Durban named South Africa’s preferred city to host 2036 or 2040 Olympics

Durban named South Africa’s preferred city to host 2036 or 2040 Olympics - International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, June 23, 2019. (Photo: Xinhua)

In 2010, it became the first African nation to stage the men's football World Cup, with matches played in cities across the country.

South Africa has chosen Durban as its preferred candidate to host the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games, putting the city forward as the country prepares to pursue a place in the history of the global sporting event.

The selection was announced on Thursday by Lwandile Simelane, acting president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee. According to Simelane, South Africa is considering a joint hosting plan that could also involve Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The country has not yet announced how much it expects the Olympic project to cost, but the proposal would need to account for the venues, transport and other facilities required to accommodate athletes, officials and spectators from around the world.

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South Africa has experience hosting major international competitions. In 2010, it became the first African nation to stage the men's football World Cup, with matches played in cities across the country. Durban has several facilities built for major sporting events, including the 56,000-seater Moses Mabhida Stadium, which hosted matches during the 2010 tournament.

Durban was also selected to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but lost the rights in 2017 after the organisers concluded that the city had not met key requirements for delivering the event. Birmingham, England, subsequently hosted the Games.

South Africa is now among seven countries interested in hosting the 2036 Olympics. Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, South Korea and Turkey are also in discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the next edition.

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The committee is expected to assess the interested countries before deciding which proposals will proceed to the next stage. The host city for the 2036 Games is expected to be selected in mid-2029.

"To enter, the National Olympic Committee of the country concerned submits a letter to the IOC confirming the name of the Interested Party it is proposing to host a future edition of the Olympic Games," an IOC document to guide bidders reads.

"Interested Parties receive bespoke support services from the IOC to assist with planning their venue masterplan, funding strategy and Games impact (maximum potential benefits for local communities). The IOC conducts a Feasibility Assessment to measure the progress of the Olympic project and to assist the IOC Executive Board with its decision-making."