South Africa is seeking to make history by becoming the first African country to host the Olympic Games after being named among seven nations set to present bids for the 2036 edition.
South Africa is expected to formally put forward its case to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission in November, marking an important stage in the bidding process.
The country, however, is considered an outsider in the contest, with Qatar widely regarded as a leading contender. India and Hungary are also among the countries viewed as strong candidates.
Turkey, Germany and South Korea are the other nations expected to make presentations to the IOC committee in November.
The presentations will be part of a process that is expected to culminate in an IOC vote in 2029 to determine the host of the 2036 Games.
Qatar’s bid has attracted attention because of the perceived strength of its proposal and the possibility of the Olympics returning to Asia, which last hosted the Games in Tokyo in 2020.
However, a potential Olympics in Doha would require adjustments to the traditional July-August schedule because of the extreme summer temperatures in Qatar.
India is considered another major contender, although its bid is reported to have lost some momentum over the past 18 months.
For South Africa, securing the hosting rights would represent a landmark moment for the continent, which has never hosted an Olympic Games.
The country has previously hosted major international sporting events, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup, strengthening its case for staging another global sporting spectacle.
The 2036 bidding process is expected to involve detailed assessments of the competing countries’ infrastructure, financial capacity, transport systems, accommodation, sustainability plans and ability to deliver the Games.
