One of the key ways to determine the future is to ‘follow the money’ and so it may prove with the destination of the 2020 Olympic Games.
Three competing cities have now formally lodged their bid documents and there will now be an intense period of eight months lobbying ahead of a decision on September 7th.
The three cities are Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul and while bookmakers odds favour the Japanese bid, there is much to commend the one from Turkey at odds of 2/1.
The financial commitments outlined in the bid documents show a marked disparity.  Madrid has committed to spend €2.0 Billion and has put itself forward on the basis of a sustainable venue where only four new venues would need to be constructed.
Tokyo raises the game with a commitment of €6.0 Billion but more questions were asked about the likelihood of an earthquake than anything else at their launch.
The powerhouse bid looks likely from Istanbul, launched with the full support of Government and society and pledging to invest no less than €16.2 Billion in bringing the games to the bridge between Europe and Asia.
The fact that Turkey is no longer bidding to host the 2020 UEFA Soccer Finals is another major boost and those behind the bid are looking on this as the culmination of a 20 year process from which they have learned and adapted.
The next games will take place in Rio and will have to work hard to follow the success of London which, for all the advance talk of austerity and sobriety did manage to burn through an overall spend of €13.5 Billion.