SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Ahead of next weeks International Olympic Committee (IOC), UK bookmakers have marked the Tokyo Olympic bid as favorite to win the voting competition. The 100 IOC members will gather next week in Buenos Aires Argentina, to select which candidate city will secure the 2020 Olympics. The desicion will be televised worldwide on the 10th of September.
Currently Japan’s Tokyo bid is the bookmakers favorite at 2/1. This is followed by the bid of Madrid and Istanbul. Other ‘non-selective’ bids for 2020 have come from Doha and Baku.
Japan feel bullish about landing the 2020 Olympics, after impressing judges and IOC members when visiting the Japanese capital. National press reports state that judges where impressed Tokyos effective transport system, and the cities improvements at dealing with climate and pollution issues, furthermore recent fears regarding radioactivity from Fukishima explosion were answered thoroughly by the bid operators on the official visit by IOC members to Tokyo this year.
Tokyo last hosted the Olympics in 1964, Japan also has a respected record in hosting major sporting events, having co-hosted the Football World Cup in 2002. The Tokyo organizers also claim that public support for hosting the games is growing, with a poll last week showing a 92% approval rating
Most bookmakers view the bid race as a three way race between Tokyo, Istanbul and Madrid. second favorites Madrid, fell short as candidates for the 2016 Olympics that were won by Rio De Janiero. Voting members appear to be concerned about the Spains weak economy and the lack of popular/public support for the Madrid bid.
Third favorites Istanbul would see the Olympics being hosted in the EMEA (Europe & Middle East) regions. Istanbul with a city population of 12.5 million people (CIA Resource) have gained support due to Turkeys strategic location and its fast growing economy. However committee concerns regard the cities transport system and some fears regarding safety and the threat of terrorism.
To view the list of Odds on 2020 Summer Olympic Bids click here.
