South Africa has hosted rugby and football World Cups. Now it is pursuing a place on the Olympic hosting calendar.

The International Olympic Committee confirmed on 6 October that South Africa is among seven countries interested in staging the 2036 Summer Olympics, alongside India, Qatar, Germany, Hungary, South Korea and Türkiye. Other prospective hosts have until 31 October to declare their interest.

A successful South African campaign would bring the Olympics to Africa for the first time. Johannesburg could feature: The Guardian reports that a South African proposal could involve Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. This is not a confirmed venue plan.

Hosting ambitions will be assessed against requirements including funding and political and public support. IOC president Kirsty Coventry, herself a former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe, has emphasised that athletes’ experience must remain central to the selection process. 

South Africa’s previous major tournaments include the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup. An Olympics would add a different undertaking: bringing numerous sporting codes together within one Games programme.

The next two Summer Olympics already have homes: Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032. The 2036 host remains undecided.

The Bottom Line

South Africa has a place in the hosting discussions. Bringing the Games here will depend on turning that ambition into a proposal that meets the IOC’s requirements.