The International Olympic Committee has confirmed that South Africa has shown interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics, a first for the African continent. This development comes as several countries express their desire to host the Olympic Games for the first time. Alongside South Africa, Hungary, India, Qatar, and Turkey are also working towards becoming first-time hosts.
The IOC is engaged in continuous dialogue with these seven countries, which also include Germany and South Korea, both of whom have previously hosted the Summer Games. The IOC has set a deadline of October 31 for submissions of stated interest from these countries. Following this, virtual presentations will be made to the IOC's future host commission in November.
The IOC will carry out feasibility assessments by March 2027. After that, the national Olympic committees that have expressed interest will enter into strategic dialogue with the IOC. South Africa's proposal involves hosting the games in three cities: Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. Notably, Durban had previously been set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022 but withdrew in 2017.
The bid from South Africa and the interest from other countries come as the IOC continues to explore new host cities and countries for future Olympic Games. The IOC also confirmed that several national Olympic committees are engaged in non-committal talks about hosting future Olympic Games beyond 2036. This indicates a growing interest in hosting the Olympics.
Meanwhile, some countries have already been confirmed to host future Olympic Games. The 2028 Games will be held in Los Angeles, and Brisbane, Australia, will host the Olympics in 2032, marking the first time Australia will host the event in 32 years.
The UK government has also expressed interest in supporting potential bids for the Olympics and Paralympics in the 2040s. This development suggests that there will be continued competition for the right to host the Olympic Games in the coming years. The IOC's efforts to engage with various countries and assess their feasibility are crucial in determining future hosts.
As the IOC continues to assess the bids and feasibility of each country's proposal, South Africa's bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics remains a significant development. If successful, it would mark a historic moment for the African continent, making South Africa the first African country to host the Olympic Games.
Key points
- South Africa aims to host the 2036 Summer Olympics in three cities: Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg.
- The IOC has set a deadline of October 31 for submissions of stated interest from countries bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.
- Several countries, including Hungary, India, Qatar, and Turkey, are also bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.
