(ATR) The Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) has appointed Richard Brisius to lead the campaign to land the 2026 Winter Olympics for Stockholm.
"I am honored that SOK’s Executive Board has selected me for the mission and look forward to doing my best to bring the Winter Olympics and Paralympics to Stockholm," Brisius said in a statement, adding "I am humbled by the challenge."
Brisius has made his mark on the sport of sailing for the past 20 years, having participated twice in round-the-world races and also serving as project manager for five other round-the-world teams.
"My background is managing large projects abroad but nothing can compare to the Olympics. Olympic and Paralympic Games are the great human values like friendship and respect. [The] Olympics unites people from different countries. It would be a dream to welcome the world to Stockholm, Sweden, and with open arms to share with you all the good things we have," says Brisius.
SOK chairman Hans Vestberg is very pleased that Brisius will be the campaign manager and president of the Olympic effort.
"Richard has shown he can drive and deliver success on large-scale projects ... he is the right man to lead the company," says Vestberg.
Brisius appears to have a firm foundation to build upon as he begins his task.
The Swedish NOC’s chief executive Peter Reinebo told Around the Rings in January that, unlike Stockholm's failed quest for the 2022 Games, the city and national governments are now run by the Social Democrats, who broadly support the bid plan.
Stockholm’s 2022 bid was derailed by a lack of political support and financial guarantees for a campaign led by the country’s sporting movement.
"There is much more time and awareness of the high IOC contribution. There is no rush like last time and the communications from the Olympic Movement is more positive with Agenda 2020. That is a big difference," Reinebo told ATR.
That doesn’t make the challenge any easier. So far, Switzerland is the only country that has officially entered the 2026 race with a bid centered in Sion. But former Winter Olympic host cities Innsbruck, Calgary, Lillehammer and Sapporo are all seriously considering a bid.
"Competition internationally will be hard," Brisius said. "My hometown Stockholm is the world's best city, and I hope and believe absolutely that we have a strong application that can win the Games for Sweden."
The 2026 bid cycle is expected to be opened by the IOC prior to the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang next February. A host for the 2026 Games will be decided at the 2019 IOC Session.
Written by Gerard Farek
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