With the election of a new International Olympic Committee President - Congratulations Kirsty Coventry - significant change is sure to follow.
President Coventry is the 10th President in the organizations history, and the first female and representative from Africa. Quite the change!
The role of course isn't just about sport. The IOC President plays a role in setting the geopolitical and climate agenda (mood) for sport, and also comes with the challenges of a multi billion dollar budget.
As CNN puts it:
"It's the most powerful position in world sports, with high stakes, high expectations and high consequences".
There are a range of aspects in both the geopolitical space, and gender identity and equality, that the world will be watching.
An example.
Currently there is no clear framework between the International Federations (who look after individual Olympic Sports) and the IOC regarding transgender athletes as well as differences in sex development (DSD). This is from local, right through to national and elite levels of sport.
Any decisions in this space where IOC sets the direction will be very closely monitored and scrutinized.
Today though, it is the climate change and selection criteria for future Olympics, and impacts for transport that we will touch upon.
What future Olympic Games host cities have already been set?
To start, the majority of Olympics for President Coventry's eight year tenure to 2033 have already been set.
These include:
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2026 Winter Olympics: Milan-Cortina, Italy
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2028 Summer Olympics: Los Angeles, USA
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2030 Winter Olympics: French Alps and Nice
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2032 Summer Olympics: Brisbane, Australia (yay!)
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2034 Winger Olympics: Salt Lake City, USA
Note One: The French Alps 2030 is the first Olympics to integrate the principles of Olympic Agenda 20220 and 2020+5. A great milestone for sport!
Note Two: There is also an addition inaugural Olympic Esports Games which is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027 showing a change in audience expectations and embracing new technologies. Cool!
Selection of 2036 Summer Olympics
One of the biggest decisions that the IOC will make over the coming years - after 2025 - is the selection of the 2036 Summer Olympics.
There are several factors that make this selection different from the past. These include:
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Human Rights commitments are now part of the Olympic Charter.
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Selection criteria have changed from a single city to multiple cities or regions in a country, and even multiple countries.
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Sustainability and net zero along with sustainable infrastructure and eco-friendly transport systems are key requirements.
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A review of sporting calendars based on climate concerns will open the window to more countries to consider hosting the games.
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Legacy is a key driving factor.
The sustainability and legacy components are key with the IOC listing these at the top of the agenda - as shown from their website below.
Key countries currently looking at hosting 2036 include: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India and Indonesia as well as several others.
What the new agenda may means for transport and sustainable transport?
The overarching goals of net zero for Olympic Games is a strong foundation for planning transport.
This doesn't change.
However, with a move towards multiple cities, and even multiple countries, the way this is achieved becomes significantly more complex.
One of the most important things to consider is a Unified Transport Plan across Cities/Countries which includes:
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Integrated Planning: Developing a centralised transport plan to coordinate movement between host cities or countries. This ensures efficient connections and avoids disjointed systems if different areas have separate infrastructure.
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Collaborative Agreements: Establishing clear agreements and standards for collaboration between cities or nations, particularly if they have differing transport regulations, policies, or operational norms.
This will require cities and countries to work together and plan transport and connections in new ways.
Other key considerations include:
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High Speed Inter-City Transport: Rail links, domestic air travel and connectivity standards (eg hubs) will all be key.
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Effective local Public Transport Systems: This can be in the form of urban transport networks, event specific services and ticketing integration across countries (and possibly currencies).
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Athletes/Para Athlete and Officials transport: Dedicated athlete lanes, on demand services and allowing accessibility for all.
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Sustainability and Low-Emission Mobility: Green travel solutions, sustainable infrastructure and public awareness campaigns would all need thorough analysis and development.
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Last mile connectivity: The walkable infrastructure, wayfinding and micro mobility options need to be considered and consistent across countries - they will need to be easy to navigate as well as being accessible.
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Safety, Safety and Safety: Security coordination between countries and vehicle standards from both safety and emissions will require consideration.
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Technology, Legacy and cultural/language: Utilizing smart apps, data sharing, considering long term transport needs and language and cultural considerations will all be part of the solution.
Case studies to learn from:
There are several case studies from previous events that can be considered for future Olympic Events.
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Tokyo 2020 (2021): Focused on sustainable transport solutions, such as hydrogen-powered vehicles and electric buses.
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Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics: Utilized high-speed rail and autonomous vehicles to connect venues spread across different regions.
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2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics: Plans to connect venues in distant regions using high-speed rail and enhanced road infrastructure.
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2032 Brisbane Summer Olympics: Expected to integrate transport planning across Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast for multi-city hosting.
Summary
It is great to see the IOC setting a strong sustainability agenda.
One that is potentially set to increase with a new President coming on board. Noting that each Presidential Candidate would have come at sustainability slightly differently.
This strong agenda, mixed with allowing for multiple cities and countries for future bids, will place even more of a focus on sustainable transport.
While there is best practice and case studies that can be built on, the political component -working with multiple countries - and setting standards together will be key to success.
If done well it may change the way we look at transport across cities and countries for major events.
Til next time.
Andrew
p.s. In other news my oldest daughter K is currently in the field in Wiouru at the moment helping with a military exercise.
She is an equestrian enthusiast and loves horses. Much of her childhood was spent on the back of a horse!
Her platoon came across a Kaimanawa Horse on the weekend (these are wild horses in New Zealand). These wild horses are known for their quiet temperament and also hardiness.
The horse was stuck in the mud and along with her co-workers helped to rescue it.
Really awesome they were able to help!
Transit Trends · Andrew Collings, KA Advisory. Read and comment on the original on LinkedIn.
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