South Africa Picks Durban for Olympic Bid, but a Major Hurdle Remains
- SASCOC officially named Durban as South Africa's preferred host city for a future Olympic Games bid
- The announcement marks a push to bring the first-ever Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games to African soil
- SASCOC acting president Lwandile Simelane outlined plans to use existing facilities and secure broader African support
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Durban has been confirmed as South Africa's official host city for its bid to stage the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games. The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) announced this on 29 October 2026, with Saturday marking the deadline for cities to declare their intention to bid.
SASCOC acting president Lwandile Simelane, who has stepped in while president Barry Hendricks remains suspended, stood alongside SASCOC CEO Nozipho Jafta and honorary president Dr Sam Ramsamy when the historic announcement was made.
Africa's first Summer Olympics
Simelane was clear about what this bid represents beyond sport.
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"It'll be the first Summer Olympics in Africa, and we know we have athletes currently in Dakar. We are wishing them all the best, but it will be the first Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Africa, and we think the time is ready for Africa now," she said, according to SABC Sport.
South Africa is competing against seven other cities, including contenders from Germany and Qatar, for the right to host the world's biggest sporting event. Simelane said South Africa is not intimidated by the competition and remains confident in its proposal.
The national Olympic body is expected to present its formal bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) next month. The IOC is expected to make a final decision on the host country in 2029, with consultations and several review stages still ahead.
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Moses Mabhida Stadium in the frame
To manage what Simelane acknowledged would be a multi-billion-rand undertaking, South Africa intends to lean heavily on existing infrastructure rather than building new venues from scratch. One option under consideration is converting Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban into an Olympic stadium should the bid succeed.
Before settling on Durban, SASCOC assessed three cities, namely Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Discussions around the full Olympic budget are expected to continue as the bid progresses.
Simelane called on South Africans to rally behind the bid now that Durban's selection has been made official. She also confirmed that SASCOC has the South African government's backing and has been engaging other African nations to build continental support.
Beyond the games themselves, Simelane pointed to the broader benefits a successful bid could bring, including job creation and economic opportunities. SASCOC also plans to work with sporting federations to develop athletes capable of competing for medals on home soil.
SASCOC leadership changes as Barry Hendricks remains suspended
Briefly News previously reported that SASCOC suspended president Barry Hendricks in September 2026 after anonymous complaints prompted an investigation into alleged breaches of the organisation’s safeguarding policy and Codes Handbook.
Retired Judge Basheer Waglay recommended that the allegations be referred to SASCOC’s Judicial Body after finding prima facie evidence warranting further action. The suspension was not a finding of wrongdoing, and Hendricks remains presumed innocent while the process continues.
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Source: Briefly News
