Moses Mabhida Stadium could potentially feature the fastest athlete on the planet if South Africa win the right to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It’ s still very early days, but the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic and Paralympic Committee( SASCOC) announced on 29 October that Durban is the preferred city they will be putting forward to the International Olympic Committee( IOC) as potential hosts.
Cape Town and Johannesburg had also thrown their hats in the ring, with all three cities having to present their respective bids, but it was Durban that emerged as the most feasible option.
According to Ruben Reddy, chairman of the SASCOC-appointed independent evaluation commission for the cities’ bids:“ We looked at all the sports that were presented in front of us and the venues that were proposed for each of them. And we found that Durban had the potential of providing the facilities and the sports in a compact environment for at least 65 per cent of them,” he explained.
Year-round favourable weather conditions must also have been a factor.
Hosting the Olympics and Paralympics is a massive undertaking, far bigger than a football, rugby or cricket World Cup, with potentially over 35 different sports venues needed. These can potentially also be spread further afield than Durban itself, like at previous Games.
While SASCOC have the backing of government for the bid, they were reluctant to discuss the financial implications, or what the projected costs might be, saying they are still too early in the bidding process. Veteran sports administrator and IOC member Sam Ramsamy pointed out that, if successful, the IOC plugs plenty of its own money into the host city.
According to Olympics. com, US $ 1.7 billion was given to the last summer Olympic hosts, Paris, for the 2024 Games and US $ 1.8 billion will go to 2028 hosts, Los Angeles.
“ The IOC gives no money to governments, but exclusively to the Organising Committees for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and assists the Organising Committees in many other ways, including through transfer of knowledge and management of the host broadcasting operations,” the website reported.
Acting president of SASCOC Lwandile Simelane explained what the following steps will be now that Durban has been selected.“ In November 2026, interested parties have been invited to present their Games projects virtually to the IOC Future Host Commission, and that will be the next opportunity for South Africa to explain its vision and demonstrate the progress of its project.
“ Interested parties will provide initial responses to future host questionnaires and the core legal and financial guarantees that are required.
“ The Future Host Commission will conduct site visits and report to the executive board at the appropriate time, and in December 2028, the IOC Board is scheduled to open targeted dialogue and select the preferred hosts.”
While there are several more steps along the timeline, ultimately IOC members will elect the hosts of the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games in mid-2029. Six other countries have also expressed their interest in hosting the Games: Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, Korea and Turkey.
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2008 Olympic long jump silver medallist Khotso Mokoena
SASCOC CEO Nozipho Jafta pointed out:“ Our approach must keep both Olympic and Paralympic athletes at its centre. Accessibility, inclusion, and a strong athlete experience must inform the planning from the outset.
“ Equally, we must consider affordability, the use of existing infrastructure, and the lasting value that a potential Games project could create for our communities … Let us approach this opportunity with confidence in South Africa, in South Africa ' s potential, and a clear appreciation of the work required to realise it.”
18 www. modernathlete. co. za