session. Despite some theatrics around the announcement, there was little surprise in the result. Many believed Brisbane’s selection to be a foregone conclusion since February, when the city was picked as the preferred host for the Games and began targeted discussions with the IOC. That meant there was no doubt today that the Australian delegation would emerge victorious. The result was so certain, in fact, that press received Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto’s embargoed congratulations to Brisbane over an hour before the IOC’s final vote.
The ‘32 Games will be the first with a host selected in the post-bid era. The IOC reformed its host selection process in June ‘19, eliminating the much-maligned bidding process in favor of a new committee, the Future Host Commission. According to FHC Chair Kristin Kloster Aasen, Brisbane’s bid-related costs were reduced by 80% under the new selection system. Next on the host selection docket is the ‘30 Games, which will be awarded to one of four potential hosts: Salt Lake City; Vancouver; Sapporo, Japan; or Barcelona-Pyrenees, Spain. The IOC is not expected to formally select a winning city until ‘23 at the IOC session in Mumbai.
Read all of Chris Smith's reports from Tokyo.
