The Olympics only comes around every four years. It’s a special event that intrigues the audiences from around the world..
A Wexford Senator, Malcolm Byrne who is a native of Gorey, has called on Ireland to bid to host the Summer Olympics in 2072. Even though it is just less than half-a-century away, Byrne who also sits on the Oireachtas Sports Committee has called on Ireland to be imaginative, highlighting the transformation which could occur across the country.
Speaking on South East Radio on Sunday, Byrne said:
“Yes, there will probably be a few eye rolls at this suggestion. But I think we could start to develop a plan so that we have the world class infrastructure to host major international events and there is none bigger than the Olympics. Given the joy and pride that our Olympians have given to us all across the island in recent weeks, we should commit to ensuring that our country has the best facilities for them in all disciplines,”
“We need to engage in some long term planning and setting an ambitious goal of hosting the Olympics in half a century’s time should not be beyond us. Cynics will knock the move but let us be imaginative and explore what we would need to do as an island to achieve this goal,” he told South East Radio.
The last time a ‘smaller’ country, similar to Ireland, hosted the Summer Olympics was in 1952, when Helsinki hosted the Olympics.
“The Helsinki Olympics in 1952 was the last time a smaller country hosted the Summer Games. I know that there are enormous costs but the transformational opportunities are incredible. Can we envision a Dublin and an Ireland in half a century that could be the centre of the sporting world and that would leave an incredible legacy?”
While it may be close to 50 years away, planning for such an event and developing the infrastructure needed to host the games would take time. Visionaries would be needed, but Ireland’s sporting infrastructure would be on par with the best in the world then.
The next Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles, while in 2032 Brisbane in Australia will host the Summer Olympics.
It bodes the question to nay-sayers. Could Ireland host the Olympics? If not, then why not?
Wexford Weekly
This article was published by a member of the Wexford Weekly team.