Olympics are a "bottomless black hole" says Toronto's former Mayor Rob Ford

Rob Ford is against a Toronto bid for the 2024 Olympics ©Getty Images

Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford believes the city should not bid for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics - describing the Games as a "bottomless black hole".

Ford, now a Councillor for Etobicoke, made his feelings on a possible bid clear as the deadline next Tuesday (September 15) for cities to put themselves forward looms closer.

The decision will ultimately rest with Toronto's current Mayor John Tory.

"I cannot emphasise enough how bad of an idea this is,” said Ford in a statement.

"Corporations will look at putting money into the Olympics as exactly what it is, and what John Tory should realise it is, a bottomless black hole.”

Whether Toronto will put itself forward is still open to question with Tory and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne admitting that they need answers to key questions before throwing their hat into the ring.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says a lot of questions haven't been answered about Toronto's potential bid ©Getty Images

A cost estimate for hosting the Games and whether venues from the Pan American Games, held in July, can be used are said to be key stumbling blocks.

Ford was Mayor of Toronto between 2010 and 2014 and was in charge 18 months ago when the city's Economic Development Committee voted to defer a 2024 bid, citing costs.

The success of the Pan American Games, however, and other factors, such as the International Olympic Committee's Agenda 2020 reform process, which allows hosts more flexibility in drawing up a bid which best suits local demands, have prompted a change of thought and the possibility of the bid is back on the agenda.

"I’m engaged in a very extensive consultative process with groups and individuals and I continue to do that,” Tory said to the Toronto Sun.

“I will make what I hope will be a considered decision that people will respect as being considered, when the time comes.”

Meanwhile, the City Council of Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto, have decided not to back a bid.

A unanimous vote was passed yesterday when the authority opted against participating in any Games.

"I have repeatedly said that hosting the Olympics is an enormous responsibility which would have lasting implications for communities across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area – long after the Games have concluded,” said Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie.

The 2024 host city is due to be selected at the 2017 IOC Session in Lima, Peru, with Rome, Hamburg, Budapest, Paris and Los Angeles all bidding.