The Olympic Games have long been a symbol of global unity and athletic excellence. However, as we look to the future, there’s an opportunity to reimagine the Games as a powerful catalyst for equitable growth in marginalized countries. By shifting our perspective on Olympic hosting and infrastructure development, we can create a model that not only celebrates sporting achievement but also drives sustainable development and nurtures human potential in underserved regions.
The Current Landscape: Legacy Hosts and Established Infrastructure
Traditionally, Olympic host cities have been selected from nations with established infrastructure and a history of athletic prowess. Paris which hosted the 2024 Summer Olympics, exemplifies this trend. As a third-time host, Paris has leveraged its century-long Olympic legacy, making use of existing sporting venues and cultural spaces. This approach, while commendable for its sustainability and cost-effectiveness, is primarily viable for “legacy hosts” – nations that have previously held the Games.
The Paris model offers valuable lessons in sustainability and cost management with only one new major permanent venue constructed. The city demonstrated how to maximize existing resources to harness desired results. Moreover, Paris’s continuous investment in public transport and airport capacity over the years has solidified its position as an ideal host for international events.
A New Vision for Investing in Potential
But what if we could use the Olympics as a tool for broader societal development? Instead of selecting cities with established infrastructure, we could choose locations with untapped potential decades in advance. This approach would allow us to invest in places that could benefit most from the Olympic spirit, nurturing the next generation of athletes and developing crucial infrastructure.
Consider the journey of an Olympian. It takes a minimum of eight to nine years of intensive training, coaching, and competition to reach Olympic-level performance. Similarly, host cities are now awarded the Games a decade in advance. By extending this timeline even further for select cities in marginalized countries, we could create a powerful mechanism for long-term development.
Africa presents a compelling case for this new approach. The continent’s population has grown from 140 million in 1900 to over 1.4 billion in 2022, and it’s projected to account for 40 percent of the world’s population growth by the end of the century. This demographic shift is accompanied by an emerging pool of athletic talent.
African athletes have already made their mark on the Olympic stage, winning over 400 medals in Summer Olympic history. Countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa have particularly distinguished themselves. Yet, despite this proven athletic prowess, the African continent has never hosted the Olympic Games.
The selection of Dakar, Senegal, to host the 2026 Youth Olympics marks a promising start. Senegal’s successful bid in 2018 demonstrated a commitment to investing in Africa’s future infrastructure and nurturing its emerging talent. This event could serve as a stepping stone towards hosting the main Olympic Games on the continent.
The Human Element: Unleashing Potential
The story of Cherif Fall, a Senegalese surfer, illustrates both the challenges and the potential in marginalized regions. Fall, who taught himself to surf on broken boards left by tourists, dreamed of qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Despite being a national champion, the lack of supported facilities and coaching hindered his Olympic aspirations. His story raises the question: how many potential Olympians are we missing due to a lack of infrastructure and support?
Every aspiring athlete in the Global South deserves the opportunity to compete at the highest level. By creating the right infrastructure and support systems, we can unlock human potential that might otherwise remain dormant.
Building Responsibly in Challenging Times
As this new approach to Olympic hosting is considered, its important to acknowledge the challenges of our time. We’re experiencing record-high planetary temperatures, making responsible and sustainable construction more critical than ever. However, this doesn’t mean we should stop building altogether, especially in regions that desperately need infrastructure development.
The key lies in adopting a model of purposeful investment. This approach should include early planning, community consultation, and a focus on sustainable, multi-use infrastructure. By providing potential host cities with ample time and resources, we can ensure that the facilities built serve both immediate Olympic needs and long-term community requirements.
Recent examples of sustainable sports architecture prove that we can build responsibly without compromising on quality or functionality. The net-zero operational Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle and London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which runs on 100 percent renewable energy, set new benchmarks for sustainable design.
MASS Design Group’s achievement of creating a 69-building campus projected to be the first climate-positive university in the world demonstrates the possibilities of sustainable construction. By utilizing 96 percent local materials, incorporating a solar farm for electricity production, and implementing on-site water sourcing and treatment, they’ve shown how large-scale projects can minimize environmental impact.
These examples illustrate that good architecture can enhance human achievement while minimizing threats to the environment. We don’t have to choose between building and protecting the planet – with thoughtful design, we can do both.
A New Olympic Legacy
Reimagining the Olympics as a catalyst for equitable growth can create a new kind of Olympic legacy. This legacy would extend beyond sporting excellence to encompass sustainable development, infrastructure improvement, and the nurturing of human potential in marginalized regions.
This approach also aligns with the original spirit of the Olympics which is fostering international understanding and cooperation through sport. By extending hosting opportunities to marginalized regions like Africa, will not only adhere to these core principles but also promote global inclusivity and equity.
The investment in Olympic infrastructure should be seen not as the end of an event, but as the beginning of the Olympic spirit in a place. By building facilities first, nurturing the next generation of athletes through their use, and culminating in the hosting of the Olympic Games, a powerful cycle of development and achievement can be created.
In conclusion, the Olympics present a unique opportunity to drive equitable growth in marginalized countries. Adopting a long-term perspective of investing in sustainable infrastructure and nurturing local talent, can use the Games as a force for positive change. This reimagined Olympic model has the potential to not only produce world-class athletes but also to leave a lasting legacy of development and opportunity in regions that need it most.
As we face the challenges of the 21st century – from climate change to rapid population growth – let’s seize this opportunity to make the Olympics a true catalyst for global equity and sustainable development. In doing so, we can honor both the Olympic spirit and our responsibility to build a more equitable world.