Russia may become bid country for 2028 Summer Games

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Despite the current geopolitical situations of computer hacking and doping bans on track and field and weightlifting federations, Russia has made the intention to bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

In a statement made Friday, Russian Olympic Committee President Alexander Zhukov said that three of his country’s cities would be a suitable site to hold what could be their second summer Olympics. It comes at a time where Russian sports are under serious scrutiny after their entire track and field team as well as their weightlifting team missed the 2016 amid a doping scandal.

The country is also under investigation after doping samples were found to be positive for 12 medal winners at the 2014 Winter Games that were held in Sochi, Russia. World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren came out with the report showing that the samples were tampered with leading to the strong accusations.

Even with all the current problems that Russia finds itself in, Zhukov remained positive that going forward would be a good idea. “It’s hard to say not, but why not? I think it’s completely possible to try,” he said to Russian news agency RIA Novosti. “It’s not just St. Petersburg. We also have Kazan which is a possibility. It’s also possible in Sochi.”

The move comes after 19 national doping agencies called for Russia to be banned from all international sports competitions and to be stripped of 2018 FIFA World Cup. Their pleas for action would go unanswered as the international federations only have the power to make changes to who hosts upcoming sporting events.

1980 was the last time that Russia held the Summer Games which came under a boycott from western countries that included the United States.

In the event that Russia moves forward with their attempts for 2028, planning would quickly get into work prior to the vote that would take place in 2021. The vote for the 2024 Olympics occurs this September that would determine whether Los Angeles, Budapest or Paris would be awarded the games of the 33^rd Olympiad of the modern era.