in this episode, host Nii Wallace-Bruce discusses various developments in the international sports landscape with guest Rob Livingstone from GamesBids.com. The conversation covers the new IOC President Kirsty Coventry, her upcoming responsibilities (01:26), and potential changes in the bidding process for future Olympic Games, particularly for 2036 (02:27).

Later, they also explore the challenges and implications of shifting the Summer Olympics schedule due to climate change and broadcasting conflicts (04:23), as well as the legacy impacts of major sporting events like the Men's and Women's World Cup (10:11). The geopolitical factors influencing upcoming events, particularly in the US (07:43), and the bids for the 2030 Commonwealth Games are also examined.

---------------

Games Bids:

Instagram

Twitter

Rob Livingstone:

Instagram

---------------

Check out our website

#NoSportLeftBehind

Leave a review and let us know what you thought!

Opening and closing music courtesy of Jeremiah Alves - "Evermore".

I am your host Knee Wallace Bruce.

2

We are in the month of April.

3

There are quite a few developments

in the sporting world relating to

4

the Olympics, the World Cup and more.

5

So we're gonna get into that

with friend of the show, Rob

6

Livingston from games bids.com.

7

Make sure you check out his work,

check him out on social media,

8

at games bids, and also himself

at Livingston spelled backwards.

9

Rob, how you doing?

10

Rob: I am.

11

Great, thanks.

12

Thanks for having me on once again.

13

PSP: It's a pleasure to have you back now.

14

Rob, we have a new IOC President.

15

It is Kirsty Coventry, the former

Olympic swimming champion, from Zimbabwe.

16

She's going to be the first

female president in IOC history.

17

Where does that leave the IOC?

18

Moving forward now that Thomas

Buck has indeed retired.

19

Rob: It's gonna be official for

her in June when Bach formally

20

steps down and does the handover.

21

But not really a far handover.

22

It looks like she.

23

It to be, or at least has been

positioned to carry on what Thomas Bock

24

has been doing for the last 12 years.

25

She has a lot of the same goals and

working with a lot of the same people.

26

So I don't see a lot of

changes moving forward.

27

Obviously, the looks a bit different

and it makes the organization

28

look a little more progressive

now with a younger and a female.

29

President, but I think the policies

and the direction of the IOC will

30

remain pretty much on the same course.

31

PSP: Okay.

32

Interesting.

33

Now, with that in mind , there's

a bit for her to, to get into when

34

she takes over in June, what would

you say are the key priorities for

35

her when she becomes president?

36

Officially?

37

Rob: There, there are a number

of things that and once again,

38

continuing on with box Legacy.

39

I focus closely on the bids and,

that's gonna be a big part of it.

40

Lots of cities and countries

41

That's gonna be.

42

On the table and something

to be dealt with fairly soon.

43

There's all kinds of things like gender

equity and anti-doping the Russia issue

44

ideas about paying athletes to compete.

45

There's a lot of things going

on and it'll be interesting

46

to see how she digs into them.

47

I can't see a real standout but

it's gonna be a lot for her to do.

48

PSP: Now you touched on 2036.

49

For our listeners who may not

50

will be held in Los Angeles.

51

We're gonna get to that a bit later on.

52

2032 will be held in

sunny Brisbane, Australia.

53

2036 though is up for grabs.

54

The bids are coming in, there's

discourse amongst potential hosts.

55

What are we seeing with the

potential summer 20, 36 bids?

56

Rob?

57

Rob: We don't have any kind of timeline.

58

That's the way the IOC works.

59

They just decide what they want to do

when having said that, the number is

60

double digits of interested parties

looking to host a future Olympics.

61

And obviously some of those are 2036.

62

A number of those are gonna be 2036.

63

They're already working

and having discussions.

64

It's the most prominent

spoken about one is India.

65

They've been working on

it for a couple years.

66

They're the most vocal about it.

67

And I think Kirsty Coventry being the

new IOC President bodes well for India

68

because she's got a great relationship.

69

With prominent people there and it looks

like it could go in that direction.

70

But of course, we can't overlook Saudi

Arabia, Qatar both really interested

71

in moving forward with a bid.

72

And there's been a lot of discussion

within the IOC recently about.

73

Relaxing the summertime

calendar for the summer game.

74

So the prime months of July and August

they say due to climate change, that

75

those months may not be good anymore.

76

Maybe too hot for most places,

and they talk about pushing it

77

into the fall, September, October.

78

But I think that's more about

leaving the window open for Saudi

79

Arabia and Qatar, which, they've

80

And they were left off the short

list because they proposed the

81

games in October and the IOC said,

Nope, we want it in July and August.

82

Now they're looking to relax that.

83

Paints a whole new picture

for the bid process.

84

We've got other cities involved

too, who are looking forward to it.

85

Istanbul once again, they've been

unsuccessful five times, although

86

they're having political issues there

now, which might discount that bid.

87

There's Budapest is

88

That.

89

to it.

90

There's Indonesia.

91

South Korea and some other

bids there that are lining up.

92

It should be interesting.

93

PSP: Mm, absolutely.

94

Now, another development

that happened recently was.

95

The signing of a new

broadcast deal by NBC.

96

Now, NBC is fairly influential when it

comes to the Olympics, winter and summer.

97

But the point you raise about

the calendar shifting to the

98

summer Olympics is interesting.

99

'cause if we shifted to say October,

November, December, that is smack

100

bang in the middle of the NFL

season, which is also a significant.

101

Earner for NBC with their

Sunday night football coverage.

102

How would NBC feel about the

Olympics potentially happening

103

in the middle of the NFL season?

104

Could that be an issue?

105

Rob: That's a great point.

106

Now keep in mind that's 2036.

107

So we're looking at 11 years from now.

108

What will they do?

109

Will they even have a contract with the

NFL or the other sports at that point?

110

Maybe not.

111

Can they shift things

around That's possible.

112

We have to remember that

the way people consume.

113

Sports on television or whatever

kind of platform they use

114

is changing rapidly, right?

115

The whole concept of.

116

TV schedules and watching things

in prime time and that kind

117

of thing, it's out the window.

118

So I think the broadcasters and the

streaming platforms and all of those have

119

the ability to adjust, especially over

the next 11 years to make something work.

120

Maybe they'll work with the leagues

if like for instance, the NFL, if they

121

were to decide to have a contract, a

television contract with them that year.

122

Obviously having several years

notice will help there and I think,

123

we're gonna have a decision on 2036

in the next possibly year or two.

124

So I think it's something that can

be worked out, but obviously it's

125

going to be a concern off the top.

126

PSP: And it is worth noting

the NBC will be broadcasting

127

the NBA in the next season.

128

So 11 years away, I'm sure there's

enough time for the partners to

129

work together with IOC on that.

130

But you raised an interesting point

about prime time because growing up I

131

grew up with the Sydney Olympics and the

times of some of the sports there were

132

adjusted and the same scene in Beijing

to a lesser extent to accommodate.

133

The North American market

primarily through NBC.

134

Do you think now that we have

streaming services like Peacock

135

and others, that this will be

136

Rob: You're asking about the

scheduling, the events to accommodate

137

the United States viewers.

138

They continue to do that.

139

I know that there was a concern for

LA 28 the Cricket tournament, which is

140

primarily aimed at viewers in India.

141

They were thinking about changing

the location of it the East coast

142

of the United States to better

accommodate Indian viewers.

143

I, I don't know if that

makes a difference.

144

They can have Cricket matches anytime

and try to accommodate Indian viewers.

145

And I think those viewers will

watch it anytime the day anyways.

146

They'll be so excited

to see that tournament.

147

they've accommodated viewers as recently

as in Tokyo and Beijing for the summer

148

and winter games the last few years.

149

Who knows how things are gonna change

over the next 10 years, whether people,

150

cons, how they consume it, and whether

that's an issue, whether people care

151

if they, watch a, some kind of metal

event at eight in the morning as

152

opposed to 9:00 PM all those things.

153

Things are changing so rapidly,

it's really hard to tell.

154

PSP: Yeah, watch this space.

155

Rob: Yeah.

156

PSP: It'd be interesting

to see how it plays out..

157

I'm looking forward to the return of

cricket to the Summer Olympics after.

158

A hundred plus years of

absence, it's gonna be great.

159

And I would, I would definitely

wake up to, to watch this, the 16th

160

tournament when it rolls around.

161

So definitely looking forward to that.

162

Now, one thing that many cloud things

163

2034 Winter Games, salt Lake City, the

164

The Women's World Cup,

that'll be in the us.

165

Down the line is the

geopolitical situation.

166

Can you see that being a factor for these

upcoming games, particularly in the us?

167

Rob: Talking about rapid change

there's nothing changing more rapidly

168

than the political situation in the

United States and, among its allies

169

and so it's really hard to tell.

170

Obviously LA 28 is going to be at the

tail end of, trump's administration.

171

So there will be an impact.

172

And the main impact there, I

think will be the immigration.

173

And whether these athletes can travel to

the country to, to compete as promised

174

and as guaranteed the country is

guaranteed through the host agreement.

175

So that's yet to be seen.

176

That's gonna be very critical.

177

And if something happens with LA that

might reflect poorly on salt Lake

178

City for 2034 even though at that

point there likely would be a new

179

administration I don't pretend to

be a political expert in that area.

180

Things change by the day.

181

Obviously there's gonna be some

concern because we don't know

182

which way it's gonna change.

183

But I think somehow things

will smooth over somehow.

184

It'll work out, it usually does.

185

But we'll just have to hope for the best.

186

PSP: Now there has a precedent where,,

FIFA has stepped in to amend hosts.

187

Based on uncertain conditions.

188

Has the IOC ever done anything like that?

189

Rob: obviously there were wartime changes.

190

The I think it was.

191

19, the 1940 Olympics

obviously were canceled.

192

I think they were to take place

in Tokyo obviously due to the war.

193

So there were wartime

194

But other than that and obviously

the recent delay of the Tokyo

195

2020 games because of Covid.

196

Other than that not any significant

change that I can recall.

197

PSP: Okay, well hopefully that continues.

198

Continuity.

199

Yes.

200

It's great to see the world come

together, and sport is definitely one

201

of the ways that we can come together

and celebrate the goodness of humanity.

202

Now, another thing that brings us

together is the football, the round

203

ball game that's coming to a city

near you in North America when Mexico,

204

the United States and our own Canada

205

There's.

206

The US could essentially host

the, the World Cup tomorrow.

207

They, they don't need to do a

whole lot with their stadiums.

208

I know in Canada there are

upgrades happening in Toronto.

209

There, there are also some

renovations happening in Mexico.

210

Using your experience with the Olympics

as well, how important is the, the

211

legacy aspect when hosting such

games for a city and or a country?

212

Rob: It's interesting in in North America

213

PSP: America.

214

Rob: World Cup football, soccer,

whatever you want to call it

215

in this context is growing.

216

Obviously not at the level it

is in the rest of the world.

217

So this will be critical

as far as a legacy of.

218

Of young people participating and having

an interest professional matches and

219

attending and watching on TV and streaming

it and tho those sorts of things.

220

That's going to be a critical

221

If you look at infrastructure

don't believe, I mean in

222

Canada and Toronto, the.

223

Additional seating to the

stadium is just temporary.

224

So there's really no physical legacy.

225

Obviously upgrades in Mexico will be

beneficial there, but Mexico already

226

has a thriving soccer community there,

so that's not an issue for them.

227

And, the most important legacy,

I think is just the growth of

228

the sport in North America.

229

And more just, letting a match under it

because it's already starting to move.

230

It's already starting to grow,

and I think this will just help,

231

push it even that much further.

232

PSP: For sure.

233

As someone who lives in the greater

Toronto area, would you like to see

234

more done in terms of a legacy project?

235

You mentioned the stadium.

236

I believe it has been amended

from the original plan.

237

We can talk about that another day

'cause I have many thoughts on that.

238

But do you feel like, particularly

239

PanAm games led to some project for

sport, do you feel like there should

240

be more done in terms of legacy

projects for the city of Toronto?

241

Rob: I don't think, it would

be great someone that enjoys

242

sport and likes to see grow and

243

Road and I,

244

in my own community I

245

PSP: uh,

246

But I don't think.

247

Rob: a political will to do anything.

248

There's a lot of emphasis especially

in Toronto and cutting costs and that

249

kind of thing, and there's a concern.

250

Of, how much is already being spent.

251

A lot of people resent that the games or

the World Cup is actually coming here.

252

Yeah, it'd be great to see more

legacy projects, but I really

253

don't think we should be expecting

anything significant to come.

254

PSP: I'll continue to dream.

255

Let's talk about the Women's World Cup.

256

the bids were locked in for 20 31, 20 35.

257

We're gonna see the US hosting

and the US has been a leader in,

258

in women's soccer for a while.

259

The team's, I guess, going through a

little bit of a rebuild on the field,

260

but off the field, they're good to go.

261

In terms of hosting, what do you

262

2035 for the Women's World Cup?

263

Rob: It's gonna continue the growth.

264

I think that the in United States

anyways, and potentially, I think if

265

that tournament grows, they said it's

gonna grow to 48 teams for the women.

266

They could also hold matches in Mexico

the Caribbean and even possibly Canada.

267

, They didn't.

268

Describe exactly how they

would expand that tournament.

269

But those are possibilities.

270

But once again I think it'll

just continue with the growth

271

that the 2026 men's tournament

will, push and start to develop.

272

Really it's just continue the.

273

Growth.

274

Obviously the women's for both Canada and

the United States are, top in the world.

275

So there doesn't need to be a lot

more grassroots activity to get

276

young people involved, but it's only

gonna help generate more interest.

277

And maybe there'll be, more

interested in professional leagues

278

here and that kind of thing.

279

So just more of that.

280

PSP: It'll be interesting to see how the,

the format of, that World Cup tournament

281

goes, because as you mentioned, there

is potentially increase to 48 teams to,

282

to match the men's tournament, which

will be the first World Cup at 48 teams.

283

I think.

284

I think it's good to, to

have more teams involved.

285

2026 will be a litmus test

though in terms of meaningful

286

games and competitive parity.

287

Nevertheless, let's give it a try.

288

Let's see what happens.

289

I would love to see Canada involved

290

Canada has a professional women's

league the Northern Super League.

291

It's perfect timing, but.

292

I have to see if Canada's soccer can

come to the party, if there might be

293

some state support for that as well.

294

Questions to be asked in the meantime,

I guess, of the next few years.

295

But Rob, there was also some interest

from Canada, for the Commonwealth Games.

296

We have the Centenary

297

What are we seeing there?

298

'cause I believe it's Canada,

Nigeria, and India involved.

299

Is that right?

300

Rob: Yeah it's a developing situation.

301

Canada's always been hinting around.

302

2030 Commonwealth Games.

303

It's that, centenary edition where

it was first held in Hamilton as

304

a British Empire Games Hamilton's

been sniffing around those games

305

for quite some time, but ultimately

turned it down as being too costly.

306

Even having an exclusive shot

307

But now since Glasgow took over the 2026.

308

Games and we'll be delivering

kind of a light version.

309

Suddenly other areas are getting

more interested because it's more

310

economical, it's more feasible and

they can have a larger footprint.

311

So that's what's happening in Canada here.

312

Hamilton wants to be involved,

but they're not gonna do it

313

themselves and Ontario and other

municipalities and places in Ontario.

314

want to get involved as well,

but Ontario doesn't wanna do it.

315

On its own either.

316

They didn't bid for 2026

because the provincial

317

government didn't wanna fund it.

318

Especially during the World Cup year.

319

events could be spread across Canada.

320

Canada's a big country.

321

I'm not sure exactly

how that's gonna work.

322

Other provinces are interested.

323

But that might be the only way

a bid from Canada successful.

324

We have Nigeria Abuja bid, I believe

325

And they're.

326

Trying again.

327

That will be interesting.

328

And India definitely they're in it.

329

It's part of their overall project

to, prepare for an eventual Olympics.

330

I think they're still looking

331

Maybe instead the 2030

Commonwealth Games or maybe both.

332

They might have the capacity to do that.

333

The only concern there is when they

334

were considered less than ideal.

335

There was some corruption there,

there were delays in construction.

336

A lot of headaches there.

337

So whether they can get past

that or not, we'll have to see.

338

And Commonwealth Sport said,

they'll decide by the end of

339

the year where it's gonna go.

340

PSP: Over the last hundred years

of Commonwealth Gains Action,

341

we've seen many champions.

342

One of those champions was

in fact, Kessie Coventry.

343

She won gold in 2002 from

memory in Manchester.

344

Does it help in any way, shape or

form that she's the IOC President?

345

Does that help the Commonwealth

Gangs movement at all?

346

Rob: I don't really see any benefit there.

347

Obviously the Commonwealth

Games are part of the, larger

348

umbrella that the IOC administers.

349

But I don't see any direct

connection where she can help.

350

Yeah, it'd be interesting to see if she

ever does do anything, but I don't think

351

there's any, real connection there.

352

PSP: Fair enough.

353

I must submit, like you are

very interested in seeing, what

354

she does when she takes on the.

355

The post of present in June.

356

I'm sure there's a lot to look forward

to in terms of her direction, her vision,

357

but we'll have to watch this space.

358

In the meantime, there'll be plenty

of sport to watch and there'll be

359

plenty of updates on bids and the like.

360

Rob, why don't you remind our audience

once again where they can find your work?

361

Rob: They can come to games bids.com.

362

Obviously that's a website

where I publish most of my work.

363

And, the usual social media channels

you mentioned at Off the Top at Games

364

bids on on x, on Instagram, on blue Sky.

365

Now, else are we?

366

YouTube?

367

Not so much there, but

or my personal account.

368

You also mentioned that off the top

you pronounced it very well, IL I think

369

PSP: Nice.

370

Rob: living stone backwards on X.

371

And those are the main

places to find my work.

372

PSP: There we go.

373

Fantastic.

374

And that's the final word from

rob Livingston of games bids.com.

375

Definitely check out his work,

make sure you read and I.

376

You'll definitely be smarter for finding

out more about the games, bids, movements,

377

and more across sports and the beyond.

378

This is another episode of PSP.

379

I'm your host, Neil.

380

Bruce, wishing you well

and be safe out there