Russia Mulling 2028 Olympic Bid

(ATR) Russian Olympic officials say a 2028 Olympic bid is feasible, despite ongoing investigations into a state-sponsored doping mechanism.

Russian Olympic Committee President Alexander Zhukov told Russian news agency RIA Novosti that the country has multiple cities that could enter the next summer Olympic bid race. Bidding for the 2028 Olympics is not expected to open until 2020.

"It is difficult to say, but why not; I think it's possible to try," Zhukov posited. "It's not just St. Petersburg; we also have Kazan which is a possibility. It's also possible in Sochi."

If Sochi were to secure the 2028 Olympics it would be the second city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics after Beijing in 2022.

Currently, the IOC has three cities bidding for the 2024 Olympics: Budapest, Los Angeles, and Paris. Even as the process remains ongoing, IOC President Thomas Bach tipped off that there could be changes to the bidding process last month after saying the process "produces too many losers".

IOC Executive Director Christophe Dubidoused the flames on any imminent changes for the 2026 and 2028 cycles in an interview with Around the Rings. Dubi said the IOC is always looking at potential reforms to strengthen the bidding process.

An Olympic bid could theoretically come well after sanctions by the IOC and international federations against Russian authorities are complete. Two IOC commissions are working to act upon the findings of the second McLaren report, but decisions from each may not be taken until months before the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Russia is also currently barred from hosting international sporting events as part of sanctions handed down after the first McLaren report. In July the IOC said it "will not organize or give patronage" to any sporting event organized in Russia.

Last month the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation moved its 2017 world championships away from Sochi after concerns form athletes in the wake of the McLaren report. The IBSF did not mention the IOC as part of the reason for its decision to strip the Russian city of hosting rights.

Written by Aaron Bauer

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.