82 replies to this topic

[Rafa]

A message to other bidders. Don't even bother bidding



Durban puts hand up for 2020

Tuesday September 7, 2010

It’s official — Durban was the only South African city to submit a bid to possibly host the 2020 Olympic Games.

South Africa’s Olympic governing body SASCOC invited four cities to apply for the hosting rights — Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.

But it was confirmed by SASCOC’s CEO Tubby Reddy at the national Olympic governing body’s Annual General Meeting at the weekend that of those four cities only the coastal city of Durban submitted a bid.

The bidding process is now finalised as far as SASCOC are concerned and the decision on whether a formal bid will be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for consideration now rests with the national government.

Extensive investigation and feasibility studies will now be done as national and local government attempt to get buy-in for the bid.

After the IOC Session to be hosted in Durban in August, 2011, the IOC will then send a formal invitation for countries to submit bids for the right to host the Summer Games.

The IOC executive board then conducts its own exhaustive investigations before the host for the 2020 Olympics is finally announced at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2013.

http://www.sascoc.co....nd-up-for-2020

[baron-pierreIV]

So is that stadium track-friendly? Or will they need another one?

I guess when SASOC sent out the invites, that pretty much lined up the 4 'soccer satellite' cities.

Well, CT, ya got the UN Climate Conference; you can probably get the 2022 CWG and the 2022 Gay Games. It looks like those are open.

Edited by baron-pierreIV, 07 September 2010 - 05:53 PM.

[RobH]

They covered the track over for the world cup. It's already an athletics stadium.

[Rafa]

There is no track yet. Its grass for now but obviously the track gets put in when needed.

[Jim856796]

Durban should be making an official bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics soon, and if it wins the contest, it will be the first city in Africa to host a Summer Olympics. Let's start off with the venue plan (which is actually from one of my posts from last month):

Ceremonies: Moses Mabhida Stadium - 75,800
Diving: Durban aquatics Centre - 12,000
Swimming: Durban aquatics Centre - 12,000
Synchronised Swimming: Durban Aquatics Centre - 12,000
Water Polo: Durban Aquatics Centre - 12,000
Canoe/Kayak Sprint: undetermined venue
Canoe/Kayak Slalom: undetermined venue
BMX: undetermined venue
Mountain Biking: undetermined venue
Road Cycling: undetermined venue
Track Cycling: new venue
Artistic Gymnastics: New Durban Arena - 12,000
Rhythmic Gymnastics: undetermined venue
Trampolining: New Durban Arena - 12,000
Beach Volleyball: new venue
Indoor Volleyball: undetermined venue
Equestrian: new venue
Wrestling: undetermined venue
Archery: Kingsmead Cricket Ground - 23,000
Athletics: Moses Mabhida Stadium - 75,800
Badminton: undetermined venue
Basketball: undetermined venue
Boxing: undetermined venue
Fencing: Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre
Field Hockey: new venue
Football: Moses Mabhida Stadium - 75,800, Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg - 91,141, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town - 69,070, Charles Mopeli Stadium, Phuthaditjhaba - 40,000, Pietermaritzburg, undetermined sixth venue
Handball: Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre Arena - 10,000
Judo: undetermined venue
Modern Pentathlon: undetermined venue
Rowing: undetermined venue
Sailing: Durban Harbour
Shooting: new venue
Table Tennis: undetermined venue
Taekwondo: undetermined venue
Tennis: new venue
Triathlon: undetermined venue
Weightlifting: Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre
Golf: Windsor country Club/Durban Country Club
Rugby 7s: Kings Park Stadium - 55,000

And then a list of the largest hotels in Durban:

1. Southern Sun Elangeni - **** - 450 rooms - built 1971, 1973
2. Garden Court South Beach - *** - 411 rooms - built 1972
3. Garden Court Marine Parade - *** - 344 rooms - built 1985
4. Durban Hilton - ***** - 327 rooms - built 1997
5. Southern Sun North Beach - *** - 280 rooms - built 1978
6. Royal Hotel - ***** - 272 rooms - built 1979
7. Blue Waters Hotel - *** - 265 rooms - built 1972
8. Umhlanga Sands - *** - 237 rooms - built 1977
9. Cabana Beach - *** - 218 rooms - built 1976
10. Suncoast Hotel - ***** - 180 rooms - built 2006

[RobH]

Mo Rush, on 07 September 2010 - 05:29 PM, said:

There is no track yet. Its grass for now but obviously the track gets put in when needed.

Oh, apologies. But I take it the configuration of the stadium won't need to be changed as the space is already there for it?

[Soaring]

What makes Durban a strong candidate compared to Cape Town or Joburg besides their stadium?

[Rols O'Bertilsson]

Soaring_Higher, on 07 September 2010 - 10:43 PM, said:

What makes Durban a strong candidate compared to Cape Town or Joburg besides their stadium?

I suppose basically the plain fact that they're the only ones who seem willing to bid.

[mattperiolat]

Well, this is interesting. Durban doesn't have the international name recognition that either CT or Johannasburg does, but then again, it can be argued neither did Barcelona or Atlanta and they still won the SOG.

The race for 2020 just got really interesting. Very interested to see the bid. I was up until a month or so fully expecting CT, so we'll just see here.

[baron-pierreIV]

Soaring_Higher, on 07 September 2010 - 10:43 PM, said:

What makes Durban a strong candidate compared to Cape Town or Joburg besides their stadium?

Well, that one's of 3 VERY major factors. The other 2 are:

- the FULL IOC is going to have a first-hand look at the city next July which NO OTHER 2020 wannabe will have the luxury of;

- I think the July-August weather is better in Durban that it will be in CT.