Indonesia 'will bid' to host 2032 Summer Olympics

World
Europe

Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced on Saturday that his country, fresh from hosting the Asian Games, will bid to stage the 2032 Summer Olympics.

"Indonesia has planned to immediately register itself as a candidate for the 2032 Olympics host," Widodo said after meeting International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach and the head of the Olympic Council of Asia, according to Sky Sports.

President Joko Widodo (R) shaking hands with IOC President Thomas Bach. /VCG Photo

"After the excellent experience of the Asian Games we now believe we can host the very biggest sporting event, " added Widodo. Hosts for the next three Summer Olympics have already been decided: 2020 in Tokyo, 2024 in Paris and 2028 in Los Angeles.

Bach welcomed Indonesia's bid plan and spoke highly of the Asian Games.

"Here in Indonesia there is a great combination of friendliness and efficiency and this is what the Games are about," he said. "Because with this Asian Games, with this great success, Indonesia has shown that they have all the ingredients to hold the Olympics successfully."

President Widodo attends the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games riding a motorbike. /VCG Photo

Some 12,000 athletes from 45 nations and regions competed in about 60 disciplines in Jakarta and Palembang.

According to the BBC, China, Australia and India have already expressed their interest in hosting the Summer Olympics in 2032. China and Australia have already held the event, respectively in 2008 and 2000. Neither India nor Indonesia has ever done it before.

(Top picture: Indonesian President Joko Widodo /VCG Photo)