Johannesburg: South Africa's Olympic committee president ruled out a bid for the 2020 Summer Games yesterday after the government said it was not the right time.
Gideon Sam told The Associated Press that his committee would only bid if the government gave its backing, and that the project "was off the radar for now" after South Africa's cabinet said it preferred to focus on national priorities.
"Our position is very clear," Sam said. "We would bid only if the government gives the go-ahead."
Asked if he was ruling out a bid from a South African city for 2020, Sam replied, "Definitely."
Other possible contenders include Tokyo (Japan), Madrid (Spain), Turkey (Istanbul), Doha (Qatar) and Dubai (UAE). The host city will be selected by the IOC in 2013.
Earlier, South Africa's government said it was not the right time for the country — which successfully hosted Africa's first soccer World Cup last year — to bid for the Olympics.
"Cabinet considered the request by the South African Sports Federation for the country to bid for the hosting of the 2020 Olympic Games," the statement said.
"Cabinet has decided that it is better for the country to consolidate the gains of the 2010 Fifa World Cup for now and rather focus the country's attention to the delivery of basic services to all South Africans."
Sam said South Africa might reconsider a bid for another Olympics "some time in the future".
