Christine Lagarde: Greece Should Permanently Host the Olympic Games

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.

While speaking during the 2016 Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado last week, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, agreed that the Olympic Games should be hosted permanently in Greece.

“The Greek economy is damaged. Debt is a huge problem. The Olympic Games are a huge catastrophe for Rio and the International Olympic Committee’s selection process is rather complicated”, the festival’s vice president and organizer Kitty Boone said while discussing the issue on stage with IMF’s managing director.

“The Olympics could be permanently hosted in their home in Athens, strengthening its economy and tourism, and offering an environmentally safe site”, Ms Boone added.

“I think it’s a great idea for immediate use”, Ms Lagarde said, adding that the idea of Greece hosting the Olympic Games on a permanent basis could boost the country’s economy.

She also recalled that the marathon was held for the first time in Greece and that the Olympic Games are named after Olympia, located in Greece, which has hosted so many fantastic athletes.

The Aspen Ideas Festival is the nation’s premier, public gathering place for leaders from around the globe and across many disciplines to engage in deep and inquisitive discussion of the ideas and issues that shape our lives and challenge our times.