St. Petersburg won’t bid for 2020 Olympic Games

St. Petersburg has finally abandoned the plans to hold the Summer Olympic Games in 2020.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will admit bids until September 1, but the Russian city has already decided not to file one. As of now, four cities have shown themselves willing to hold the 2020 Olympics – these are Rome (Italy), Madrid (Spain), Tokyo (Japan), and Istanbul (Turkey).

According to Vyacheslav Chazov, head of St. Petersburg Muicipal Physical Culture and Sports Committee, the city is very unlikely to get the Games in 2020 (as Russia will already host a lot of events, including the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2018 World Football Cup) and it would be more realistic to apply for 2024 or 2028.

The idea of hosting the 2020 Olympics in St. Petersburg belongs to its current governor Valentina Matvienko and was voiced for the first time back in 2008.