South Africa has named the east-coast city of Durban as its preferred candidate to host the first-ever Olympic Games in Africa.
The Candidate Selection
The nation is targeting the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in 2036 or 2040. The International Olympic Committee is scheduled to select the host city for the 2036 event in mid-2029.
Lwandile Simelane, the acting president of the South African Olympic committee, announced the selection of the country’s third-largest city. She explained that while Durban would serve as the main candidate, the submission would likely function as a multi-city bid that suggests hosting certain events in alternative locations. Johannesburg, the nation’s economic center, and Cape Town were also evaluated for the nomination.
Previous Discussions and Current Competition
Durban was previously discussed as a potential Olympic host over ten years ago following the country’s successful hosting of the 2010 World Cup, which marked a first for the continent. However, an official application failed to develop at that time, primarily because of financial anxieties.
Officials stated on Thursday that they remain unable to offer specific financial projections concerning the total expense of organizing the Olympics should the national bid prevail. South Africa enters a competitive field of seven nations seeking the 2036 Games, alongside India, Qatar, South Korea, Germany, Hungary, and Turkey. National Olympic committees faced an October 31 deadline set by the IOC to formally register their interest in staging those games.
