Sport · Malaysia Bureau
South Africa Names Durban as Olympic Bid City for 2036 or 2040
South Africa has officially selected the coastal city of Durban as its candidate to host the Olympic Games in either 2036 or 2040, marking a significant step in the nation's pursuit of staging the global sporting event.
LSN Malaysia ·
Durban, located on South Africa's eastern coast in KwaZulu-Natal province, has been chosen as the country's preferred Olympic bid city, positioning the nation to compete for hosting rights in the coming decades. The selection represents South Africa's ambition to bring the Summer Olympics to the African continent, with the dual timeline of 2036 or 2040 allowing flexibility in the bidding process.
The Indian Ocean city has substantial infrastructure and sporting facilities that could support an Olympic Games, along with existing venues from previous major international events. Durban's selection as the bid city will now move forward through the International Olympic Committee's formal evaluation process.
Should Durban's bid succeed, it would mark a historic moment for Africa, as the continent has never hosted the Summer Olympics. Previous African Olympic bids have faced various challenges, making this announcement a renewed commitment from South Africa to secure the Games for the region.
The decision underscores South Africa's confidence in its ability to deliver a world-class Olympic event and comes as the IOC has increasingly welcomed bids from diverse regions to broaden the Games' global reach and accessibility.