South Africa still eyes 2020 bid

Cape Town: South Africa's Olympics committee boss said yesterday he hoped the government would change its mind and endorse a bid to bring the 2020 summer Olympics to the continent, but a 2024 bid was definite.

"From an Olympic movement side, we have to keep our fingers crossed until the date has gone by," Gideon Sam told AFP, referring to the September 1 deadline for bids to be lodged.

"I do support the cabinet decision in terms of how they feel at this point in time, but I still have to keep up the hope that on the last moment they may turn around and say go ahead."

In May, South Africa's cabinet ruled out a 2020 bid by Durban, but sports minister Fikile Mbalula has said he will keep lobbying the government.

The first African host of the football World Cup, South Africa will angle to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games and a 2024 Olympic bid will "definitely" be made, said Sam.

Ready

Olympics chief Jacques Rogge gave his stamp of approval to a potential bid by South Africa during the International Olympic Committee meeting earlier this month, saying: "The country is ready."

Rome, Madrid and Tokyo have so far announced their bids while Istanbul is also expected to do so.

The nod from Rogge had boosted the confidence of South Africa, which poured billions of rand into new stadiums and overhauling transport facilities for the 2010 World Cup, in hosting big sports spectacles, said Sam.