Sport · Singapore Bureau
South Africa eyes Durban as first African Olympic host city
South Africa has officially nominated the port city of Durban as its candidate to host the Olympic Games in either 2036 or 2040, marking a potential historic first for the African continent. The bid was unveiled by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee.
LSN Singapore ·
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has put forward Durban as the nation's preferred bidder to become Africa's inaugural Olympic host city, potentially in 2036 or 2040.
Durban, situated on South Africa's eastern coast in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, would represent a landmark moment for African sports if the International Olympic Committee ultimately selects the city. The Olympic Games have never been held on the continent, despite Africa's growing sporting prominence and infrastructure development.
The nomination reflects South Africa's ambitions to leverage its existing sporting facilities and experience hosting major international events. Durban has previously hosted significant sporting competitions and possesses the necessary infrastructure to support an Olympic Games, including accommodation, transport networks, and dedicated sporting venues.
The bid will now proceed through the formal International Olympic Committee evaluation process, where it will compete against other prospective host cities worldwide. A final decision on the 2036 or 2040 Olympic host is expected to be made by the IOC in coming years.