Greater Orlando Sports Commission hopes to host more international sporting events. GETTY IMAGES

The USA's sunny city of Orlando wants to bring more international sporting events to its region —including an eventual Florida Olympics. Home to Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, the central Florida city hopes to make a name for itself in the sporting world as well. 

With the US hosting two Olympic Games, in Los Angeles in 2028 and Salt Lake City in 2034, Orlando —who has hosted WrestleMania and college basketball championships among other domestic events— wants a piece of the action. While a bid for the ultimate sport competition – the Olympics – would take years and is unlikely to happen before the 2040s, Orlando hopes to host the trials for LA28. The city has already hosted the Olympic marathon trials last February.



The country is set to host world cups in soccer and rugby, and Orlando plans to bid for the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033, according to Jason Siegel, CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission.

"Our community has basically said to me, 'let’s get the word out'. There’s an appetite to be very aggressive in the space," Siegel said in an interview at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.

There are plenty of aspects that work to Orlando’s advantage, Siegel added: including a newly built airport terminal, a high-speed rail line between Orlando and Miami and 45 existing venues in the region. Sports fans can also enjoy one of the famed theme parks in the area, including Disney and Universal, which are backing the city in its bid for more international exposure. The entertainment giants joined meetings with FIFA when Orlando pursued becoming one of the US host cities for the 2026 World Cup, Siegel revealed.

Jason Siegel, CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, says Disney is backing Orlando's bid to host international sporting events. GETTY IMAGES
Jason Siegel, CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, says Disney is backing Orlando's bid to host international sporting events. GETTY IMAGES

The Greater Orlando Sports Commission has increased its annual budget to place bids for sporting events to $10 million (€9.1 million) from $4 million (€3.6 million), with the potential to grow that number.

Siegal clarified that though the weather could worry federations as Florida summers are hot and humid, with a chance of hurricanes, the commission has experience in planning around such factors. 

"There were conversations about what time of day we were going to run. Are we going to run at noon? Are we going to run at 8 o’clock in the morning?" he said about the Olympic marathon trials. 

Weather conditions are a typical risk assessment for sport rights holders and the level of preparation is no different than a cold climate, Siegel added.

"We can assure them of no blizzards."