sapporo ¨C The International Olympic Committee¡¯s decision to postpone selection of the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics host represents another setback in Sapporo¡¯s quest for the Games, as an ongoing series of Tokyo Olympics-related scandals continues to weigh on local support for the bid.
Last week¡¯s decision, delaying selection to 2024 from the previously planned timeline of fall 2023, comes as backers of the Sapporo bid were already worried about the impact of widening Tokyo Olympics-related bribery scandals on public support. The IOC¡¯s announcement could further complicate the city¡¯s chances as those for and against the bid face off next year ¡ª especially in April¡¯s local elections.
The IOC said the decision was made due to concern over climate change and the need to conduct further studies on the long-term impacts of global warming on future Winter Olympics bid cities. But supporters of the Sapporo 2030 bid fear that the postponement will further erode public support, which a city survey earlier this year ¡ª before the scandals erupted ¡ª found to be between 52% and 65%, depending on the survey method.
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