Durban Leads South African Cities As Potential Olympic Host

Durban appears to be winning the race among four South African cities interested in a potential bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. The bidding process is expected to begin formally in 2011, and the host will be selected in 2013.

Durban appears to be in the driving seat, positioning itself strongly and developing the Kings’s Park sporting precinct.

The precinct runs from the Moses Mabhida Stadium to the Durban International Convention Centre and provides, among other things, a 76 000-seater stadium, several small stadiums including Absa Stadium, a cycling track and an arena suitable for indoor sports.

A senior city official said the city had already begun its lobbying process, with KwaZulu-Natal’s premier, Zweli Mkhize, notifying the South African bid committee of the province’s willingness to back the city’s bid.

Durban ahead in Olympics bid
Sport 24
December 5, 2010

Africa Must Wait 20 Years for Olympics, Says IOC Official

An official with the International Olympic Committee says it's unlikely an African city will host the Olympics within the next 20 years. South African officials have announced their intentions to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics following the successful hosting of the 2010 World Cup.

“There is a huge amount of work to be done besides political desire, hence the experts’ view that any realistic chance for (hosting the) Olympics in Africa is between 2030 and 2040,” said Nawal El Moutawakel, who chaired the IOC’s coordinating committee for the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

“I have read studies by some universities specialising in the Olympics who gave Africa between 2030 and 2040 to host the Games and that is a very realistic chance because Olympics is a different ball game,” she said.

Africa must wait 20 years for Olympics
Reuters via Zimbabwe Independent
July 29, 2010

Zimbabwe Sets Sights on South Africa's 2020 Olympics Bid

Officials in Zimbabwe look at the prospective bid from South Africa to host the 2020 Olympics as another opportunity to cash in on its neighbor's international attention -- an opportunity some say the country didn't take advantage of during the 2010 World Cup.

Zimbabwe – which is in an ideal geographical position to benefit from South Africa’s hosting of the Olympic Games – failed to capitalise on the just ended World Cup in a development that saw the country losing out on the financial benefits that result in being directly associated with football’s premier event.

Critics say Zimbabwe government failed to aggressively market the country’s tourist attractions like the Victoria Falls and Great Zimbabwe Ruins and that this resulted in very little people visiting the country during the tournament.

SA Olympic bid may benefit Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwean
July 16, 2010

LOC Says South Africa Can Handle Olympics

South Africa's 2010 Local Organizing Committee head says that the country's hosting of the World Cup proves that it is capable of hosting other major events, including the Olympics.

"This World Cup has helped change the image of South Africa, achieved an image makeover of the country, almost a rebranding of the country. And also a demonstration of the capacity of the country," said [Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the 2010 organising committee].

The infrastructure investment required to deliver Africa's first World Cup was the subject of intense argument, but organisers consistently claimed that changing perceptions of potential investors and tourists would be a key benefit.

Now for the Olympics, says man who brought World Cup to South Africa
Guardian
July 11, 2010

Blatter Backs SA Bid for 2020 Olympics

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has annonced that he will fully back South Africa if any of its cities choose to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

South Africa's successful hosting of the World Cup has increased its prospects of hosting the event when bidding opens for the 2020 Games. President Jacob Zuma told reporters last week that South Africa was up to the task.

The International Olympic Committee awarded the 2016 Games to Brazil, making it the first time a South American country will host the games. This will leave Africa as the only continent yet to stage the Olympics.

South Africa: Olympics Hopes Get Blatter's Backing
Bua News
July 9, 2010