Sport

Durban picked for SA's Olympic bid: what happens next

Sascoc has named Durban as South Africa's preferred city to bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympics, ahead of Johannesburg and Cape Town. It is not a hosting decision yet. Here is the timeline and who else is bidding.

By Reported Team

Inside Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, with its arch over the pitch
Photo: South African Tourism, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Durban is South Africa's pick to bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which would be the first Olympics held in Africa. Sascoc (the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee) announced it on Thursday, 29 October 2026, at Olympic House in Melrose, Johannesburg, with Durban chosen ahead of Johannesburg and Cape Town (TimesLIVE, AP).

Does this mean Durban will host the Olympics?

No. It only means Durban is the city South Africa will put forward in its talks with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Sascoc acting president Lwandile Simelane said the announcement does not "confirm any formal status", adding that Durban is simply the city South Africa will engage with in the bid (TimesLIVE).

Simelane also said it would probably be a "multi city bid", with some events held in other South African cities (The Guardian).

Why was Durban chosen?

Sascoc said an independent evaluation panel chaired by Ruben Reddy met the three cities this month, received their presentations, visited possible venues and assessed them against IOC guidelines (TimesLIVE). Sascoc has not published the panel's scores.

The bid has formal cabinet support, working with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture under minister Gayton McKenzie, according to Sascoc CEO Nozipho Jafta (TimesLIVE).

What happens next?

WhenWhat happens
31 October 2026IOC stops accepting new interested parties for 2036 (TimesLIVE)
November 2026Sascoc presents to the IOC's Future Host Commission (Reuters via CNBC Africa)
March 2027IOC feasibility reviews conclude (Reuters via CNBC Africa)
2029IOC picks the host, with 2036 expected mid 2029 (The Guardian)

Jafta said talks with the city at a strategic level will only start if South Africa moves on to the IOC's targeted dialogue phase (TimesLIVE).

Who else wants to host?

India, Qatar, Germany, Hungary, Türkiye and South Korea are among the interested parties for 2036, while the UK and Egypt are among those interested in 2040 (TimesLIVE).

Hasn't Durban lost a big event before?

Yes. Durban won the right to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but the Commonwealth Games Federation took it away in 2017, citing a failure to meet key obligations (Reuters via CNBC Africa). TimesLIVE reported financial constraints, budget disagreements and missed deadlines as the reasons (TimesLIVE).

FAQ

Is Durban hosting the 2036 Olympics?

Not yet. Durban is only South Africa's preferred city for its bid. The IOC is expected to choose the 2036 host in mid 2029.

Why did Sascoc choose Durban over Johannesburg and Cape Town?

An independent panel chaired by Ruben Reddy assessed the three cities' presentations and venues against IOC guidelines. Sascoc has not published the scores.

Will other cities host events?

Possibly. Sascoc acting president Lwandile Simelane said it would probably be a multi city bid, with some events in other cities.

Sources