IOC Executive Board Member Predicts South Africa 2020 Bid

Sam Ramsamy, a member of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ruling Executive Board, has predicted that South Africa could still launch a bid for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics despite the Government claiming that it had shelved any such plans.

The Government originally announced in May that the focus was on devoting more resources to improving social welfare in the country, and this was the reason they had decided against a bid for the 2020 games.

However Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has since vowed to get a change of decision from the Cabinet and that there is growing optimism a bid will be put forward after all.

Ramsamy stated, “I will not be surprised if the Government is persuaded to go for a bid.” He went on to reference the upcoming IOC Session in Durban as a turning point, “with the world’s top sports administrators and corporate sponsors coming to the city, strategically we knew it would give IOC members a first-hand perspective of the kind of infrastructure and environment we have in South Africa to host major sports events,” said Ramsamy.

Ramsamy is optimistic that a successful Session, which is due to last until Saturday (July 9), will help persuade the Goverment change their mind about a South African bid, with Durban the favourite city to be put forward.