Cape Town, Nov 13 (UNI) South Africa on Thursday officially announced its intention to bid for the hosting rights of the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni made the announcement during a media briefing at Parliament here.
She revealed that Cabinet has approved for South Africa to enter “continuous dialogue” with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), “as part of its intention to bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games.”
“The continuous dialogue with the IOC is a preliminary and exploratory engagement that is critical to advance South Africa’s intention to bid for the hosting rights of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036 or 2040,” she added.
The Olympic Games, held every four years, have never been hosted on the African continent. Last year, Egypt indicated its intention to host the 2036 Games.
South Africa has hosted major international sporting events, including the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Cape Town, the legislative capital of the country, previously bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games, which were eventually awarded to Athens in a 1997 vote.
“Cabinet is confident of South Africa’s readiness to host the Olympics given South Africa’s available infrastructure,” Ntshavheni said.
