VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia will stand a chance to be chosen as host of the 2023 Olympics if Brisbane, Australia, does not get the necessary votes during the 183rd IOC Session, International Olympic Committee member Erick Thohir said. Thohir, who is also Indonesia’s State-owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister, made the statement in response to the IOC Executive Council proposing Brisbane as the host of the 2032 Olympics at the recommendation of the Future Olympic Host Commission.

Thohir emphasized that it was just a proposal since the decision could only be confirmed if Brisbane won the IOC members’ vote in Tokyo on July 21, 2021.

Thohir is the only Indonesian representative who will have voting rights in the election.

“It is not impossible like in Asian Games, when Vietnam stepped back and it was a possibility. Thus, I have told Mr. Okto (Indonesia’s Olympic Committee chairman) that we have to remain becoming the wing and stay aggressive,” Thohir said.

“We have potential. We can be the option to become the next host if we can be the second preferred bidder. So, this is what we have to do,” he added.

Currently, Indonesia has stepped up continuous dialogue in pursuit of obtaining the status of the 2032 Olympic host along with Unified Korea, he informed.

If it successfully organizes international and championship events that are scheduled to be held here, such as the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup, 2023 FIBA World Cup, and 2023 FIFA World Cup U-20, Indonesia can move from continuous dialogue to targeted dialogue till it is selected as the preferred host during the bidding process, he explained.

If Brisbane is not selected during the IOC’s voting session, the Olympic Host Commission would not continue to another candidacy using a similar process, Thohir said.

Besides Brisbane and Indonesia, there are at least four other countries in the fray to host the 2032 Olympics — Germany, Hungary, Qatar, and Unified Korea. (Antaranews)