Could South Africa host the 2036 Olympics?
While Los Angeles will stage the 2028 Summer Olympics and Brisbane those of 2032, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is already preparing for the 2036 edition. South Africa is among the seven countries engaged in initial dialogue with the Olympic body over a possible bid. It is a significant prospect for the African continent, which has never hosted the Summer Olympics.
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The news was announced on Tuesday 6 October in a statement from the International Olympic Committee. South Africa, Germany, South Korea, Hungary, India, Qatar and Turkey have all expressed an interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics.
If the South African project succeeds, the country would become the first on the continent to host the global event. It is a prospect that has generated interest, with the Rainbow Nation having already shown it can stage major international sporting events.
How the bids will be assessed
Projects will be examined against a number of technical criteria, including the venue master plan and the athlete experience, the funding strategy, political and public support, organisational capacity and the lasting benefits for host communities.
The IOC will also take into account the vision behind each project, how well it fits with local development plans and how closely it aligns with the goals of the Olympic Movement.
Interested parties have been invited to present their projects to the Future Hosts Commission in November. According to the announced timetable, no new expressions of interest will be considered for the 2036 edition after 31 October 2026.
What does South Africa have in its favour?
There is still a long road ahead before the Summer Olympics are held in Africa. South Africa nonetheless has considerable experience of staging major international tournaments. The country hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1995 and the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
Its sporting and transport infrastructure could prove an advantage in preparing for such an event, although its ability to meet Olympic requirements will need to be assessed.
Any award of the Games to South Africa would mark a historic step for the continent. Dakar, in Senegal, is already due to host the Youth Olympic Games from 31 October to 13 November 2026, the first Olympic event to be held on African soil. It remains to be seen whether that momentum can carry through to the Summer Olympics ten years later.