South Africa selects Durban to lead bid for 2036 or 2040 Summer Olympics
South Africa has selected Durban as the centerpiece of its bid to host the 2036 or 2040 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, seeking to become the first African nation to host the Games. The bid may include multiple cities, with Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium as a key venue. The International Olympic Committee will decide the 2036 host in 2029.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1) · date de l'événement : 2026-10-29
South Africa has chosen Durban to lead its bid to host the Summer Olympics, targeting the 2036 or 2040 Games and aiming to become the first African country to do so.
The acting president of the South African Olympic Committee, Lwandile Simelane, announced on Thursday that Durban will be the centerpiece of the country’s proposal, although other cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town may also host some events.
Durban, a coastal city with around four million residents, previously hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was awarded the 2022 Commonwealth Games before losing hosting rights due to financial guarantee issues.
The bid is expected to revolve around the Moses Mabhida Stadium, a 56,000-seat venue built for the 2010 World Cup.
South Africa is competing with six other countries for the 2036 Olympics, including India, Qatar, South Korea, Germany, Hungary, and Turkey. The International Olympic Committee is set to select the 2036 host city by mid-2029.
A successful bid would mark the first time the Summer Olympics are held on the African continent since the modern Games began in 1896.
This announcement coincides with the Youth Olympic Games opening in Dakar, Senegal, the first Olympic event ever held in Africa.