"We have never seen such a high interest in hosting the Olympic Games" says Thomas Bach, head of the IOC, explaining the committee has "a double-digit number of interested cities" for the games in 2036 "and even 2040". The interest has come despite threats from climate change, AI-enhanced doping or competition from esports. Bach has run the IOC since 2013, when willingness to host the event was near rock-bottom after a series of scandals over cost and corruption. He says the wave of interested hosts are aiming for "more sustainable, younger, more inclusive" editions of the games. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES