South Africa ‘Readying Bid’ For 2024 Olympic Games

South Africa is planning to launch a bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games according to Sam Ramsamy.

Ramsamy, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and vice-president of world swimming federation FINA, said that the country has the infrastructure and believes it is Africa’s time.

The IOC will meet next week in Monaco to discuss the much talked about Agenda 2020 proposals where recommendations about minimising the stress and cost of both bidding and hosting the Games will be looked at.

Ramsamy hopes the outcome of this will encourage more African countries to come forward and bid for the Games.

Speaking to AIPS Media, he said: “I think Africa is ready to host an Olympics. As South Africa, we are readying to bid for the 2024 Games and with the IOC putting up measures to make the bidding process simpler, then we and Africa in general have a very good chance of earning that opportunity.

“Capetown bid [for South Africa] in 2004 and failed but this is another opportunity to make it happen.

“I don’t think bidding for an Olympics should be hard. As long as a country can accommodate a competition, then the more strenuous requirements should be relaxed.”

Doha, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Istanbul and a city in the United States are the among the other cities lining up a bid.

South Africa has already proven it is worthy to host a major sporting tournament having successfully staged the 2010 World Cup.