Shanghai confirms study into 2032 Olympics but clarifies it has not decided on a bid
- Government will pay research agency US$92,000 to assess city’s sports facilities and ability to host the event
- Sports bureau says media ‘misunderstood’ announcement and that study is part of plan to develop world-class facilities in the city
Shanghai authorities have confirmed they ordered a feasibility study on hosting the 2032 Olympic Games, but say no decision has been made on whether they will launch a bid.
The Shanghai Sports Bureau on Wednesday said it wanted to clarify that there was no plan to join the race following media speculation that a bid was on the cards after it announced the study.
On Tuesday, the bureau said it had selected a local research agency to assess the city’s sports facilities and ability to host the Games, in a post on the municipal government’s procurement website.
It would pay 640,000 yuan (US$92,000) to the Shanghai Shangti Sports and Health Research Centre to carry out the study, which is expected to be completed by the end of February.
“Some media have misunderstood our statement, speculating that Shanghai was planning a bid to host the Olympics and prompting heated public discussion,” the sports bureau said in a statement.
