By Duncan Mackay in Lausanne
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 23 – Jacques Rogge (pictured) today welcomed the possibility of a bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics from South Africa following the success of the FIFA World Cup.
South African President Jacob Zuma has raised the possibility of trying to become the first African city to host the Games to add to becoming the first African country to stage the World Cup.
Zuma said: “I’m sure we could do it.
“We have got the facilities.
“Those who take decisions [about the hosting of major sports event] have seen how South Africa is.
“I will put it on the agenda because it is important to bring people from all over the world here.
“Sport is very important for us.
“It is now known Africa is capable of hosting any serious tournament.
“That fact cannot be argued again.
“I think Africa will now have a much better image and people will relate better to the continent.
“Plus the economic spin-offs are huge.”
Rogge has made it an aim of his Presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to take the event to new markets and, under him, the 2014 Winter Games were awarded to Sochi – the first time they have been awarded to Russia – and the 2016 Summer Games to Rio de Janeiro – the first time they will be held in South America.
That leaves Africa as the only continent never to have hosted the Olympics.
Rogge said: “Cape Town had a very credible bid in 1997 when it finished third behind Athens and Rome [for the 2004 Games].
“It’s always good news to see that a country like South Africa wants to bid.
“We’re glad they’re thinking about the Olympic Games.”
Rogge plans to discuss the possibility of another South African bid for the Olympics at a meeting with Zuma next month when he flies to Johannesburg to attend the World Cup final on July 11.
He said: “I will definitely take this up with [Zuma] when I meet with him at the World Cup final.
“I think it’s absolutely normal that they think about the future after the FIFA World Cup.”
Cape Town would be the favourite to be chosen to represent South Africa but Durban is already preparing for the possibility of a bid.
Johannesburg would probably not be considered because it is at altitude and no Summer Olympics has been held at altitude since Mexico City in 1968.
But Danny Jordaan (pictured), who led Cape Town’s bid before being appointed to front the successful campaign to host the World Cup, is confident of South Africa’s chances whichever city is chosen.
He said: “By staging the 2010 World Cup, we’ve shown people what South Africans can do.
“I think that if there is a bid by South Africa it will be considered very, very seriously.
“I think the international environment has changed substantially since [because] then … there was no major event that had been held anywhere on the continent.”
Jordaan would be a popular choice to lead any bid but refused to be drawn on that possibility.
He said: “Event organisers also have to retire some day.
“I’ve not finished my World Cup job yet and we have a few matches to go.
“Everything has gone well so far.
“By the end of the week we will have completed all 48 group matches, so that’s where I want to focus myself now.”
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