South Africa has announced plans to bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in a historic move that could make it the first African nation to host the world’s biggest sporting event.
Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, made the disclosure on Thursday, stating that the government has already begun “continuous dialogue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC),” now led by Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry.
“This 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,” Ntshavheni said during a press briefing, though she did not reveal the potential host city.
South Africa previously made an unsuccessful attempt when Cape Town bid to host the 2004 Olympics, which eventually went to Athens.
Ntshavheni emphasized that the country’s existing infrastructure puts it in a strong position to host the Games without major new investments.
“Even if we are offered the Games tomorrow, cabinet is confident that we should be able to host them with our facilities,” she said.
During a visit to South Africa in October 2024, former IOC president Thomas Bach had praised the nation’s readiness, saying it possessed “the stability, the infrastructure, and the vision to stage an Olympics.”
Meanwhile, Senegal’s Dakar is set to make history as the first African city to host the Youth Olympic Games from October 31 to November 14, 2026.
The next Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles in 2028, followed by Brisbane, Australia in 2032. Munich, Germany, has also approved plans to bid for the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Games.
South Africa continues to strengthen its global sporting presence, with ongoing efforts to bring back the Formula One Grand Prix to its iconic Kyalami Circuit from 2027, and as a key organiser of the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
If successful, South Africa’s Olympic bid would mark a major milestone — bringing the Olympic flame to African soil for the very first time.
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