International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge said Monday South Africa has the ability to host a Summer Olympic Games following the success of this year’s soccer World Cup.
Reuters reports Rogge said the World Cup showed the country’s ability to host a major sporting event. “I would like to emphasize that South Africa is capable of organizing a very good Games. There is no doubt about that”.
Rogge added he would be pleased to see Africa hold its first Olympics, but also cautioned that “the IOC would be delighted to award the Games to Africa because it is the only continent that has not organized a Games. But I want to be clear that we would only award the Games on quality not on location. The bottom line is, is that the athletes deserve good Games. That will be the defining factor”.
South African IOC executive board member Sam Ramsamy said when asked about a possible bid from South Africa, “I am going to be as general as possible, as vague as possible and as evasive as possible. I have to thank the IOC for showering compliments on us and here in Durban we intend delivering an event next year of the highest quality, but to talk about 2020 is premature. There are discussions with government and we also need to debate with our African counterparts. I feel certain the Olympics will come to Africa, but when is another issue altogether”.
The IOC is holding its general assembly in Durban next July where the winner of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games will be announced. The three cities bidding are Munich, Annecy and PyeongChang.
