South Africa has announced its most ambitious sporting vision in decades: a formal bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in either 2036 or 2040.
If successful, it would make South Africa not only the first country on the continent to stage the Summer Olympics, but also a symbolic standard-bearer for Africa’s growing presence in the global sporting landscape. The government’s intent aligns neatly with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) own priorities under Olympic Agenda 2020 and The New Norm, which encourage sustainable, cost-efficient, multi-city Games. And geopolitically, the timing appears favourable. Yet behind the excitement lies a far more complicated question: can South Africa truly afford the Olympics?
A Bid Rooted in Opportunity and History
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed that Cabinet had approved the bid on 12 November 2025. The gesture carries strong political symbolism. South Africa has long positioned itself as Africa’s sporting gateway, having already hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup, 2003 Cricket World Cup, and the universally praised 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Olympic bid logically extends that legacy. Former IOC president Thomas Bach, during a 2024 visit, declared that the nation had the “stability, infrastructure, and vision to stage an Olympics.” Senegal’s hosting of the 2026 Youth Olympics further bolsters the continent’s storyline of readiness.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
Importantly, the bid is currently in the IOC’s continuous dialogue phase. This isn’t a competitive vote but an ongoing collaborative evaluation of whether potential hosts align their long-term development plans with the Games.
The Appeal and Limits of Cape Town
Although no host city has been officially named, Cape Town is widely expected to lead the bid. As one of the world’s most recognisable tourism destinations, the city offers strong optics and valuable pre-existing infrastructure. Think tanks like Cape Town 2040 have already examined feasibility scenarios.
Yet the government claim that South Africa requires “no significant new investment” is hard to reconcile with the IOC’s venue requirements. While the country’s 2010 World Cup stadiums are a major asset, the Olympics require far more than football venues. Aquatics centres, velodromes, multi-purpose arenas, and an Olympic Village represent massive cost items, even when temporary builds are prioritised.
A multi-city Games, splitting core events between Cape Town and Gauteng, may be the key to preventing “white elephant” facilities. The New Norm explicitly encourages such decentralised models. But that still demands careful planning, logistical integration, and serious capital expenditure.
The Financial Question: A Hard Reality Check
No matter how inspiring the bid sounds, the financial risk remains severe. Independent analyses citing data from the Oxford Olympics Study estimate that hosting the Games could cost between R218 billion and R526 billion, excluding secondary costs such as hotel upgrades or transport enhancements. The government’s assertion of minimal new investment appears optimistic at best. Historically, every Olympics has exceeded initial budgets. Montreal’s 1976 Games famously took 30 years to repay. More recently, Tokyo 2020 became one of the most expensive Games ever staged.
This raises a critical domestic question: should a country with pressing socioeconomic challenges allocate hundreds of billions to a mega-event?
South Africa’s 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement prioritises job creation, service delivery, and poverty alleviation. The Olympics, by contrast, would introduce significant opportunity costs. Any major infrastructure stimulus could also clash with the nation’s renewed commitment to price stability and a 3% inflation target.
Learning From Durban’s Painful Lesson
South Africa’s failed hosting of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban remains the single largest red flag in the bid’s credibility. The withdrawal, officially due to financial constraints, damaged international confidence and eroded public trust. For the Olympic bid to avoid the same fate, the government must provide exceptional financial transparency. Analysts recommend establishing an independent, public-facing oversight committee early in the process, ensuring the bid is grounded in realistic budgeting rather than political optimism.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
For any Olympic bid, public support can make or break the project. In South Africa, early reactions are mixed. Enthusiasm exists, especially around the “First African Host” narrative. But civil society, economists, and social justice groups warn that mega-events tend to benefit elites while draining public resources.
The economic legacy of the 2010 World Cup while positive at a macro level was distributed unevenly, boosting higher-income households more than low- or middle-income groups. The Olympic bid must therefore articulate a clearer, more equitable legacy plan. Without convincing evidence that the Games will improve everyday life for South Africans via transport, housing, or local employment public opposition could intensify.
A Competitive Field: Why 2040 May Be the Real Target
The race for 2036 is already fierce. India (Ahmedabad), Qatar (Doha), Turkey (Istanbul), and possibly Germany or the UK are all in varying stages of dialogue. Qatar’s financial might and India’s enormous market strength represent formidable challenges. This is why many analysts argue that South Africa’s true strategic window is 2040, a cycle expected to draw fewer bidders.
A Bold Vision But One Demanding Hard Choices
South Africa’s Olympic bid carries profound symbolic power. Becoming the first African host would redefine the continent’s relationship with global sporting institutions. But symbolism alone cannot secure the Games nor fund them. The bid will ultimately be judged on one question: Can South Africa deliver a modern, sustainable, fiscally responsible Olympic Games without sacrificing essential national priorities?
If the nation can answer “yes” with credible financial guarantees, transparent planning, and a realistic timeline, then 2040 may truly become Africa’s moment.
