Watanabe proposes radical changes to Olympic Movement in IOC presidential bid

BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential candidate Morinari Watanabe has unveiled bold ideas aimed at transforming the Olympic Movement.

Watanabe's most striking proposal is to stage the Olympic Games simultaneously on five continents.

"I propose to stage the Olympic Games on five continents at the same time. I would allow the IOC to offer the best possible conditions for each sport, and of course for the athletes, to reduce the financial burden on the host country," he stated in a recent interview.

This concept, a key point in his election campaign manifesto, seeks to address the growing challenges associated with hosting the Olympics in a single city. The financial strain on the hosts has been a major concern in recent years, and Watanabe said that spreading the Games across five continents could alleviate this issue while providing better conditions for athletes and sports.

According to Watanabe, the Paris 2024 Olympics were a remarkable success; however, many participating teams faced significant challenges, including economic hardships and strained relationships with their respective governments.

His proposal aims to enhance the global presence of sports and promote Olympism more effectively. By holding the Games on five continents, time-zone differences would ensure the event could be streamed 24 hours a day, maximizing global viewership and engagement. This approach would not only offer more cities, including smaller ones, the chance to host the Games but also provide greater opportunities for sports to have a broader social impact.

In addition to expanding the Games, Watanabe has grand plans for the IOC's future.

"I also envision upgrading the IOC into a world sports organization, like the World Health Organization, and expand its activities. It would remain independent of politics and uphold the values of democracy, transparency and gender equality," he said.

Watanabe, who is also president of the International Gymnastics Federation, says the IOC has the potential to be a global leader in sports - not just in organizing the Olympics but also in promoting sports-related activities worldwide. By expanding its scope, he argues, the IOC could have a greater impact on everything from grassroots development to international competitions.

Beyond the geographic expansion of the Games, Watanabe's manifesto includes plans to enhance IOC governance by introducing a bicameral system. The House would consist of the member Olympic Committee presidents and International Federation Presidents, while the Senate would include current IOC members.

Additionally, he sees great potential in integrating sports and technology, from using artificial intelligence to make scoring and judging fairer to enabling remote coaching. Watanabe also believes e-sports will play an increasingly important role in the future of sports.

IOC members will elect a successor to incumbent president Thomas Bach at the IOC Session in Greece on March 18-21. ■