(Reuters) – The Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, John Coates, has emphasized the importance of reducing athlete numbers at the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane to ensure cost effectiveness. Coates wants to lower the figure from over 11,000 athletes that will be participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics due to the addition of cricket, flag football, squash, baseball and softball. The former Australian Olympic Committee president and member of Brisbane’s Olympic organizing committee expressed concern about the escalating athlete numbers, stating that the games need to be more cost efficient.
Coates highlighted the potential for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane to become more manageable with a reduced number of athletes, aiming for around 10,500 participants. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are forecasted to have the second-largest athlete participation after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, which included 11,319 athletes. Coates indicated the necessity of removing certain events from the program to achieve the desired reduction in numbers, despite his excitement about the reintroduction of cricket to the Games in Los Angeles after more than a century.
The anticipated return of cricket to the Olympics is expected to attract a significant audience from the Indian subcontinent, potentially bringing in an additional 1 billion viewers on top of the existing 4.5 billion. Coates, however, mentioned that the inclusion of cricket in the Brisbane Olympics has yet to be confirmed. While there is speculation about potential additions or removals from the 2032 program, Coates dismissed the idea of horse racing being included in any future Games.
Coates emphasized the importance of maintaining cost minimization and efficiencies in running the Olympics, stating that the need to reduce athlete numbers is essential for the future of the Games. The focus on reducing numbers is driven by the desire to manage the Games more effectively, and Coates remains committed to this objective for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Despite the ongoing discussions about the sports program for 2032, Coates made it clear that horse racing is unlikely to be part of any future Games.
(Reporting by Michael Church; Editing by William Mallard)
