Cabinet endorses ongoing talks with the IOC for SA to submit a bid for the 2036 or 2040 games

Cabinet has endorsed ongoing talks with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that could pave the way for South Africa to submit a bid for either the 2036 or the 2040 games.

The South African Sports’ Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has been in continuous dialogue with the IOC regarding the country's prospects.

Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry is the first woman and the first African to be elected as the president of the prestigious body earlier this year.

Cabinet said that it believes South Africa is ready to host the world’s biggest sporting event given its available infrastructure.

South Africa has already hosted a Rugby World Cup in 1995, a Cricket World Cup in 2003 and a FIFA World Cup in 2010.

The next cricket world cup in 2027 will again return to South Africa in conjunction with Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshaveni was speaking at a post-cabinet briefing yesterday. 

"The continuous dialogue with the IOC is a preliminary and exploratory engagement that is critical to advance South Africa's intention to bid for the hosting rights of the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2036 or 2040.