195 replies to this topic

[LuigiVercotti]

Let's inject a dose of reality into this discussion of an African Summer Olympic Games...is there really a single African city that can provide the economic support and political management necessary for a successful Olympic Games? Maybe in 40-50 years...but before then, the answer must be no.

Look at Cape Town's 2004 bid. Cape Town (alongside other potential South African cities) was and would be the best chance of a successful Olympic bid because of the relative economic strength of South Africa, as well as its status as a leading city within a nominally stable political system. But even as arguably the leading African candidate city, it failed to rally enough support to win the 2004 games, and even the IOC under its parochial election process would have recognized that the CT bid was technically capable enough to mount a successful games. Don't be under any illusions...the only reason why CT got to the final three in 2004 was more because of ANOCA solidarity in the IOC membership than real ability.

Look at the facts; can an African Olympic Games expect to be able to draw on a financially secure sector willing to provide billions in budgetary demands? In 1998 African GDP measured $1,039,408 million, (contrasted with Latin American GDP at the same time of $2,941,600 million) as per the OECD's own figures (
source). Now I admit these figures are old, but can anyone confirm or predict that African economic capability has substantially grown or will even surpass Latin America's? The whole of African economic capability was only 60% of India's 1998 GDP. So...where would an African Olympics get the money from? If the richest country in Africa (i.e. South Africa) can't guarantee even the basics like people financially able to buy tickets (as cited in 'the Games Cities Play' by Pieter de Lange, Sigma Press, Pretoria, 1998), then how could the IOC in good conscience give an Olympics to an african country.

Then there are the social concerns any Olympic bid from Africa must address. Issues such as civil war, drought, famine, AIDS epidemics, corruption and crime are all bedevilling the countries of Africa. Again taking South Africa as the example (and I'm not trying to engage in a SA bashing exercise), the current ANC government can't even get straight their response to the AIDs epidemic sweeping the country. SA has approximately 600 AIDs related deaths each day (source) and the Mbeki government hasn't been able to answer its most strident critics on how it can successfully fight this problem. Therefore, how can an Olympic games be presented in the context of a country, or a whole continent, where there are more complex and more immediate concerns.

I would never doubt the desire or passion for sport in Africa, or denigrate the Olympic achievements of countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Algeria or Egypt. And I acknowldge that FIFA has given SA the 2010 world cup rights in recognition of the continent's sucess in football (and desire to expand such success). But an African Olympics are realistically only a dream that the IOC and pundits like us can entertain without actually making any decision to award. If a middle sized European city like Leipzig can't even get through the technical evaluation process, how could a larger African city like Cairo, Cape Town, Lagos or Nairobi?

[Rafa]

i disagree i dont think we will see another athens situation again or soon...even if cape town was to host..in terms of building facilities cape town wouldnt be finishing its olympic stadium three weeks before..things just get done here..almost similar to sydney..u just see things being built and getting done...construction costs in south africa are LOW.....the london 2012 stadium could easily be built for half the price in cape town..each games in future will have its own challenges...

[Mikel]

wamel042, on Jan. 14 2006,07:35, said:

Well, if the continent Africa should host the Olympic Games, then South Africa will definitely be the "best" choice.....All other countries are much more unlikely.

I agree with that, althoug I think a Cairo 2040 Games or Casablanca 2048 ones would be interesting.

[can135]

The only two countries that have ever bid before are South Africa and Egypt.  

Are there any other ones that we feel are capable within the next 20 years?

[Hachiko]

jauf, on July 22 2003,10:02, said:

I'm wondering when the first olympics will take place in Africa. I think it's about time the world pays more attention to this continent, and i think one country will be very ready to host the olympics in the future; South Africa. I bet on 2020 or 2024. 2012 will be in Europe (Paris!), 2016 in Sout America i hope, so it will be 2020 or 2024 for Africa! South Africa hast hosted a number of large sporting events (cricket world cup this year), and will most likely host the soccer WC in 2016. Cape Town would be and ideal city for the olympics; great setting, great location, good infrastructure, great people. Other cities to think of would be Johannesburg, and outside SA maybe Cairo or Lagos? What are your oppinions about this matter?  :

Two words, jauf:

CAPE TOWN.

Remember those two words. They hold the key to Africa's Olympic Bid Success. ::  :cool:

[Suit U Sir !!!]

Again, I think South Africa has the best chance of winning any Olympic bid. Probably Cape Town, as it bid for the 2004 games, and was overlooked. Also it now has the experience of prpearing and organising an olympic bid, which the majority of other african cities don't have.

I would have liked to see Kenya place an olympic bid (probably with Nairobi), but I think it's chances have been strongly undermined by the recent terror attacks in Kenya.

[thatsnotmypuppy]

I dont know about your predictions there, amorincognito... there are a lot of other countries in Africa aprt from SA, and with their WC2010 bid getting a lot of praise, Libya may prove a drak horse in the African Olympics stakes.  The country has a modern transport network, good medical infrastructure, and the cash to build the venues needed...  Not any time soon, but with the thawing relations, and the fact that in some circles they are regarded as SA's biggest threat for the 2010 WC.. who knows?

Morocco also could host, Tunisia, Egypt (maybe Alexandria?), Nigeria (they'll bid - but win??), and if you want a stable African nation, that is frankly too small, Botswana.

SA is most likely, but by no means the only country capable.

As for Sth America, if Rio fails and Europe wins in 2012, 2016 may be theirs for the taking... however with rumblings of a WG bid from Chile sooner rather than later (the snowboard and moguls events held there have been very successful), Rio may take the back seat to a Chilean WG...

[Rols O'Bertilsson]

Nairobi? Well, sentimentally, it would be a great choice _ Kenya, after all, is one of the most successful and groundbreaking African countries at the games. Having been there, though, it's a long, long way off. South Africa's by far the best equipped to host in the near term, and Cairo is probably the best mid-term prospect. I hope Nairobi could be up to it eventually, we'll just have to wait and see.

[Rols O'Bertilsson]

CBC shoulda done a bit more research then comparing World Cup and Olympic hostings then.
The World Cup has always been part of South Africa's stratregic plan in working upo to an Olympics:
1995 _ Rugby World Cup
2003 _ Cricket World Cup
2010 _ Football World Cup
2014 _ Commonwealth Games
2020 _ Olympic Games
I think it's pretty well thought-out and sensible. As I said, I reckon the CGs are the only fly in the ointment.