Durban Olympic Bid - South African Candidate for 2020/24/28 [Archive]

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:08 PM

Now for some historical and background media reports going back a few years. I suspect the latter may be resurrected given today's SASOC's announcement

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Boost for Durban's Olympic ambitions

11 August 2008

Durban's bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics has been given a major boost, with the International Olympic Committee picking the city - ahead of Hong Kong - as the venue for the IOC General Assembly's congress in 2011.

The IOC made the announcement in Beijing ahead of the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games last week.

The 2011 congress - where the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics will be announced - will see thousands of influential personalities, accompanied by a major international media contingent, descending on Durban, giving the city and KwaZulu-Natal province exposure to more than one billion TV viewers.

It will also give those behind Durban's bid for the 2020 Olympics the ideal opportunity to canvass high-ranking IOC chiefs for the city to host the global spectacle.

Ethekwini municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe, speaking from Beijing, described the IOC's decision as "an incredible honour".

It will be the first time the IOC hosts such a prestigious meeting in Africa, and will enable South Africa to "pay tribute to the legacy of all great Olympic athletes from Africa, and assist us as we entrench the Olympic spirit among our people."

South African Tourism CEO Moeketsi Mosola said the announcement confirmed South Africa's international status "as a world-class tourism destination capable of hosting global events of the magnitude and stature of the IOC congress in 2011.

"It shows the kind of confidence that the IOC has in South Africa and Durban – following our country hosting major events like the 1995 and 2003 rugby and cricket world cups; the African Nations Cup in 1996; the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup last year; and the big 2010 Fifa World Cup."

Durban Tourism acting chief executive Perry Moodley said hosting the IOC congress was a strategic move in light of the city's ambition to host a Summer Olympics.

"Getting Olympic decision-makers from around the world in Durban is most important. We want them to see the infrastructure we have and are building. We believe the city has a strong chance of hosting an Olympic Games," he said.

The International Olympic Committee's 123rd General Assembly in 2011 will be hosted at Durban's award-winning International Convention Centre.

This article was first published in The Mercury. Republished here with kind permission.

Source: http://www.southafrica.info/news/con...es/ioc2011.htm

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Durban: Olympics or bust
Simon Osler
February 11 2007 at 04:23PM

EThekwini authorities have picked up the pace in their campaign for Olympic and Commonwealth Games attempt by embarking on a major new development at Durban's King's Park sports complex.

As court challenges hold up the start to the showpiece World Cup 2010 stadium across the road from the Sharks' Absa Stadium, tenders have been invited for a high-performance centre nearby - only South Africa's second - and an indoor sports complex to seat 10 000.

The preferred site for the new centre is the Newmarket Stables in Jaco Jackson Drive, adjacent to the existing cycling dome.

Tenders for the centre and indoor arena will close on Friday and interest was high, said a city spokesperson.

According to the tender documents, the old Newmarket Stables are the favoured site, but others under consideration include the Windsor Park golf mashie course and the SANDF's mustering grounds alongside Natal Command.

For many years local coaches and administrators within Olympic sporting disciplines like athletics and swimming have called for the city to look at creating a centre, and after consulting 42 sporting codes, the project may finally be ready to get off the ground.

The eThekwini Metro has used an events-driven strategy aimed at making the city the premier sporting destination in Africa. The centre is designed to take the city and province beyond the 2010 Soccer World Cup and bring leading exponents of a multitude of sporting disciplines to Durban.

The tender document goes on:

"This 'Beyond 2010 Strategy' is supported by favourable regional climatic conditions, geographical features as well as excellent infrastructure, most important of which are the existing, well located sporting facilities within the King's Parks Sports and Recreation Precinct. Currently eThekwini has the potential to host the 28 summer Olympic sporting codes within this Precinct, as well as the majority of the Olympic recognised sports - within easy access to the city centre, central beaches and accommodation.

"The A1 Grand Prix, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, African Rally, World Rally Championships, World Veterans Tennis, World Cycling, World Beach Soccer Series and FINA Swimming are some of the events recently secured.

"Looking beyond the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, the city and province seeks to position itself to host the Commonwealth and ultimately the Olympic Games."

At this stage the country's only high performance centre is based at the University of Pretoria. The creation of a new one in Durban would counter an athletic talent drain to Pretoria, and soothe disgruntled coaches who resent top KZN athletes being poached with promises of improved chances of making national teams.

In some cases, KZN coaches point out, the athletes' performances have deteriorated in their time away from home.

Some of the criticisms relate to big financial support from lottery funding, which aggrieved coaches in KZN feel should have been equitably split, with a share going to those who had sacrificed time and money to turn the youngsters into potential stars before they were lured to Pretoria.

The envisaged centre near Absa Stadium is designed to take raw talent and unlock star potential by developing all-round skills on and off the field.

Effectively those who enrol at a performance centre are "sports students" who are expected to study academic subjects in addition to improving their sporting prowess.

Such centres have become elements among the world's leading sports nations. In China, for instance, 20 such bases are now operating, involving 1 000 potential stars in each area. Their HPC explosion happened within weeks of the announcement that it was going to host the 2008 Olympics.

Durban's proposal has accommodation, an educational facility - usually linked with a local tertiary institution - a training and rehabilitation centre, which includes elements like a gymnasium and a swimming pool, and a medical centre which would have a full range of support, including physiologists, sports scientists, psychologists, physiotherapists, massage therapists and others in attendance.

To assist in the centre's financial sustainability, the tender documents say a sports goods retailer and several restaurants, along with a gymnasium and a hotel, would be invited to rent premises on the site.

The Durban centre is expected to have a strong focus on water-based sports, given the area's historical strengths. To be self-sustaining it will also need buy-in from the mainline sporting codes, the document states. It does not specify which these are.

The facility could also be used for training by local and international visiting sports teams, and to support international sports events like the 2010 World Cup.

Disabled sports would also be catered for in the project, and tender specifications include meeting the requirements of Disabled Sport South Africa and the QuadPara Association, "wherever possible".

This article was originally published on page 1 of Tribune on February 11, 2007

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=vn20070211080103210C996353&singlepage=1

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:11 PM

Another archived media report from 2009...

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South Africa May Bid For 2020 Games
Monday, July 27, 2009

A South African publication, citing Sport and Recreation Minister Makhenesi Stofile, reports South Africa may bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games after spending billions of rand building new sport stadiums for the 2010 soccer World Cup,

The South African Sport Confederation and the Olympic Committee are reportedly discussing a 2020 bid.

Stofile's spokeswoman Lerato Mogorosi said Durban may be the host city should South Africa bid. Mogorosi said the issue has not yet been put before the cabinet.

Meanwhile Durban has been positioning itself for a 2020 Olympic bid. Last year The Times reported the city was busy with a series of strategic moves destined to make the best use of its sporting resources.

Mike Sutcliffe, Durban's city manager, said at the time, ""we have a ‘2020 and beyond' strategy that involves looking at potential events, whether they be Commonwealth Games or Olympics, coming to what we believe is a world-class African city".

http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/olympic...216134542.html

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:36 PM

Then the international media started taking notice...

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Monday, 28 December 2009

England's unsung heroes... and why Durban should host a future Olympics

TODAY was the day for England's unsung heroes. The men who quietly serve while Kevin Pietersen. our only truly world-class batsman, preens.Take a bow Alastair Cook, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell. Thanks to you England are 386-5, 43 ahead with half their wickets in hand going into day four of the Second Test in a balmy, Barmy Army-dominated Kingsmead.

Cook (118) and Bell (55 not out) needed the runs. Collingwood (91) just keeps coming up with the goods.

While an impressive-looking Pietersen came and went much too quickly on his old home ground, England's Three Musketeers dominated the third day in sunny Durban, leaving South Africa frustrated and flustered.

The world's best bowler, Dale Steyn, normally takes a wicket every six or seven overs. Not today. Not with Cook, Collingwood and Bell in this mood. He's bowled 26 sweaty overs without success. One for all and all for none might be dangerous Dale's creed.
After the initial departure of the world's most annoying batsman Jonathan Trott - no tears there as he scratches and delays at the crease - KP was out to the very ordinary spinner Paul Harris trying to sweep a straight one on 31. So straight, England didn't even bother to ask for a review. Like Trott and Bell in the drawn first Test in Centurion, perhaps he was expecting Harris to turn one. He rarely does.

The Cook recipe never includes such extravagances as sweeps and paddles. His ingredients amount to the basics. Grit, resolve, determination, with just the odd boundary thrown in.

It wasn't pretty to watch but after 218 balls, the roar finally went up. With an equally gritty Collingwood at the other end, these two pushed England gradually - too gradually for some - from 155 to 297 for the fourth wicket with a review or two their only threat.
And if South Africa's last pair, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini, hadn't added 58 runs to push their total on to 343, England would been just about past them at tea with seven wickets to spare and a result on the cards.

As it is, knowing the light and tropical storms around these parts, this one's headed for a draw unless the pitch turns suddenly demonic.

There were fallow periods. At the end of day two, Cook had scored 8 out of 58 when captain Andrew Strauss raced past 50 and fell to the excellent Morne Morkel.

This morning, he scored just one run off his first 37 balls. But this is Test cricket. And England are starting to look the better side at the longest form of the game, having already won the One-Day series here. Not bad on foreign soil, in vastly changeable conditions.

And what of Collingwood, who, like Cook, averages around 43 in Test cricket? After his two superb knocks in Centurion, he was eventually out for 91 off 215 balls. The man is a mountain, impossible to shift, averaging over 80 in the series so far.

And then there's Bell. So nervous at Centurion, but looking great today, justifying the selectors' decision not to drop him for Ryan Sidebottom or Luke Wright. He got on with it, tearing into the weary South Africans after Cook went and crashing Harris for a masterful six. Neat and stylish, he ended the day on 55 not out off a more brisk 84 balls with Matt Prior, who could also do with some runs, on 11 not out at the other end. Great stuff.

But Cook will be the story in the morning papers. He was 25 on Christmas Day and became the youngest ever England player to pass 50 caps this week. Ten tons in 50 outings ain't bad. Once more, he looks the man born to captain, the lead when the going gets tough.

Truth is, I missed most of Cook's determined innings, went off to see the new Moses Madhiba World Cup stadium (above) about a mile away from Kingsmead, next to the impressive old King's Park rugby stadium.

There were long queues for the cable car which sails over the arch - why didn't Wembley think of that? - and plenty of people taking the stadium tour. Pity England aren't playing here... though they could face a World Cup quarter-final in Durban if they don't win Group C.

Durban would make a perfect Olympic Venue. Kingsmead (25,000), King's Park (55,000) and the Moses Madhiba (60,000) are all within a mile of eachother, centred around the fairly new railway station. There is also a small athletics stadium, a old velodrome and indoor and outdoor swimming stadiums, plus two fabulous golf courses, one inside the magnificent Greyville racecourse. All within spitting distance of eachother.

The regatta could take place just over the road, with the beach volleyball on North Beach, where they are building a walkway to the football stadium 400m away.
Incredible. And in winter - June/July - the climate here is perfect. Warm enough to swim in the sea but not so hot you need sunscreen.

Worth considering, especially with the new Airport at La Mercy opening early in March. Then they'll have two international airports, one each end of this tropical city, where monkeys still leap from the roadside trees.

Miles of beaches and huge hotels, game parks and waterfalls all around. The local Zulus always have a smile and provide superb service, the huge local Asian population help make the commerce zing. The new Ushaka development has transformed the rough end of Durban around the docks at Point Road. I could go on...

Olympic paradise. Trust me.

At that juncture of the east and south stands at Kingsmead, the Barmy Army are dominating the sparse South African platoons... Jimmy Saville - real name Vic Flower - apparently fully recovered from the Boxing Day assault mentioned here yesterday. The Natal Mercury, the local morning paper I worked for from 1980 to 1983 - were on the phone three times yesterday about the story and ran it on their front page today.
Who needs newspapers when you've got my blog! That said, I'm off to the pool. It's hot!

http://www.nealcollins.co.uk/blog/labels/jonathan%20trott.%20kevin%20pietersen.html

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:39 PM

In Just 24 Hours, Durban Demolishes the World Cup Doom-Mongers
by Neal Collins Written on May 09, 2010

There are days when this job is all worthwhile.

The last 24 hours are highlighted by my picture today and in my latest video, posted from the 18th floor of the Elangeni Hotel overlooking the crashing Indian Ocean in tropical Durban.

Here, you sweat in winter.

And in 24 hours, this seaside city has proved itself ready for the World Cup—and an Olympics at some stage in the future.

Don't stop reading, it's a real option.

Last night, I went with former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad to watch Super 14 rugby. (We met on Twitter. I do radio stuff with him, and hopefully, Supersport football during the World Cup.)

There were 35,000 fans there to see the big grudge match between Durban's Sharks against Cape Town's title-chasing Stormers. And the Sharks, to roars which echoed across the golden beaches, won it 20-14.

The Stormers should still be able to reach the semifinals, but they'll need to beat the table-topping Pretoria Bulls first. If they don't, there's a chance they could play each other in an all-South African semi—and that will have to be played in Soweto!

It's true.

With Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld now deemed a World Cup stadium, the traditionally conservative Bulls fans live in the heartland of post-apartheid Afrikanerdom. Now they have to go to the Super Stadium in Orlando.

Traditionally a soccer stadium, it's a real sign of change in South Africa.
Football has always been the No. 1 game here. Now they know it!

There's a famous old Boer song "We are marching to Pretoria," which will have to be changed to "We are marching to Soweto"... but Durban know they'll always have an option.

In essence, last night with the rugby journalists was about assessing the mood of the non-footballing media before the World Cup. And to my surprise, it's extremely positive.

This was also about tasting Durban's sporting facilities. As my video shows, the 55,000-capacity rugby stadium—once called Kings Park, now the sponsored Absa Stadium—is just across the road from the magnificent new 65,000-capacity Moses Mabhida Stadium, built for the World Cup.

Quite apart from the fact that the huge domed football stadium has been built with little fuss (and a Wembley-esque arch where people can ride a cable car and bungee jump—see the video), what strikes me is what a great Olympic venue Durban will make.
Here, next to the Indian Ocean, it's never truly winter. And with Kings Park used for football and the Moses Mabhida as the main stadium, they've got a massive swimming pool complex just down the road, not to mention an athletics track and velodrome for cyclists.

About a mile away stands the Kingsmead Test cricket stadium for events like the Pentathlon, archery, softball, and the like. And of course, in the harbour, there's room for the yachting events.

It's a natural selection. The Olympic bid must come.

The real reason I'm here in Durban a month before the World Cup is Indaba 2010. South African tourism have flown me out for this vast tourism conference at the impressive Durban ICC, which could also house Olympic events.

Today, we decamped to the Moses Mabhida Stadium for a "Global Media Face-off." That was an eye-opener. We had the ministers for tourism and airports—two very impressive women—plus Danny Jordaan, the local World Cup chief, and Jerome Valcke, the FIFA man on the spot.

Valcke, revealing impressive ticket sales, appears to be relishing what was initially a tough role before Africa's first World Cup.

He smoothly talked his way out of any difficult questions—including why FIFA will charge local vendors R25,000 to sell their cheap wares near the stadia—and a general air of optimism pervades an event which once looked improbable.

With Europe worried by the collapse of the Greek economy, South Africa appear ready to take the role of sports supernation. And Valcke confirmed: "We never considered taking the World Cup away from South Africa. There was no Plan B. On the heads of my children I promise you this."

And standing just down from him was another impressive bloke, General Bheki Cele, head of police and the man assigned to keep England fans on their best behaviour.

I got to speak to him—I hate to name drop but he joined my conversation with local footballing god Lucas Radebe, formerly of Leeds. (He's the guy they named the Kaiser Chiefs pop group after.)

I wouldn't mess with Cele. He's been all over the world from India to England, Germany to Holland, talking to "football police."

Amid all this talk about South African crime rates, he seems unfazed by the reputation of English football fans, warning: "We have powers. Depending on the crime we will issue a life sentence or send them home if they step out of line. We are ready."

And indeed they are. The Moses Mabhida Stadium, like Soccer City near Soweto, added to the new airport at King Shaka, cannot be ignored.

The only problem? South Africa's ailing football team.

When Radebe was playing in the 1990s, South Africa were African Nations Cup champions, and they qualified for two World Cups.

Now they are the lowest-ranked host nation in the history of the World Cup. If they'd been asked to qualify, they would have failed dismally.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Radebe said to me: "We have Steven Pienaar. He's just been voted Everton's player of the year. And even if Benni McCarthy isn't fully fit, he can get the goals.

"I'd play our veteran Siyabonga Nomvete straight down the middle with McCarthy lying off him. And at the back, Aaron Mokoena has got an FA Cup final coming up next week for Portsmouth. We might be okay. We may get out of the group."

With Mexico, Uruguay, and France also in Group A, that will be no mean feat. But Radebe, like all the locals, is getting behind Bafana Bafana.

And amid the plethora of negative publicity overseas, you can't help feeling this may just be a very special World Cup.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/3...p-doom-mongers

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:42 PM

I then posted this on May 21, 2010....

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Originally Posted by romanSA

Speaking about bidding for a major games, did anyone read yesterday's Sunday Tribune article? In short, it was an interview with Julie-May and a sports jounalist (Neil Collins, I think). Julie-May again iterated that Durban is thinking way beyond 2010, and planned on bidding for many more major events.

Neil Collins was then quoted as saying that in all his years as a sports journalist, he has never come across a more perfect Olympic city anywhere in the world than Durban. He has advised the city to make a formal bid for the 2020 Games. The article seemed to suggest that although the government is currently keeping mum on the issue (needs to successfully host the WC first), it may be planning on making this announcement during next year's IOC Congress in Durban.

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To which, the reporter, Neil Collins, replied on June 24, 2010....

I stand by those quotes, given to a Sunday Tribune journalist before the World Cup kicked off. Not seen the piece, be great if somebody could email it to neal@nealcollins.co.uk. They didn't call to talk about an Olympic bid. They wanted to know about the depression post World Cup. I was sitting in the German camp in Velmore, Erasmia, near Pretoria. Just finished video of their World Cup base. The obvious diversion was to suggest an Olympic bid. I mentioned it during the Indaba 2010 tourism conference the week before while in Durban. There is no finer, better prepared city. This week, everyone's done it. I claim to be South Africa's Olympic pioneer! But it doesn't take a genius. No finer nation to stage great sporting events. Believe me. I've been to plenty. I know it will cost money South Africa can ill-afford. But it would bring in more than it costs. And those ridiculous stadiums at Nelspruit, Polokwane etc would be used for satellite events like soccer and hockey. Durban with its vast north and south coast resorts would be perfect for the central venue for reasons already explained (two vast stadia, velodrome, swimming, athletics warm-up track, Kingsmead Test cricket ground for beach volleyball, harbour for yachting etc, Midmar dam for rowing, outdoor swimming). Please, somebody out there, let me consult!

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:46 PM

Then other international sports commentators started to take notice of Durban's Olympic potential....

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GREAT article, hot off the press....

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DAVID OWEN: Mega events
Published: 2010/06/25 08:44:56 AM

‘What I didn’t know was whether Durban’s movers and shakers were aware of the city’s potential Olympic destiny’

GOOD news: I think I have seen Africa’s first Olympic city. Bad news (for Gauteng): it is not Johannesburg. Now that SA has hosted the “Big Three” team-sport World Cups of rugby, cricket and football, there remains only one more milestone when it comes to putting on major sports events: the Olympic Games.

It is a daunting proposition. Unlike World Cups, responsibility falls squarely on a single city. And, whereas the Fifa World Cup schedules at most four matches in a single day, the Olympic Games can have a dozen, maybe 15 sports taking place simultaneously. The Games, moreover, are literally global, including competitors from more than 200 countries, as opposed to the 32 that have been vying for the 2010 World Cup.

Staging a successful Olympics requires great discipline, top-notch organisational skills and the best technology. Aspirant hosts also need to acquaint themselves with a litany of quirkier, more Olympic-specific preferences and values. These tend to shift with the times. At the moment, they include strong “green” credentials, first-rate amenities for the disabled, an aversion to “white elephants” (venues with no hope of ever paying for themselves) and compactness — the location of as many venues as possible in as small an area as possible. Oh, and it must also look good on television.

There is one South African city I have visited in the past three thrilling weeks that has the potential to deliver this demanding Olympic shopping list almost to the letter.

As I have said, it is not Johannesburg, which besides overcoming the daunting logistical challenges we all know about, would have to persuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that its relatively high altitude would not unacceptably inconvenience the athletes. Nor is it picturesque Cape Town, which mounted an unsuccessful challenge for the 2004 Games . It is Durban.

Strolling to Moses Mabhida Stadium for the first time from my beachfront hotel to watch Switzerland upset Spain, I was struck by how the environs might have been created by Olympic Central Casting in Lausanne.

First, there was the glorious, largely pedestrianised beachfront itself, consisting of a range of hotels and a vibrant restaurant and casino complex. Then there were the other sporting amenities close to hand: an Olympic- sized swimming pool, a top-notch rugby stadium, a cycling track, world-class golf courses…. Finally, of course, there was the new stadium, with its signature arch, its designed capability of being expanded to the required Olympic capacity (about 80000) and, crucially, enough space in the arena for an Olympic athletics track. I should also mention the brand new airport that should prove a big factor in putting this city of 3,5-million ever more firmly on the international map.

What I didn’t know was whether Durban’s movers and shakers were aware of the city’s potential Olympic destiny.

Boy, are they aware of it.

“It will be the tightest Olympics ever.” In his architecture firm’s offices on the 18th floor of a Durban tower block, Ruben Reddy has sketched out for me a neat oblong. At one end is the city centre, at the other the Umgeni river. His point is that just about everything you would need to lay on for an Olympics, including water and equestrian events that are often a long way from the host city, can be accommodated within the oblong. As a senior adviser to Cape Town’s bid, this is a subject on which Reddy speaks with authority.

Barely a block away in his office in Durban’s City Hall, Michael Sutcliffe, city manager, fills in the detail. He even marks on my map where Durban’s Olympic Village might be situated, on the site of a former drive-in cinema. “We believe Durban is best placed as the African city for the Summer Olympics,” he tells me.

Like the gestation cycle of elephants, winning an Olympic Games is a long-drawn- out process. The 2016 Games have already been awarded to Rio de Janeiro — just two years after Brazil hosts the next Fifa World Cup. So the first Summer Olympics on offer is 2020 — a whole decade away. Knowing something about the way this process works, moreover, I would not expect Durban’s best chance to come until 2024.

But to strengthen the prospects of an African Olympics in 14 years’ time, a 2020 bid needs to be mounted. And with selection of Olympic host cities taking place seven years before the event, preparations must start almost the minute the World Cup trophy is lifted in the Calabash on July 11.

When I reached Gideon Sam, president of SA’s Olympic governing body, Sascoc, this week, he confirmed that the clock on a possible South African bid is about to start ticking. As early as August or September, he told me, consultations are to start with a “very broad spectrum” of interest groups, including government and business, as well as the IOC itself, to gauge whether there is an appetite for a South African bid.

If that process turns up a positive result — and I would be amazed if it doesn’t, given that President Jacob Zuma already sounds keen — Sam confirms that an internal competition between South African cities would be staged. “In all probability it would be next year.”

With so many expensive new stadiums in the country — every one of which will be crying out for events once the cream of the world’s footballers have gone home — I would expect competition to be fierce, with Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town all likely to press their claims. And while I am in no position to judge how local politics might affect the outcome, if the contest is judged on pure sporting and infrastructural merit, I would expect Durban to win.

SA has two further important assets when it comes to making a convincing pitch to Olympic power brokers. One is a simple fact: the Olympic Games — like the Fifa World Cup until this year — has never been staged in Africa. The same argument applied to South America was successfully deployed by Rio in beating off the likes of Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago, Obama factor and all, to win the 2016 Games.

Utili sed in the right way, this would be a powerful argument in the armoury of any South African bidder. Util ised the wrong way — that is, presuming that this argument alone will win the day for Africa — would be disastrous and could set the continent’s Olympic cause back a long way.

The reason I am confident that a South African candidate city would not make this mistake, lies in the other key asset SA can draw on. This is Durban-born Sam Ramsamy, an IOC member since 1995, and a man who knows the Olympic Movement like few others on the planet. Ramsamy, 72, is an unassuming man. Yet I would think he must have been the prime mover behind another initiative by Durban that I would characterise as a potential masterstroke.

A year from now, the IOC’s 123rd Session, in effect its annual meeting, is to be held in Durban. This means that pretty much all 100- plus IOC members — the electorate for the purposes of choosing an Olympic host — will visit the city, most of them accompanied by their spouses.

With all manner of restrictions applied to member visits to candidate cities once their names are officially in the frame, this is an out-and-out coup. It is one of the reasons why I believe this once rather sleepy and neglected port city has established a commanding lead in SA’s coming Olympic race. As for Durban’s prospective rivals, it seems to me they are in grave peril of being left at the starting gate.
Owen is a former Sports Editor of the London Financial Times, spending two decades with the paper in the UK, US, Canada and France.

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=112933

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:47 PM

City leaders starting talking the talk...

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Durban could host the Olympics: Sutcliffe
25 June 2010 - 10:20
Author: Tamlyn Canham

City Manager Mike Sutcliffe says Durban would be the perfect host for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

He's been speaking to Newswatch following growing speculation that South Africa could host the games following the success of the World Cup.

The International Olympic Committee has reportedly responded positively to the country's likely bid.

The ICC's President has already said he'd discuss the issue with President Jacob Zuma before the end of the World Cup.

The games have never been to Africa and momentum is gathering for us to have a turn.

While Cape Town lost its bid for the 2004 games, Sutcliffe says Durban's capable of hosting the event.

He says the city already has a "2010 and beyond" strategy aimed at reinforcing it as a top sporting and events capital.

"We already have a stadium that has been build to Olympic specifications so it would be quite easy to make sure that we can accommodate big events, whether it's a Commonwealth Games; whether it's the Olympics.

"They've now added rugby and golf to this Olympics that will be held in Rio. We have a precinct that in fact has everything there. It has water, it has athletics, it has tracks and things like equestrian [facilities]. Some of the things like swimming we'll have to obviously be looking at what we would do for those."

But Sutcliffe says Durban would still have to await a decision from National Government and SASCOC on whether South Africa would be bidding for an Olympics.

"EXCO and Council would then have to decide on whether or not Durban would put its hat in the ring to be selected as South Africa's preferred host city."

http://www.ecr.co.za/kagiso/content/...ail&pid=171901

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:49 PM

SA cities fight to host Olympic Games
Mandy Wiener June 25, 2010

As speculation rumbled on about whether South Africa would bid to host the Olympic Games in 2020, debate turned to which city would be best suited to hold the games.

The International Olympic Committee has backed the idea and its president Jacques Rogge was set to discuss this with President Jacob Zuma before the end of the FIFA World Cup.

Zuma said he believed the country does have the necessary facilities and was capable of hosting the summer Olympics.

The decision as to whether South Africa would bid for the Olympic Games would be made by government and sports body Sascoc, but the city of eThekwini, which includes Durban, was backing itself as the likely candidate.

City manager Michael Sutcliffe said the newly built Moses Mabhida Stadium was the only stadium in Africa which could host an event of that magnitude and they were looking long term.

“Obviously at some time in the future, Africa needs to get into Durban and certainly looking at it sustainably, we need to make sure to plan things well in advance,” he said.

Cape Town missed out on a bid for the 2004 games but could give it another shot.

The city’s Pieter Cronje said they would only consider the possibility following a full debrief at the end of the World Cup.

“What we need to do is carefully scope the technical requirements for an Olympic bid. What facilities do [we] need where, when and how? [We should think about] how it fits into our strategy, and then make the call,” Cronje added.

Johannesburg was also a potential host city.

(Edited by Deshnee Subramany)

http://ewn.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=42637

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:51 PM

June 28, 2010...

I also tried to post the Sunday Tribune's article yesterday but it's locked. In short, the *main* headline is dedicated to the city outlining its proposals for a 2020 Olympic bid. It seems to me the city has done a LOT of thinking on this. The main highlights include:

1. The city intends to build a new swimming arena complex, much larger than the current Kings Park pool. And it has the land for it too (not specified in the article but an obvious location would be right next to the current pool; there's tons of space).

2. The athlete's village will be located in the current drive-in site. The units would be sold as apartments thereafter.

3. The international media centre will be located in the centrum site.

It seems Durban officials have been doing a lot of forward-thinking on this issue. It owns the land needed for everything, and EVERYTHING is within walking distance of EVERYTHING else! Which other SA city (or any other potential bidding city) can claim the same? Quoted officials made it clear that the compactness of the proposal meant that there would be huge savings on transport infrastructure, which is traditionally the major cost factor in most other winning bids. No need to build new railway lines or stations all over the city (which is what a CT or JHB bid would necessitate since all the sports codes will be spread over the cities). Durban's already exists along the *entire* proposed precinct. It's the same for bus routes. In fact, there's already an existing railway line within virtual spitting distance of the new airport (about 1 km away, if I recall correctly), with a servitude already existing on the KSIA masterplan for a direct rail link with the city. CT claim can't claim that. It's rail link is almost 4.5 kms away from the airport and set to cost R2.5b, (and will undoubtedly rise with ongoing delays dogging the project). It's current high cost is already raising eyebrows with CT city official themselves raising objections to the proposal.

Importantly, Durban undoubtedly has the political will and stomach for a bid. Neither CT nor JHB can say they have the land (in convenient locations), nor seemingly the political will to say they are eager for a major games and up to the task, as demonstated by advanced plans on the issue.

I would be very interested in seeing cost estimates by experts (not unqualified posters like us) for all the 3 cities. I am fairly confident that Durban's would be the most economical. That's already the view of an undoubted expert on the issue, CT's Olympic past bid consultant (Ruben Reddy).

I think there's far too much hearsay from some posters here about what their city's apparent aspirations and proposals are. Fanboy fantasising is one thing. If cities are serious about bidding, let's see official statements and plans now. There's nothing premature about this given that the internal bid process may begin as early as August 2010, according to SA's Olympic officials. That's barely 6 weeks from now. I would think that serious cities would at least have preliminary proposals, as Durban has transparently shared with the world.

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:53 PM

Durban city mayor entered the fray on July 6, 2010....

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'World Cup proves Durban can host Olympics'
Jul 6, 2010 11:44 AM | By Sapa

The successful hosting of six World Cup games in Durban showed the city could deliver a world class Olympics if given the opportunity, says eThekwini municipality mayor Obed Mlaba.

“Having the wonderful games in Durban confirms that we are capable if you give us the Olympics we can handle them. We have always said 2010 and beyond for the city of Durban,” said Mlaba.

The last cup game in Durban would be played on Wednesday between Spain and Germany at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Mlaba said the city was capable of handling any world class event.

“Some were saying to me that this was the best World Cup they had ever attended,” said Mlaba.

Various activities were planned leading to Wednesday's game including a street carnival that would start from Curries Fountain stadium and end at the Fifa fan park on the beach front.

The parade would consist of different nations such as the Germans, Greeks, Spanish and Nigerians.

KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize was expected to attend the carnival.

Mlaba said he had received calls from tourists who had visited the townships and taken part in traditional ceremonies.

“The tourists thought it was amazing that you could go to a person's home and be served food and Zulu beer without an invitation,” said Mlaba.

“This has provided the most amazing marketing for our city showing the bubbly Zulu culture and the beautiful features of the province.”

Mlaba said there had been some minor problems but they had been swiftly attended to.

Police spokeswoman Brigadier Phindile Radebe said the police were more than ready for the semifinal.

“We have increased deployment in other areas because we are expecting very important guests for the semifinals. We are expecting more than the previous number of guests.”

She said everything was in place since the police had taken over the Moses Mabhida Stadium after security guards from Stallion Security downed tools over wage dispute.

The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal called upon soccer lovers in the province to come out in their numbers.

“As ANC in the province we are very proud of the magnificent attendance at Fifa World Cup matches held so far."

"The fan parks have been buzzing with soccer lovers throughout the province since the 11th of June,” said the ANC in a statement.

The party praised the police and security companies for their work in ensuring safety.

“We are confident that many overseas visitors will come back in numbers and visit various tourists' attractions of our province,” the statement read.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article535922.ece/World-Cup-proves-Durban-can-host-Olympics

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:55 PM

Then President Zuma started ramping up speculation...

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Hm. Now which SA city has made it PATENTLY clear it wants a chance to bid for the Olympics?

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The Lasting Benefits from the Beijing Olympics
Gaoyue Gao
7 July 2010

Johannesburg — The spotlight is still on South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, but President Jacob Zuma is already revealing his ambitions for more international sporting events to come to the country.

“We have got the facilities,” said Zuma last week when he announced his intentions to host the first Olympics on the African continent in 2020. ”Those who take decisions have seen how South Africa is. I’m sure we could do it.”

Zuma said he would support any South Africa city such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, or Durban that wants the Olympic Games on their doorstep.

When South Africa was chosen to host the 2010 World Cup, doubts arouse about the country’s ability to host a global event. Questions about transportation, security, economics, and the environmental impact of the sports extravaganza were raised.

Two years ago, Beijing was in a similar situation as South Africa when it hosted the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. But Chinese officials responded to the doubts with a seven-year preparation plan and around $50 billion in investment in areas such as infrastructure and the environment. Fortunately, the 2008 Olympics were a success.

But are Beijing residents still benefiting from this investment two years later?
And what can South Africa learn from China as the 2010 World Cup comes to an end and they begin their possible bid for the 2020 Olympic Games?

Job creation

The Olympic Games in China created millions of jobs but some people worried about a negative “Olympic Effect”, such as a boom of unemployment once the infrastructure projects were finished. Unfortunately, few statistics have been released to support these speculations, so it is not yet known what the actual effect of the Olympic were on employment.

However, according to the official website of the Beijing Olympics, the game cumulatively resulted in the creation of 1.8 million new jobs across all sectors of the economy in 2008.

Mayor building projects were reported to have resulted in the creation of an extra 430,000 jobs between 2004 and 2008, while the retail and wholesale industries gained 130,000 new jobs.

A senior official with the Beijing Olympic organizing committee said in 2007 “ The coming Olympics created 600,000 jobs every year since the preparations started in 2001.”

Transportation

To support the hundreds of thousands of visitors who came to Beijing for the Olympic Games in 2008, the government took many measures to relieve the transportation pressures on the city.

Beijing’s subways, for example, were doubled in capacity and overall size. The world’s largest airport terminal was added to the Beijing Capital International Airport.

The Beijing traffic authority arranged 34 special bus lines to the venues, with some offering 24-hour service. (Some of them were canceled or changed into sightseeing route after the Olympics.)

Beijing also set restrictions on cars during the Olympics to encourage people to use more public transport. The restrictions meant that vehicles were allowed on the roads on alternate days-according to even or odd car registration numbers.

On Sept. 28, 2008, Beijing announced a series of post-Olympics car restrictions, which was aimed at sustaining the hard-won smooth traffic and good air quality experience during the Games.

“The changes of transportation did bring us more convenience,” said Liu Yang, a university student in Beijing. “It used to take me 20 Yuan from school to my home while now it’s only 6 Yuan. With the added subway, I save time and trouble going around the city.”

Today, students can take a bus at the price of 2 Jiao while adults pay 4 Jiao, which is quite cheap in China. Indeed, buses are now the cheapest form of transportation in Beijing.

Although there have been great improvement, there is still some discontent.

“I know it’s all for environment and traffic good, but the restrictions on cars do bring my family lots of trouble,” said Yinhan Yu, a Beijing resident. ”Many people complain about it and consider buying a new car.”

Environment

Chinese authorities imposed strict measures on traffic as well as closing down many factories around Beijing in order to reduce air pollution before the Olympic Games.

According to a Gallup, two-thirds of Beijing respondents say the problem of air pollution has improved in recent years, up significantly from 53 percent in 2006.

Though the Olympic Games are over, the fight for a better environment in China has not ended.

Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Environment Protection Bureau, said that the government would continue to carry out the long term measures for environmental sustainability after the Olympics.

“You can see the change of the sky—it’s blue and clear now,” said college student Yang, who was content about the improvement of the air quality.

”Also, the frequency of the sand storms are going down.” added the Beijing residents Yu.

Public sports facility

The Chinese government provided the public with free sports facilities in parks, campuses, and communities in an effort to encourage the exercise habits of the general public.

Nowadays, visitors to Beijing will frequently see people doing exercises in these sports facilities.

In most cases, it is elderly people who show the most interest in these free public exercising spaces.

Huanying Shi, an 83 year old retired woman goes to these sports facilities with her husband nearly every day. “After supper, I’d like to go around and enjoy the fresh air while exercising,” she said. “I feel more comfortable and healthy by doing this.”

Lanzhi Li, at the age of 82, a grandmother of nine, does exercise in these free sports facilities once a week. ”Maybe it does little help to her health,” one of her granddaughters said. “But it’s a healthy way to spend her time.”

Every coin has two sides and “The Olympic Effect” is no different: China experienced both positive and negative effects once the games ended. But in China, there is an old saying: When you do anything, the people are the most important factor to consider. As South Africa’s considers whether or not to host the Olympic Games in 2020, the country should take this Chinese philosophy to heart. The Olympic Games are not just a show to be performed, but a process to make peoples’ lives better.

Wits Journalism

http://allafrica.com/stories/201007070058.html

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 06:57 PM

July 8, 2010...

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After last semi-final, South Africa looks beyond World Cup
By Joshua Howat Berger (AFP) – 10 hours ago

DURBAN, South Africa — Thousands of fans poured onto the Durban beachfront Wednesday to watch Spain beat Germany for a place in the World Cup final, as hosts South Africa contemplated a bid for the Olympics.

Fans for both sides filled the 70,000-seater Moses Mabhida Stadium, with its dramatic arch spanning the pitch, for a nail-biting match that saw euphoric Spain book its first-ever World Cup final.

Queen Sophia of Spain sat between South African President Jacob Zuma and FIFA boss Sepp Blatter to watch her country rise to a 1-0 win over Germany and a chance to challenge the Netherlands for the title on Sunday.

Spanish fans were overjoyed, dancing and waving flags in a sea of red and yellow.

"It's incredible," said Alcier San Martin from Pamplona, in a Spain jersey. "We've always hoped for this but never managed to get there ... It's amazing to have travelled from Spain to be here for this. It's very emotional."

Coastal Durban has hosted seven of the World Cup games and aggressively marketed itself as the tournament's warmest venue, enjoying balmy weather as the rest of the country shivered through winter.

Signals from the country's leaders suggest it could be part of a South African bid to host the Olympic Games.

Having won praise for staging a footballing party that dispelled pre-tournament worries about its high crime rate and lack of public transport, South Africa is already looking ahead.

Zuma hailed the social impact of the tournament, with black and white fans packing stadiums together, 16 years after the first all-race elections ended white-minority rule.

"The social benefits are priceless. We have seen remarkable unity, patriotism and solidarity being displayed by South Africans, which has never been witnessed before," Zuma said.

He has mooted a bid to host the Olympics and Durban quickly offered itself as a potential candidate.

"Having the wonderful games in Durban confirms that we are capable," said mayor Obed Mlaba. "If you give us the Olympics, we can handle them."

The fans gathered for Wednesday night's match certainly seemed to enjoy themselves.

"Durban is pretty cool -- beaches, surfing. It's winter and you can be dressed like this," said German university student Frederic Kasten, playing foot-volley in a swimsuit on the sand.

"We started yesterday with a casino. We got some money there. And then today surfing and beach and a semi-final. What a day."

For some, the enthusiasm for Durban's highest-profile match yet was tinged with sadness at seeing the city's World Cup party draw to an end.

"It's the first time in my life that I've seen a festival like this here," said Emmanuel Mkhize on the beachfront.

"I don't care how long it takes, I want to see another World Cup here," he said.

Attention is already shifting to the final at the calabash-shaped Soccer City stadium on Sunday in Johannesburg.

A dozen foreign leaders are expected at the game, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose nation will host the next World Cup in 2014.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is also expected along with the kings of Lesotho and Swaziland and leaders of Togo, Malawi, the Comoros and Mozambique, according to the foreign ministry.

The final will be preceded by a closing ceremony headlined by Shakira and South Africa's Grammy-winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

But all eyes will be searching for Nelson Mandela, the ageing Nobel laureate who helped bring the World Cup to South Africa.

He has yet to appear at the tournament after cancelling his attendance at the opener to mourn for his great-granddaughter, killed in a car accident the night before.

His foundation says South Africa's first black president, who turns 92 this month, will only decide on the day of the final if he will attend.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iLvWVo2MTU4jyGxT6k2dU49pENWg

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:00 PM

July 9, 2010

---------------

Good local report on SA cities and their views on hosting the Olympics...

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SA cities now focus on Olympics Games
EDWARD WEST
Published: 2010/07/09 06:33:38 AM

ETHEKWINI appears confident of its ability to host the Olympic Games in 2020, while Cape Town will assess its options later.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge will discuss the possibility of SA hosting the 2020 Olympics when he meets President Jacob Zuma for the Soccer World Cup final on Sunday .

“I don’t see why we can’t bid to host the Olympics,” Mr Zuma is reported to have said late last week. “People are already talking about a possibility of bidding for (other) major events and we are supporting this.”

Ethekwini city manager Michael Sutcliffe says what makes the city a prime candidate is that over the past five years, development has been organised around a “2010 and beyond” strategy , and the city’s track record so far has made it Africa’s sporting and events capital.

“Obviously it would be great to host an Olympics or Commonwealth Game or an athletics world championship, all of which Africa deserves to host.”

The city has received an “overwhelming response” so far from local people, tourists and the international media in the wake of the successful hosting of the Soccer World Cup. But there are some formidable hurdles still to jump.

The government has to make a formal decision on a bid, as does the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc). The city’s executive committee and council have to decide whether Durban will put its hat in the ring to be the preferred host city.

Cape Town will consider the matter more carefully and more “sequentially” when the Soccer World Cup is over, says council spokesman Pieter Cronje.

Cape Town failed in a bid for the 2004 Olympic Games.

The Cape Town municipality first intends to analyse the effect of the Soccer World Cup on the city, determine what service level priorities are required for its future development, do an analysis of what might be required to become an Olympic host city, and then find out whether there is enough funding support from the national government, Mr Cronje says.

London is investing about £10bn to host the Olympics, while SA has invested about R30bn in the Soccer World Cup. The projected price tag for the 2016 games in Rio is reported to be about R100bn.

“The Olympics is too big to be funded by a single local government,” says Mr Cronje. Cape Town will not rush into an emotional decision to host the event, he says.

The city has gained infrastructure worth R14bn from the World Cup, and the socioeconomic benefits of hosting an Olympics will need to be assessed before considering a bid.

The Beijing Olympics drew a cumulative TV viewership of 4,7- billion people over the 17 days of the event, according to market research firm Nielsen.

The figure for SA’s hosting of the Soccer World Cup is expected to be similar to or more than the 26-billion people who viewed the 2006 event in Germany.

Mr Cronje says although the Olympics is essentially a city event, a certain degree of decentralisation has been allowed for the London games and Cape Town will also assess what nearby towns can offer in terms of facilities. “Proximity will be key,” says Mr Cronje.

Mr Sutcliffe says the plans for the Moses Mabhida Stadium precinct have taken into account the requirements for all the major sporting codes.

The stadium can seat 85000 spectators for an event the size of the Olympics and has room for an athletics track.

Durban will host the 123rd International Olympics Committee session in July next year, which will be the first time it is being held in Africa. “This is another affirmation that Durban is being recognised worldwide as a suitable venue to host major events,” Mr Sutcliffe says.

The World Cup cost Durban R7bn-R8bn, with central government grants providing most of the funding.

The city will need to build a new swimming pool, an indoor arena complex and an Olympic village for about 20000 athletes if it wins the rights to host the games in 2020 or 2024.

weste@bdfm.co.za

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=114247

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:01 PM

The came the big endorsement on July 9, 2010.....

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Whoa! Stop the press: Blatter has made a significant endorsement...

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Blatter behind 2020 bid
Jul 8, 2010
By SALLY EVANS

South Africa has received Fifa president Sepp Blatter's vote of confidence in its bid to host the 2020 Olympics.

Blatter told media at a briefing in Sandton yesterday: "I think the International Olympic Committee president made a good move after he witnessed the success of the World Cup in South Africa in the first week. It is also time that Africa, specifically South Africa, organises the Olympic games. It is very positive. If a country is able to organise Fifa's World Cup, it can also organise the Olympic summer games."

Blatter said that next year's IOC session, which will be hosted in Durban, was "the first step towards the opening of South Africa, in this case, to the Olympic movement. I will fully support Durban to host the Olympic games in 2020".

Local Organising Committee chairman Irvin Khoza said hosting the World Cup was a "moment of glory" for South Africa.

"South Africa has got the capability to host events of this magnitude. The impact on the people in this country has been great and so has the confidence it has generated. The world knows we can do these things, and that is very important," Khoza said.

However, both Blatter and Khoza were hesitant to stamp their final seal of approval with two World Cup matches still left to be played.

"Sepp indicated he is reserving his judgment because there are still two games to go. I want to be very careful in passing judgment, but we are very satisfied," Khoza said.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article540882.ece/Blatter-behind-2020-bid

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:03 PM

July 12, 2010....

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^^

AND, another report from arguably the most influential newspaper in the world - The Wall Street Journal - which boasts more subscribers than any global newspaper and is regarded as authoritative internationally...

South Africa Has Big Goals After Cup Success

By ROBB M. STEWART And MATTHEW FUTTERMAN

JOHANNESBURG—South Africa defended itself against criticism about violent crime, disruptive labor strikes and lackluster organization ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Now the country is winning widespread praise after a successful tournament, boosting its ambitions to host other major sporting events.

"It's not the safest country and this was our problem," said Franz Beckenbauer, a member of FIFA's executive committee who was one of the people who acknowledged the challenges South Africa was facing in hosting the World Cup, which ended Sunday with Spain's 1-0 defeat of the Netherlands. "But this organizing committee, with help from FIFA, has done a very good job," said Mr. Beckenbauer, who won Cups as both a player and coach.

Absent from international competitions for most of its apartheid era due to sanctions, South Africa is just beginning to build a track record of staging sporting events. Part of that entails showing off infrastructure, winning over visitors and reversing what many describe as an image problem.

"The general view is that South Africa has done an excellent job in staging the World Cup. There have been far fewer, if any, issues than were expected," said Michael Payne, former chief marketing officer of the International Olympic Committee. "The fact that they have proved they can do this will be a very good calling card to go after other events."

Indeed, South Africa has been so encouraged by the response to the World Cup here that officials have set their sights on hosting the summer Olympics in 2020, possibly in the city of Durban. On Saturday, President Jacob Zuma met Jacques Rogge, who heads the International Olympic Committee.

"This has proved to the world that we are capable of hosting any international event. We have the resources and infrastructure," Mr. Zuma said.

South Africa may have been the first World Cup host to be knocked out after the first round, but that doesn't appear to have diminished interest in the event. Stadium attendance passed the three million mark with two games to be played, only the third time the World Cup has topped that figure, according to FIFA, the global soccer federation. (South Africa still lags behind U.S. in 1994 and Germany in 2006 for average attendance).

To be sure, the World Cup hasn't swept South Africa's problems away. The country is burdened with a bulging underclass—unemployment hovers at 25%—and violent crime remains a threat. Meanwhile, labor unrest poses a constant threat to event planners. The country endured a transportation strike just before the World Cup and South Africa's leading electricity supplier narrowly averted a work stoppage during the tournament.

And there have been a few significant organizational glitches for fans. A lack of public transportation caused massive traffic jams. On Wednesday, congestion at Durban's new airport caused hundreds of people, including a handful of FIFA executives, to miss Spain's semifinal 1-0 defeat of Germany. Stadium security workers also went on strike at four stadiums, prompting South Africa's police to assume security duties.

Still, South Africa is winning important converts. It previously staged successful rugby and cricket championships, and stepped in to host last year's popular Indian Premier League cricket tournament, after it was moved amid tensions during Indian elections. FIFA President Sepp Blatter said last week that if it can host a World Cup it can certainly organize the summer Olympics.

"Africa can be proud to have organized this World Cup. South Africa can be even prouder," Mr. Blatter said during a briefing in Johannesburg Thursday.

As the first World Cup to be hosted by an African country, this has very much been the continent's tournament. Many Africans have expressed hope that the continent as a whole will benefit from the mainly positive coverage of sport's most-watched spectacle. After 2016, Africa will be the only continent not to have hosted an Olympic Games.

"This has given a major lift to African football, not just because South Africa hosted but because Ghana did so well," said Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe, president of the Ghana supporters club and a consultant for the Ghana Football Association. Ghana was the only African team to reach the final group of eight.

Meanwhile, World Cup sponsors have used their presence in South Africa to target consumers from Cape Town to Cairo.

For Visa, which is also a top level Olympic sponsor, the move was part of efforts to open new markets in the developing world and in countries where the Olympic sports are far less popular than soccer such as in Africa, the Middle East and South America.
In anticipation of the World Cup, Visa was able to get its cards accepted with 14,000 merchants and in 200 malls across South Africa. Visa signed an eight-year, $180 million deal to become FIFA's exclusive world-wide banking partner in 2007.

"In an emerging market, you're trying to build an acceptance type of infrastructure and an event like this helps accelerate that," said Antonio Lucio, Visa's chief marketing officer. "If the Olympics or the World Cup come to Africa, we'll be there."

For some major brands, there is an expectation by customers they will sponsor the world's biggest sporting event and the business payoff is expected later. "The World Cup will come and go. The real test will be what happens after," said Don Thompson, president of McDonald's Corp., which has more than 130 restaurants in South Africa.

For many who associate Africa with war, poverty and AIDS, South Africa's World Cup has shown another side to the continent. The country boasts a transparent democracy, a rich class of consumers and a nationwide network of roads.

Now South African officials want to parlay that success into an Olympics bid, in part to find a use for the many stadiums that were built to host the World Cup.

In Durban, the new stadium has room for a track around the soccer field. It also has an iconic arch built above the top that can be scaled and is also accessible by cable car. The stadium's southern end is open and has a large empty platform that could serve as a stage for an Olympic torch.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704799604575356921189309144.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:04 PM

July 12, 2010

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Doesn't get bigger than this. The New York Times, the most famous and influential newspaper on earth, has singled out Durban for the 2020 Olympics...

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In Host's Success, Change Triumphs
By ROB HUGHES
Published: July 11, 2010

Every day and every night during the Cup, the South African Broadcasting Corporation has called on its people to “feel it, it is here.”

On Monday morning, it won’t be.

But let’s be clear. The success in staging a 32-nation tournament involving 64 games in 10 new or renovated stadiums will be paid for by South Africans. FIFA, the global stakeholder for soccer, will get to take the $3.2 billion it made on this Cup to its banks in Zurich before it takes its ball to Brazil for the next tournament, in 2014.

Regardless of what FIFA claims to have done for Africa, soccer’s governing body keeps the television and sponsorship income, while the host pays the bills for an event that puts it on stage for a month.

No one can put a price on the remarkable coming together of people here, both black and white, to sustain the tournament. The triumph reaches down to the volunteers who freely gave their time to be involved in a once-in-a-lifetime happening. Their can-do spirit helped them overcome obstacles that the leaders never get to see. It would never have worked without them.

FIFA’s president, Sepp Blatter, promised Africa its World Cup, and he delivered. He has toured the land with the South African president, Jacob Zuma, promising to fix the ills of a continent through the power of sport.

Their double act has been like the Three Tenors, without the harmony.

Blatter called his mission “football for hope.” Zuma urged world business leaders to see what South Africa was capable of doing and “bring billions of dollars to these shores for investment.” One Cup, two missions, on behalf of 48 million South Africans and, according to the slogans, the whole continent of Africa.

We cannot, alas, ask Nelson Mandela how this event measures up to what he had in mind 15 years ago. It was after the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and during the 1996 African Nations Cup soccer event, that Mandela said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”

I heard it here in Soweto. More important, Blatter and his then boss, João Havelange, heard it. The rhythms then came through drums and singing, but definitely not vuvuzelas.

That rhetoric of Mandela, now almost 92 and in frail health, was taken up by a younger African National Congress activist, Danny Jordaan.

As chief executive for this World Cup, Jordaan is concluding two decades of striving to make Mandela’s vision a reality. On the eve of the final on Sunday, Jordaan said: “It has not just been about people coming here to discover South Africa — it was South Africans discovering themselves. And we needed this World Cup to do that.”

“We bid for the 2004 Olympics, and we lost,” he added. “We bid for the 2006 World Cup, and we lost. Now we have staged the most important of them all, and we have succeeded. My work is finished.”

Mandela’s legacy may not be finished yet. Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, is here, and Rogge cannot fail to hear the call of Africa, of Durban in particular, to bring the Summer Games to the continent.

As Mandela also said, “Ke Nako” — it is time.

The actual soccer early on was a struggle, as teams played cautiously and South Africa’s team, Bafana Bafana, became the first host ever to be eliminated in the opening round. Players blamed the ball, the conditions and tiredness for their mediocrity.

France, Italy and England left without leaving a trace that they are, or were, great soccer nations. Argentina flattered to deceive. Brazil fell trying to be more pragmatic than its traditional beauty foretells. But we had Spain and the Netherlands as deserving finalists, each adapting to the surroundings.

There was also, significantly, a new Germany. Its ethnic diversity, drawn from the sons of immigrants from Africa, Asia, elsewhere in Europe and South America, was itself a revelation.

There have been many revelations this past month. On Saturday, walking south of a suburb 25 kilometers, or about 15 miles, from central Johannesburg, I stopped to watch kids playing barefoot on rough ground beside tin-roof shacks. It was not a township; it didn’t possess the water and electric lighting of Alexandra and Soweto.

The ball came my way, and I made a hash of returning it. I blamed the Jabulani ball! The kids laughed, and challenged the stranger to try again.

We played a little, laughed a lot, and an older couple invited me to their home.

My cellphone rang as we walked toward the shack, with its Bafana Bafana poster on the wall. “Don’t answer it,” I was advised. “You’ll draw attention to yourself.”

They suggested a drink. Where? In the shebeen, a shed like the rest. Nobody let me pay; in fact, I saw nobody pay. Midmorning, I suggested, was a bit early for beer. Laughter again. Food poisoning concerns crossed my mind, but how do you refuse hospitality? I drank from the bottle, a bottle with no brand name.

This was natural friendliness, and curiosity. When I made my excuses that it was time to go, the couple walked me back to the road. How far you come, man? I said it was about five miles.

Hey, said the guy who had told me to put the phone out of sight, you need a taxi. He whipped a cellphone out of his pocket. We looked at each other, and parted with more laughter.

I never did find a taxi. But walking along the road, passing fine houses with high fortress walls, electrified fencing, menacing dogs and “Armed Response” notices, I felt like the shacks were the happier, freer places.

One World Cup cannot fix the gap between rich and poor, nor the suspicions built up through apartheid rule before Mandela’s release. Speaking right after his release from prison in 1990, Mandela filled the same Soccer City Stadium where world leaders and celebrities would converge to be seen Sunday.

The South Africans now have to get back to normal living. Their friendship, enthusiasm, and efficiency is its own legacy.

Did crime just take a monthlong vacation? Or was reporting of it just less prevalent? And will the country be better off, worse off or just the same after the circus moves out? Only South Africans will know the answer.

“This successful World Cup is a statement to ourselves that we have the capacity to change,” Zuma’s predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, said last week. “We have shown that the perception that Africans are less human than other races is quite wrong.”

The country, in collaboration with sport, has shown for a month that past prejudices are surmountable. To imagine that a month of soccer has changed anything for life is another matter.

We felt it — it was here. But it moves on now to Brazil, 2014.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/12/sports/soccer/12iht-wcsoccer.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:05 PM

July 12, 2010

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Now UK media is covering Blatter's endorsement of Durban for a 2020 bid...

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Aidan Radnedge - 11th July, 2010
World Cup 2010: The winner is... Africa

Swathes of orange and red, fighter jets, fake elephants and contentious pressure on Nelson Mandela to attend brought Africa’s first World Cup to a climax.

Heads of state, celebrities and organisers hailed the 2010 tournament a triumph – and not just for Spain and winning captain Iker Casillas as he lifted the trophy.

A worldwide TV audience estimated at 700million tuned in to see whether the Netherlands or Spain would get their hands on the World Cup for the very first time.

Yet even as the historic tournament drew to a close in Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium, concerns were being raised about the thousands of jobs that would go along with the fans.

There were also claims yesterday that Fifa tried to muscle Mr Mandela into attending last night’s closing ceremony and final.

The frail South African ex-president, 92 at the weekend, missed the opening-day events after his 13-year-old great-granddaughter was killed in a car crash.

Grandson Mandla Mandela said yesterday: ‘We’ve come under extreme pressure from Fifa requiring and wishing that my grandfather be at the final. But I think that decision will solemnly lie with him.’

The former leader arrived about an hour before kick-off and greeted fans for up to 30 minutes before leaving to watch the match at home.

Last night’s half-hour closing ceremony featured Colombian pop star Shakira singing her World Cup anthem, Waka Waka. Other performers included South African band Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Fans were treated to a herd of 13 enormous ‘elephants’ traipsing across the pitch and a flypast by fighter jets.

VIP guests included Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe.

South African authorities yesterday estimated World Cup visitors had poured £1billion into the country’s coffers – but thousands of people are set to join the jobless queues in a country where the unemployment rate is 25 per cent.

At least 2,000 jobs go today as the tournament’s organising body disbands. Some 870,000 South African jobs were lost last year and the same is expected in 2010 as the construction and tourism industries suffer a World Cup hangover.

Police fear outbreaks of xenophobic violence as competition for jobs grows, with some Zimbabweans and Congolese already fleeing.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has now backed Durban’s likely bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/834795-world-cup-2010-the-winner-is-africa

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:06 PM

July 12, 2010

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SA ponders Olympic bid
2010-07-12

Durban - Still on a Soccer World Cup high, South Africa is already looking for a new sports fix which could be a bid for the Olympics.

South Africa poured $5bn into the first World Cup in Africa and largely overcame fears about crime and poor transportation, hosting a widely applauded tournament.

Now, as many South Africans voice sadness at the end of the party, the country is looking at ways to keep up its new international profile and maximise the investment, including a potential Olympics bid.

President Jacob Zuma said the World Cup had proved South Africa has the resources and infrastructure to host the Olympic Games, which have never been held in Africa.

"I don't see why we can't bid to host the Olympics in the future. It's important for Africa," he said in an interview with football governing body FIFA.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said he would be glad if a South African city made a host bid.

"I think it's absolutely normal that they think of the future; what next after the FIFA World Cup?" the president of the IOC chief said. "So we're glad that they're thinking about the Olympic Games."

Cape Town sought in 1997 to become the first African host of the Olympic Games, but failed to win the 2004 edition and the country turned its focus to the World Cup.

The race to stage the 2020 Olympic Games opens next year, with an IOC decision in 2013.

Indian Ocean port city Durban has already dropped hints of an Olympic bid after getting glowing reviews during the World Cup for its seaside fan park, warm beaches and soaring new $450m stadium.

"When we started preparing for the World Cup, we developed a strategy called '2010 and Beyond'. We said whatever we do in the city must be looking at beyond the World Cup," the city's general manager, Michael Sutcliffe, told AFP.

"When we built the new stadium, (we said) it must accommodate the Olympics, must be able to accommodate the Commonwealth Games, accommodate international athletics, so we built the stadium under the same requirements that you would need for FIFA World Cup and the Olympics."

The city will get to show off its facilities in July 2011, when the IOC will meet in Durban to choose the 2018 Winter Olympic host.

Gideon Sam, the president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria would also be contenders for the Games.

Sam said there was a lot of work to do before launching an Olympic bid.

"At this point in time, there are no cities that have the requisite infrastructure that the Olympic movement would need," he said.

But he said the World Cup had given South Africa the confidence to go for the Games.

"By all reports, it seems everybody's satisfied with the way that South Africans have pulled this one off (the World Cup). I think it has given them confidence to go another step further."

http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/WorldCup/TournamentNews/SA-ponders-Olympic-bid-20100712

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:08 PM

July 12, 2010

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Here's the view of Canada's largest newspaper, The Globe and Mail, on SA hosting the Olympics. Interesting and good review of each of SA's city's perceived strengths and weaknesses....

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Geoffrey York

Now that the games are over, let the Games begin in South Africa

Soaring on a wave of praise for hosting one of the greatest World Cups in history, South Africa says it is now ready to tackle an even bigger challenge: the first Olympics on African soil.

It would be a hugely expensive gamble, a challenge that has nearly bankrupted other countries. Yet after the extraordinary success of the World Cup over the past month, a bid for the 2020 Olympic Games could be the next natural step for South Africa, and for the African continent.

Just a few weeks ago, critics were portraying South Africa as a crime-ridden country where foreign soccer fans would be attacked by machete-wielding gangs, mugged in the streets or, at a minimum, lost in transport chaos. None of those gloomy predictions came true.

South Africa had the resilience and pragmatism, and the first-world infrastructure, to pull off a triumphant World Cup with verve and cheerfulness. Most observers are now calling this one of the best World Cups in history, largely because of the enthusiasm of the host country and its people. With 3.2 million spectators, and huge television audiences, it boasted the second-highest attendance – and greatest profits – of any World Cup in history.

With the soccer tournament over, the South Africans are keen to capitalize on this momentum. This is a sports-crazy country, yearning for more of the nation-building campaigns that the World Cup provided, and now it is chock full of the highways, airports, hotels and spectacular stadiums that would bolster an Olympic bid.

A bid for the 2020 Olympics would be daunting. The summer Games would be massively expensive for a developing country to host – a cost that has proven nearly back-breaking even for wealthier countries like Greece – and the organizational pressures would be exponentially heavier than a soccer tournament. South Africa’s bid would be competing with well-funded cities like Rome, Tokyo, Madrid and possibly Toronto.

But now, with the World Cup to boost their prospects, South Africa’s Olympic organizers have quietly mapped out their plan. Over the next few months, they will consult widely among political and business leaders to ensure that their plan has support. Then they must choose their Olympic candidate city from three options: Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg. Finally they will gear up their bid book and their lobbying machinery, targeting their efforts at a key meeting of the International Olympic Committee scheduled to be held in Durban next July. Everything will culminate in 2013 when the IOC chooses the host of the 2020 Games.

A careful look at Durban’s gorgeous new Moses Mabhida stadium, the site of a World Cup semifinal last week, reveals that an Olympic bid was a big part of the hidden agenda for the new architecture. Soccer fans were pushed back from each end of the stadium to make room for a track oval – exactly the correct size for Olympic track events. On its official website, Durban points out that the stadium has “the potential to expand to 85,000 seats to meet the requirements of large-scale events such as the Olympic Games.”

The IOC’s president, Jacques Rogge, has already said that he would welcome a South African bid. The entire sports world is “very happy” at the success of the World Cup in South Africa, he said on Saturday after a meeting with South Africa President Jacob Zuma.

Mr. Zuma has also declared that his country is ready for the Olympics. “I’m sure we could do it,” he said this month. “I will put it on the agenda. I don’t see why we can’t bid to host the Olympics in the future. It’s important for Africa.”

And FIFA president Sepp Blatter, head of the governing body for world soccer, says he would “fully support” a South African bid for the Olympics.

But persuading the IOC’s voting delegates won’t be easy. The Summer Olympics can be an organizational nightmare, far more complex and intensive than a World Cup, with up to 10 or 15 events happening simultaneously on each of its 16 days.

Brazil, another developing country, surprised the skeptics by winning the 2016 Olympics for its candidate city, Rio de Janeiro. But Brazil is far bigger and more powerful than South Africa, even if it shares some of the same issues of poverty and crime, and it will have greater resources to handle the Olympic costs.

Those costs can be enormous. The Olympics require dozens of venues, from basketball arenas and swimming pools to velodromes and equestrian venues, along with an Olympic Village for 20,000 athletes, and they must be located within a compact area. For the 2012 Olympics, for example, London has a budget of $13.3-billion – nearly triple the South African budget for the World Cup. Another developed country, Greece, spent nearly $11-billion on the 2004 Olympics (at current exchange rates) plus another $1.2-billion for security costs, and the burden was one of the contributing factors in Greece’s financial crisis that nearly bankrupted the country this year.

Each of the potential South African bidding cities has disadvantages too. Durban, with a population of 3.5 million, has good infrastructure and a warm climate on the Indian Ocean, but it has some of the worst crime and poverty in the country. And its organizational weaknesses were exposed last week when 500 soccer fans missed the semi-final because of chaos at Durban airport, where private VIP jets refused to make room for incoming passenger jets.

Cape Town has a spectacular location of mountains and ocean, along with a beautiful new stadium, but it failed in its bid for the 2004 Olympics and might lack the population base to support the Olympic venues. Johannesburg, the third option, has plenty of stadiums and a big population but is located at high altitude, a potential problem for Olympic athletes, and lacks the natural beauty of Cape Town and Durban.

Despite all of these pitfalls, South Africa now has the momentum and the global branding to make it a powerful contender for the Olympics. The IOC meeting in Durban next year, when the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics will be chosen, could be a huge boost for the South African bid. “This is quite simply a masterstroke, ensuring that all IOC members and their spouses will be exposed to the city – and hence be able to draw on personal experience should they ever be required to assess its suitability as an Olympic host,” wrote David Owen, a blogger who specializes in global sports.

Some analysts suggest that a South African city would have a better chance of winning the Olympics in 2024, allowing the Summer Games to go to a safe choice in a wealthier country in 2020 after the Rio Games. But whenever its bid reaches a vote, it will have one huge advantage: the lure of history.

After the 2016 Games in Brazil, Africa will become the only continent that has never hosted the Olympics. The IOC, just like FIFA, will find it difficult to resist the temptation of entering the history books.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/now-that-the-games-are-over-let-the-games-begin-in-south-africa/article1636312/

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:11 PM

UK media coverage...

UK's influential Financial Times, tips Durban for a 2020 bid...

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South Africa prove wrong World Cup sceptics
By Richard Lapper and Roger Blitz in Johannesburg

Published: July 9 2010 23:16

When in 2004 Nelson Mandela celebrated his country’s successful bid to host the World Cup few people thought that South Africa would bring it off. Six years on though the country has hosted a successful tournament and Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, is hoping that the increasingly frail Mr Mandela will be there to witness Sunday’s final when the Netherlands take on Spain. “It will be a wonderful moment for him and for Africa if this could be a possibility,” said Mr Blatter this week.

Mr Blatter did as much as anyone to battle the sceptics and can look back with some satisfaction on how the tournament has gone. With six new or almost completely new stadiums and other infrastructure completed on time, South Africa has gone on to organise an event that has gone more smoothly than expected. Extra police and a dedicated system of special world cup courts have kept crime down to a minimum. With the exception of some hiccups in the first day or so of the contest and again at this week’s semi-final in Durban when several scheduled flights were unable to land at the new King Shaka airport, fans have reached games on time.

Organisers are still calculating exactly how many fans have come for the World Cup. And although there have been some indications that visitor numbers were less than expected this may have helped ease possible logistic log jams. Two weeks ago, figures from the home affairs ministry showed that about 112,000 more people had come to the country in the first two weeks of June than in the same period of 2009, indicating that South Africa was on track to meet a target of about 370,000 forecast for the tournament as a whole.

Huge numbers of people have attended fan parks or watched games on television, helping publicise South Africa’s success. The noise of the vuvuzela, the controversial plastic horn much loved by local fans, has become known across the world. “The World Cup has helped to change the image of South Africa,” says Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the local organising committee. “[There has been] an image makeover of the country, almost a re-branding, and it is a demonstration of the capacity of the country.”

The question now for South Africa is how to build on this progress. Economists believe that the immediate economic impact is relatively limited, with gross domestic product rising by no more than half a percentage point. There is a danger of a World Cup hangover, with the country’s success creating expectations among the poor of progress in other areas. “We’ve created expectations that this World Cup will immediately deliver investments and jobs and so on and so when that bubble breaks down that is the danger,” says William Gumede, an associate professor at the University of Witwatersrand.

There is also some concern that frustrations could spill over into the kind of anti-foreigner violence that afflicted South Africa two years ago. On Friday Cosatu, the left-wing trade union confederation, said it was “really concerned” about rumours of xenophobic attacks taking place in the province of the Western Cape.

On the other hand, the World Cup has also engendered a sense of national cohesion and togetherness not seen since the rugby equivalent of 1995, when Mr Mandela presented the World Cup to the Springboks, a team that had been closely identified with apartheid South Africa. There is growing self-confidence too. “For every South African… there is an immense sense of pride of what’s been achieved, they are very happy with the infrastructure and there is a very positive spirit in the country,” said Mr Jordaan this week.

Analysts say that the government now needs to apply the focus and dedication it displayed in organising the World Cup in other areas. As Ann Bernstein, the founding director of the Centre for Development and Enterprise, a Johannesburg-based think-tank, puts it: “Do we have a post-game strategy which won’t involve own goals, if you like, and will help to ride the wave that this incredibly successful event has created?”

Like Brazil, which secured the rights to hold the 2016 Olympics after it won permission to stage the 2014 World Cup, South Africa is already thinking about a possible bid for the 2020 games. Durban, with its plethora of sporting facilities, is perhaps best positioned and will host a meeting of the international Olympic Committee next year. If South Africa does make a bid it will have Mr Blatter’s backing. Arguing that the Olympics is easier to organise because it is limited to one city, he says: “If a country is able to organise a Fifa World Cup, it can also organise the Olympic summer games.”

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e158cae0-8b58-11df-a4b4-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=rss

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:13 PM

July 12, 2010

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Associated Press is favouring Durban to be selected as SA's bid city. This syndicated story is appearing in, amongst other media sources, the high-selling USAToday...

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South Africa says it will consider Olympic bid

By Gerald Imray, AP Sports Writer

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa will consider a bid to host the 2020 or 2024 Olympics.
A day after the World Cup final, the president of South Africa's Olympic committee said the committee will consult with the government on the possibility of trying to host the first Olympics in Africa.

"It is the dream of the International Olympic Committee that developing countries are given an opportunity to host the Olympics," Sam said at a joint media briefing with IOC president Jacques Rogge in Johannesburg.

"It is now up to the government, the national Olympic committee and the sporting community whether or not this country takes the decision to bid for the Games," Sam said.

Rogge said a bid from South Africa would be welcomed.

South Africa may seek to host the world's biggest sporting event after successfully staging the soccer World Cup <emdash /> despite strong criticism of its high crime rate and poor transport infrastructure.

Rogge said the country's hosting of Africa's first World Cup, which ended in Johannesburg on Sunday, was an "outstanding success."

"From the start, when South Africa were named as World Cup hosts, we all knew the country would be able to organize the tournament," Rogge said.

Rogge said South Africa had also already successfully staged the All Africa Games in 1999, the 1995 Rugby World Cup and a string of major cricket tournaments. He added that "now it is up to you as a nation to decide if you want to host this event."

Like the World Cup, South Africa failed in its first attempt to host the Olympics when Cape Town bid unsuccessfully for the 2004 Games. Athens won the vote, with Cape Town finishing third behind Rome.

On Monday, South Africa's Olympic committee and sports ministry both stopped short of committing to make a bid, but confirmed they would discuss the possibility.

"I think it's safe to say that we have expressed interest in hosting an event of this magnitude that will leave legacies," deputy sports minister Gert Oosthuizen said.

"I can't say that we will be going for 2020 or 2024," Sam said, "but we will be guided by the sporting movement in this country as to what we are going to do.

"The IOC has certain policies by which we will be guided if our government supports a possible bid."

South Africa president Jacob Zuma, who met with Rogge over the weekend, has already expressed confidence that his country could host the Olympics.

The east coast city of Durban is the favorite to be chosen for South Africa's bid with the Games likely centered around the new Moses Mabhida Stadium which was built for the World Cup.

The IOC's decision on the host for the 2020 Olympics will be made in 2013, but preliminary bids must be submitted next year.

Rome is the only city to formally announce it will bid for the 2020 Games.

Durban, which is South Africa's third largest city, will have a chance to impress Olympic officials when it hosts the 123rd IOC session in July 2011 where the host for the 2018 Winter Olympics will be announced.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2010-07-12-1083239636_x.htm

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:16 PM

July 13, 2010...

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BUT, Breaking News - Rogge will be in Durbs sooner than you think.... - Olympics-related and in 2010 nogal and again for the IOC Congress in 2011!!!

Roman you will love this! Mo - swallow slowly...

>>>>>>
Registration opens for the 7th World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture
Save your place now for the 7th World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture, which will be held in Durban, South Africa, from 5 to 7 December 2010. The event, which is being organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in partnership with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), will bring together representatives from the world of sport, universities, NGOs, governments and intergovernmental organisations.

The Conference will be opened by IOC President Jacques Rogge, and will feature plenary and parallel sessions and workshops. Among others, a key topic will be the follow-up of the Culture and Education Programme of the first ever Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in August in Singapore.
The programme is as follows:

5 December 2010
17h00 Opening Ceremony at the Durban International Conference Centre19h00 Reception

6 December 2010
09h00-18h00 Day 1 Conference
Plenary Session, Concurrent Sessions, Side Workshops and Dialogue Sessions

7 December 2010
09h00-16h30 Day 2 Conference
Plenary Session, Concurrent Sessions, Side Workshops and Dialogue Sessions
17h00-18h00 Closing Plenary Session and Reading of Conference Resolutions

Further details on the programme will be released shortly on www.olympic.org/durban2010.

To register, please contact: events.durban@olympic.org.

Source: http://www.olympic.org/en/content/Olympism-in-Action/Education-through-sport/Registration-opens-for-the-7th-World-Forum-on-Sport-Culture-and-Olympic-Education/

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:17 PM

July 13, 2010...

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Interesting and insightful article...

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Exclusive - IOC Chief Praises World Cup Organisers, Urges 2020 Olympics Bid

July 13, 2010

IOC president Jacques Rogge spoke at Olympic House in Jo'burg on Monday. IOC president Jacques Rogge tells INSIDER that South Africa's successful staging of the World Cup should encourage the country's government to make a bid for the 2020 Olympics.

"The whole tournament was a great success. They did a very good job," Rogge told INSIDER in Johannesburg.

"We would be delighted to receive a strong bid coming from Africa in general but from South africa in particular.

"They already made a good bid with Cape Town in 1997 when they came a commendable third behind Athens and Rome. But they have the potential there's no doubt about that."

Rogge's comments followed his address Monday to more than 60 of South Africa's sports federations gathered at a luncheon at Olympic House in the suburb of Melrose. On Sunday, he was a guest of FIFA president Sepp Blatter at the World Cup final at Soccer City.

"You have made South Africa proud," he told the 120 guests at the Olympics gathering, who included IOC vice president Thomas Bach and IOC members Sam Ramsamy from South Africa and John Coates from Australia.

Rogge claimed the World Cup had silenced the doomsayers who had doubted the nation's capacity to stage the tournament in the years building up to the event. Blatter last week threw his weight behind a South African bid for the 2020 Olympics.

"You proved that you are able to do it," Rogge said, noting that the World Cup was another high point in a string of major international events hosted by the Rainbow Nation that included the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam and chief executive Tubby Reddy also addressed the audience, telling the country's sports leaders that they were investigating the possibility of bidding for the 2020 Olympics. Deputy sports minister Gert Oosthuizen was also present.

Rogge told ATR: "Whether it's their priority they have to see for themselves. It's going to be a discussion between the sports movement and government to see that."

"To have Games in the future in Africa will definitely be nice for the Olympic Movement and sport in general. Whether that will materialise will depend a) on bidding and b) if the bids are strong enough to be rated better than the other bids."

He said developments for the World Cup could help serve the Olympics, pointing to the upgrades of roads, airports, telecommunications, venues, the existence of a good organising committee and good volunteer workforce.

SASCOC chiefs tell INSIDER that not one of the country's potential bid cities - Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg - had thrown their hat into the ring.

And Rogge declined to comment on their merits. "If a bid comes it's up to my South African friends Gideon Sam, president of the South African Olympic committee, plans to sit down with government officials to discuss the viability of an Olympic bid to decide which city they would prefer," he said.

Rogge has never been to Durban but heads there for the IOC World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture, Dec. 5 to 7. Durban hosts the 123rd IOC Session in July next year and appears to be favourite to be nominated, if SASCOC and the government decide to launch a bid for 2020.

Rogge dismisses suggestions that the flight chaos at the city's King Shaka International Airport for the World Cup semi-final clash between Germany and Spain was an early minus point for the city's Olympic hopes.

"No, absolutely not. We are speaking about a potential bid for 2020, we are not speaking of 2010. If errors have been made, they will be corrected in due time. That's not an issue," he told INSIDER.

Last Wednesday, private jets carrying heads of state and celebrities refused to vacate space allocated for chartered aircraft, meaning that around 400 football fans were forced to miss the semi-final due to delays and congestion at the airport. There were an unprecedented number of flights and the airport simply could not cope with the volume of air traffic.

SASCOC seeks government talks
Sam Ramsamy, IOC member from South Africa, told INSIDER that a 2020 Olympic bid had not yet been discussed by SASCOC and the government, although president Jacob Zuma has made comments supporting a bid.

"I don't want to jump the gun. We don't know whether they [the three cities] want to bid or when," he said.

SASCOC president Sam said: "There is no doubt about what the World Cup has done, it has made South Africans dream bigger. You will hear on street corners people saying 'what next'.

"We have to pay attention to keep that momentum," he said.

Both Sam and Tubby Reddy said the next step was for SASCOC officials to sit down with the government to decide whether an Olympic bid was viable and which South African city might benefit most from staging the Games.

Further backing for a possible bid is expected to come at today's SASCOC board meeting.
"We will be guided by the development goals of the government," Sam said. "We may be strategic about it, but the dream from South Africans is not something we will be able to suppress."

But Sam underlined the fact that the Olympics was a "huge undertaking on a huge scale" and SASCOC and the government would have to manage people's expectations.

SASCOC is already benefiting from the experience of Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the World Cup organising committee, in preparations for the IOC Session in 2011.

And the man credited with masterminding South Africa's successful World Cup could end up having a key role in a 2020 bid.

"I spoke to them. I am working with them on the 123rd IOC Session. I will see," Jordaan told INSIDER after a media briefing in Johannesburg on Saturday.

"If I still have the energy... I will go and rest first. If they ask me, I will consider it."

http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=33538

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:17 PM

July 13, 2010

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Blatter's blurt is being given more coverage...

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The president of the world governing body Fifa, Sepp Blatter, said South Africa hosted the best-ever World Cup, beating the attendance figures of France in 1998, South Korea and Japan in 2002 and Germany in 2006.

Blatter was so thrilled about the performance by the host that he said: “I will fully support Durban to host the Olympic Games in 2020.”

Matches involving Bafana Bafana made local television history with figures by media company Carat showing that the opening game against Mexico drew 7.7 million viewers, the largest TV audience for a sporting event in the history of South Africa.

Danny Jordaan, chief executive officer of the local organising committee, told the Sunday Times that the tournament was both a critical and commercial success, a boost for brand South Africa and a boost for nation-building.

“We have seen black and white side by side at fan parks and stadiums, when for many years these people were prohibited by law to sit together. The nation has crossed a huge psychological barrier. It has instilled a huge sense of pride. We are only one of 15 countries that have hosted the World Cup,” he said.

About the major success of branding team South Africa in the eyes of the world, business tycoon Saki Macozoma said the country had created a second honeymoon with the world, and that citizens should mobilise behind a newly united team South Africa to battle poverty.

Former British activist Peter Hain said that whatever the challenges ahead, South Africans now have the optimism and a can-do attitude to meet them.

Conservatively estimated, R13 billion was injected by 373 000 World Cup visitors into the South African economy, with South African Tourism estimating that every visitor spent at least R12 000.

But there were a few last-minute hiccups amid the euphoria which gave South Africans food for thought:

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) came in for heavy criticism after turning back three jets carrying fans to the semifinal in Durban on Wednesday night. Acsa has since pledged to pay R400 000 in compensation to those who missed the match;

The splurging of over R120m on World Cup tickets by the country’s parastatals and various arms of government will come under the microscope after the tournament, reported the Sunday Times;

There were also some major disappointments for Cape Town-based fans. Thousands of Capetonians were denied the opportunity to see their football heroes in the flesh when only two teams, Portugal and the Netherlands, held closed training sessions at Athlone Stadium, reported the Cape Argus; and

Uruguay was the only team to train at the new Philippi Stadium. The two stadiums, Athlone and Phillipi, underwent a R500-million upgrade before the World Cup.

http://www.leadershiponline.co.za/articles/sports/699-world-cups-final-game

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:19 PM

July 13, 2010

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More international coverage of SA's Olympic aspirations...

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Editorial: Lessons from the World Cup

The Jakarta Post
Tue, 07/13/2010 9:40 AM

The world saw Spain emerge as the 2010 World Cup champion. La Furia Roja became only the second country after France to win the Euro Cup and World Cup titles in the same season.

The festivities are over, vuvuzelas (meter-long plastic trumpets) thrown away and 12 soccer stadiums in South Africa were left behind by fans who had flocked to the venues during the month-long soccer extravaganza that ended Sunday (early Monday Jakarta time).

South Africa answered global questions on its ability to host such a big event — the second largest after the Olympic Games — by attracting almost 3 million people to the stadiums. The country is now eyeing a bid for the Olympics — and may propose Durban as a host city for the 2020 games.

South Africa’s success in hosting the quadrennial event, despite some missteps, shows that FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s idea of rotating the host city from one continent to another works. South Africa’s icon Nelson Mandela showed up at the closing ceremony and praised the organizers for boosting the national pride, while Columbian chanteuse Shakira performed the World Cup’s official song Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).

As in any good story, spectators hope for surprises.

The World Cup met that demand, albeit in ways some supporters found frustrating. 2006 champion Italy and runner-up France made first round exits to the shock of many.

England and Argentina succumbed to Germany’s young squad but Spain clinched its reputation as a soccer powerhouse thanks to its beautiful offensive performance including a 1-0 final match victory over the Netherlands.

The tournament itself was not without criticism. The 145 goals scored by teams this year was lower than the 2006 total of 147 and 2002’s 161. Many players disliked the Jabulani ball, saying it often went wild in the air and forced goalkeepers to work harder.

This year’s World Cup showed Europe’s domination in soccer. All three top finishers — Spain, the Netherlands and Germany — show that solid domestic leagues and long-term development programs are the best formula for success.

Another secret? The three countries exported players to the best leagues in Europe, such as the English Premiership, Italy’s Serie A, Germany’s Bundesliga and Spain’s La Liga where they could exchange knowledge and gain experience.

The world governing body FIFA gave away US$250,000 bonuses to every member, including the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI), during the World Cup thanks to the body’s $196 million profit in 2009. PSSI is expected to wisely use the bonus for soccer development at home so that we, Indonesians, can support our national team competing at the World Cup.

Almost 60 PSSI officials witnessed the South Africa’s extravaganza last week. Hopefully, they understand our dream, learned something from the winning teams and will work hard to make it true.

With four years to go, Indonesia should not crash in the first round of the qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Otherwise, Indonesia will remain on the sidelines of the World Cup.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/07/13/editorial-lessons-world-cup.html

DennisRodman817

July 13th, 2010, 07:19 PM

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:20 PM

July 13, 2010

--------------

Mlaba says King Shaka Airport glitch is not a disaster
13 July 2010
Corrinne Louw

ETHEKWINI city mayor Obed Mlaba yesterday downplayed the incident that is said to have marred the country’s hosting of the World Cup.

The chaos experienced by passengers in the congestion at the new King Shaka Airport forced up to six flights of World Cup spectators to miss the Germany and Spain semifinal on Wednesday.

But Mlaba said glitches such as the congestion “would have no impact on our ability to host future international events”.

Durban intends bidding to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

“When you are hosting a big international event, it can be expected that such unfortunate incidents may occur,” he said.

“But what is important is that over 60000 people watched a very successful semifinal match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“We know that Acsa is looking at the matter and we are confident that corrective measures will be taken.

“Our excellent record shows that we can successfully handle any big event,” said Mlaba

Acsa’s chief of operations Bongani Maseko confirmed that the passengers who missed the match in Durban on Wednesday would be reimbursed if they produce their tickets.

On whether any heads would roll at Acsa as a result of the debacle, all Maseko would say was “the matter is being investigated in detail”.

The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority have said it’s still too early to predict how much revenue the city raked in from the World Cup.

Mlaba said the event was part of the city’s Integrated Development Plan.

He said their planning was “always being guided by the 2010 and Beyond programme”.

“We will continue with the usual business of the municipality, of which 2010 was a part.

“Our programmes include economic development and the social reconstruction of our society,” Mlaba said.

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1160599

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 07:35 PM

Jerome u are very enthusiastic about the durban olympic bid...keep up the good job..and good luck....i support cape town but either cape or durban is perfect.....and in durban u dont need to build another stadium since MMS is capable of hosting the games.

Thanks, Den. Well, someone from Durban who is passionate about the city had to take the responsibility of compiling this thread and summarising Durban-related Olympic news, to date. I volunteered but I'm sure other Durbanites would have too, before too long. There are a lot of passionate and patriotic Durbanites on this board. :cheers:

I will be thrilled if the Games comes to SA, be it CT, Jhb, or Durbs. Even if Durbs doesn't get the SA bid, a bid contest will do wonders for the city's image and confidence. If we do get the bid nod, and eventually the bid itself (gasp!), it will do wonders for the city, which has the highest unemployment rate of any of SA's 4 major cities (the others being Jhb, CT, and Pretoria). Even if the city loses the bid (and associated construction-related job opportunities), the tourism opportunities that international exposure of the bid will bring the city, will hopefully translate into tourism-related job opportunities for the city's residents. That, alone, will be worth a bid.

Thurs, for so many reasons, Durban really does stand to gain the most from any (local or international) bidding contest, win or lose.

Mo Rush

July 13th, 2010, 08:05 PM

Apparently there was a graphic recently in the newspapers in Durban, or is this hearsay?

Project Director

July 13th, 2010, 09:16 PM

p2bsa

July 13th, 2010, 09:16 PM

Thanks, Den. Well, someone from Durban who is passionate about the city had to take the responsibility of compiling this thread and summarising Durban-related Olympic news, to date. I volunteered but I'm sure other Durbanites would have too, before too long. There are a lot of passionate and patriotic Durbanites on this board. :cheers:

I will be thrilled if the Games comes to SA, be it CT, Jhb, or Durbs. Even if Durbs doesn't get the SA bid, a bid contest will do wonders for the city's image and confidence. If we do get the bid nod, and eventually the bid itself (gasp!), it will do wonders for the city, which has the highest unemployment rate of any of SA's 4 major cities (the others being Jhb, CT, and Pretoria). Even if the city loses the bid (and associated construction-related job opportunities), the tourism opportunities that international exposure of the bid will bring the city, will hopefully translate into tourism-related job opportunities for the city's residents. That, alone, will be worth a bid.

Thurs, for so many reasons, Durban really does stand to gain the most from any (local or international) bidding contest, win or lose.

I 100% agree on your sentiments Roman. You/this thread, Durban and SA has my 100% support.

Go Durban 2020! Whatever city government/SASCOC decide on I will back as a patriotic South Africa. But, my money is on Durban - if not its first bid in 2020 than 2024 it is... And by the sign of things we have huge US-media support, which is great!!!

Mo Rush

July 13th, 2010, 09:20 PM

Dennis...i am just speculating but having sat at the northern end of MM during the WC on 3 occasions i cannot see a active track and javelin or discus simultaneously in play. If the blue ribbon around the field as displayed during the WC actually opens into a larger arena then maybe but still tight..imo. Further a perfect 100mtr final requires a zero wind condition...that opening on the south would have to be modified.

:cheers:PD.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4791197166_edb4107af5_b.jpg

The dimensions have been designed to

1. Accommodate a track and IAAF requirements

2. Allow for a tight bowl around the soccer field.

Compared to London, bowl wraps around the track.

If there are any space issues, I assume that the IAAF will allow certain events to take place on the "soccer field" portion of the field of play, as per Glasgow 2014.

DennisRodman817

July 13th, 2010, 09:40 PM

hey jerome and durban folks....any pictures of the proposed venues that durban will use? basketball arena, e.t.c

Jim856796

July 13th, 2010, 10:12 PM

Possible venues for a Durban Olympics include:

Moses Mabhida Stadium
Aquatics Centre
Kings Park Stadium
Durban Country Club/Windsor Mashie Golf Course
ICC Durban Arena
Kingsmead Cricket Stadium

DennisRodman817

July 13th, 2010, 10:18 PM

we need pictures.

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 10:24 PM

This is hilarious!!!

-----------------

Oh Paul..... will we host the Olympics?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

NewsTime
P.O Box 653592
Benmore, 2010

14/07/10

Mr Paul “The Oracle” Octopus
Sea Life Centre tank
Oberhausen
Germany

Dear Paul

Having heard of your imminent retirement, I write this letter hoping that it reaches you in time. I understand that it is imperative that you be left alone to relax and do what you do best; eating and entertaining kids. You have had amazing accuracy in your career as Oracle; correctly predicting eight out of eight games in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and it is in this capacity that I write to you now.

As you know South Africa has hosted a very successful World Cup and we are feeling very proud at the moment. As expected of course we have now been hit by the slump after the high, many South Africans have been asking themselves how on earth we will ever match the energy, the emotion and the sheer joy that came with hosting the biggest spectacle on earth again.

Eish it’s hard but the answer is simple, nothing will match the enormity of what we have just been through but we can certainly look forward to trying!

Like a druggie looking for the next high, we “desperately” and “greedily” need our next fix. This is where you come in Sir, South Africa will now forge ahead and look to host the Winter Olympics.

My request to you is for you to please let us know if we will be hosting the Olympics or not. This could be the last thing you do before you retire. Just think about it, you would be doing the motherland a huge favour. What better way to give back to Africa for all your fame and your chance to shine! (okay, you owe that to Germany) but don’t sweat the small stuff man!

I would ask Jabulani, the octopus who lives in the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town because he like you correctly predicted that Spain would win the World Cup, but something tells me he would be biased seeing as he does live here.

The International Olympic Committee is yet to begin the selection process and a host city is expected to be announced in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the middle of 2013 but as you have gathered from this letter Paul, it would mean the world to me for us to know before they do who they are going to choose.

Just some information to help you make your selection, not that you need it; the Organising Committee did suggest back in 2004 that they are interested in having a developing nation host the games in 2020 and since Africa has never hosted the Olympic Games, we reckon we stand a pretty good chance, and just in case you are not convinced that this is a matter of the highest importance; here are some facts to convince you.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge said he would be glad if a South African city made a host bid; "I think it's absolutely normal that they think of the future; what next after the FIFA World Cup?" the president of the IOC chief said. "So we're glad that they're thinking about the Olympic Games."

President of South Africa Jacob Zuma is also filled with confidence: "I don't see why we can't bid to host the Olympics in the future. It's important for Africa," he said in an interview with football governing body FIFA. Cape Town first tried in 1997 to become the first African host of the Olympic Games, but failed to win.

Durban will be bidding as well this time: "When we started preparing for the World Cup, we developed a strategy called '2010 and Beyond'. We said whatever we do in the city must be looking at beyond the World Cup," Durban’s general manager, Michael Sutcliffe, said.

So back to the business of your selection, you obviously want to know who your two candidates are: I shall dismiss the rest of the world as after Brazil host in 2014 they would have all had the chance to host the Olympics except Africa and that gives us the edge over any other continent. Therefore the two glass boxes with delectable morsels of food inside will have the flags of Morocco and South Africa attached to them.

Rabat, the Moroccan capital, is expected to submit a bid for the first time ever, and it will be for the 2020 Olympics. Officials from Morocco are said to be confident that their capital will win the right to host the games. They have chosen Rabat as the bidding city over Casablanca because Rabat is more internationally significant they say.

South Africa has gained a lot during the World Cup and now possesses the infrastructure to host the games. Cape Town and Durban are both set to make bids for the 2020 games.

Paul, It would go a really long way if you could just assure us that the Olympics will at least be held in Africa by not choosing to ignore both glass boxes and preserving your figure.

Once again, thank you for your awesome contribution to the excitement of the World Cup. You Rock!

I should be very grateful if you would grant my request.

Yours Faithfully

Sthembile Shelembe

http://www.newstime.co.za/column/Sth...mpics/51/1916/

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 10:29 PM

POSTED: July 13th 2010

NewsUpdate

South Africa wastes no time in launching bid to host 2020 Olympics

South Africa's fans at the World Cup underlined their love of sport / Fotosports.com

KEIR RADNEDGE in South Africa / Sports Features Communications

JOHANNESBURG, Jul 13: South Africa's Olympic leaders, taking an immediate cue from the encouragement of IOC president Jacques Rogge, have confirmed their expected intention to come up with a bid to host the 2020 summer Games.

Rogge had been in Johannesburg to watch Spain beat Holland in Sunday's World Cup Final. He was reported locally as saying: "South Africa has just shown it is capable of hosting a major international event but we knew this even before the World Cup. It hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1995 and the All-Africa Games in 1999 so there is no doubt it is possible. It is now up to South Africa to decide whether it wants to host the Olympics."

That was yesterday and followed similar encouraging comments from state President Jacob Zuma. He had said: “For our eyes to be on 2020, we are not weary because we have the facilities.”

Today SASCOC (South African Sports Confederations and Olympic Committee) wasted no time in announcing its intention to target 2020. Deputy Sports Minister Gert Oosthuizen has already said the government is ready for talks about a South African Olympic Games.

Three-way challenge

Sam Ramsamy, South Africa's IOC member, has stated that the choice will fall between Johannesburg, Cape Town and the favourite, Durban. The IOC will hold its next Session in Durban in July next year.

The announcement from SASCOC chief executive officer Tubby Reddy followed international praise for the way in which South Africa had organised the World Cup. He said: "I can confirm that in light of President Zuma’s comments we met today. We have decided that the way forward would be to engage government and key stakeholders on the way forward, but our intention is to provide a world-class city capable of hosting Africa’s first Olympic Games in 2020.”

Reddy said any interested city could contact him about procedure.

South Africa lost out in the race for the 2004 Olympics, when Cape Town won the internal race ahead of Durban and Johannesburg only for the International Olympic Committee to award the Games to Athens.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, also an IOC member, has said that he would support any South African bid to host the Olympics.

http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/story/47158/south-africa-wastes-no-time-in-launching-bid-to-host-2020-olympics

romanSA

July 13th, 2010, 10:32 PM

South Africa plans bid for 2020 Games
JOHANNESBURG
Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:30pm IST

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa is planning a bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games, the country's Olympic governing body said on Tuesday.

The announcement came as the country was basking in the glory of successfully staging the first soccer World Cup on African soil.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) said in a statement that it aimed to provide a world-class city to host the continent's first Olympic Games.

"SASCOC today announced that it would formally oversee a bid for the 2020 Games and encouraged potential host cities to state their intention of being involved in the process," it said.

South Africa bid for the 2004 Games but Cape Town lost out to Athens. The cities most likely to bid for 2020 would be Durban and Cape Town, officials have said.

South African President Jacob Zuma has said the country is up to the task of hosting the Games after the World Cup.

"We have decided that the way forward would be to engage government and key stakeholders on the way forward," the SASCOC said.

Africa is the last continent not to have been awarded the Games and analysts have said a number of factors -- including the World Cup success -- have boosted South Africa's chances.

The country dispelled doubts it could host a major sporting event like the World Cup and built infrastructure and stadiums for the event.

South Africa also deployed a massive security force for the World Cup, which ended without any major crime incidents.

(Reporting by Marius Bosch; Editing by Sonia Oxley)

http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-50096620100713

romanSA

July 14th, 2010, 01:51 AM

Durban, Cape Town bid for 2020 Olympics
Jul 13, 2010 11:25 PM
By ANDILE NDLOVU and NIVASHNI NAIR

Durban and Cape Town have been pitted as competitors to host the 2020 Olympics, after the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee announced it would oversee potential bids.

Yesterday, the committee encouraged potential host cities to make their intentions known.

Durban City manager Michael Sutcliffe said yesterday that he would gather more details and prepare a report, which he will hand over to the city's executive council next week.

"Of course, the executive council will have to make the decision but our mayor and council [have] always been of the view that Durban is South Africa's number one events and sports venue so we have to be a part of such bid," he said.

But City of Cape Town's communications director Pieter Cronje was cautious about talk of Cape Town 2020, saying that hosting such an event was "an expensive and lengthy process".

Cronje told The Times: "We will approach this in a very thorough way. We will debrief on the World Cup and then assess the service-delivery priorities and then examine our long-term goals and how we use such events for economic benefits."

Cape Town lost out to Athens and Rome when the city made a bid for the 2004 Olympics.

Outsider Johannesburg, which Fifa chose to host its International Broadcast Centre because of its facilities, has remained quiet on the matter.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article548977.ece/Durban-Cape-Town-bid-for-2020-Olympics

Project Director

July 14th, 2010, 07:44 AM

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4791197166_edb4107af5_b.jpg

The dimensions have been designed to

1. Accommodate a track and IAAF requirements

2. Allow for a tight bowl around the soccer field.

Compared to London, bowl wraps around the track.

If there are any space issues, I assume that the IAAF will allow certain events to take place on the "soccer field" portion of the field of play, as per Glasgow 2014.

Perhaps it was put out there way back but i cant figure why the blue area was necessary during the world cup blocking out a good 5000 seats times 7 ie 35,000 spectators....temp zone ..me nai aiz.:cheers:

p2bsa

July 14th, 2010, 08:02 AM

Durbsboi

July 14th, 2010, 11:15 AM

Just to clear up confusion, lots of people (not on here) seem to think that Moses Mabhida cant fit a track in it... GMP plans

http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/1261498215-1968-floorplan-level-05-a1-m500-72dpi.jpg

romanSA

July 14th, 2010, 11:33 AM

More confirmation the city is likely going to formally pitch a bid...

------------

Durban to discuss Olympics bid
14 July 2010 - 09:18
Author: Lauren Holley

Ethekwini municipality has welcomed the news that South Africa will put in an official bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Newswatch has been speaking with Durban Mayor Obed Mlaba following yesterday's announcement by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee that potential host cities should state their intention of being involved in a bid for the 2020 games.

He says it's good news that Sascoc has come out in support of the idea of the country bidding, following the success of the Soccer World Cup.

Mlaba says he'll now raise the possibility of Durban bidding to host the Olympics with the relevant city structures.

"I will definitely raise it with the Council structures, the Executive Committee being one of them, which will be held for the first time after the World Cup next week Tuesday [so that we can] begin to talk about these issues and strategise properly."

http://www.ecr.co.za/kagiso/content/en/east-coast-radio/east-coast-radio-mobile-news?oid=828703&sn=Mobile+news+detail&pid=171901

Mo Rush

July 14th, 2010, 11:38 AM

Lefa

July 14th, 2010, 05:01 PM

To ride on the momentum of euphoria created by the Football World Cup, the bid should be for 2020. However, I myself suggest 2014. By then, the high-speed train between Jhb and Dbn should be operational, Phase II of King Shaka should be ready or nearly completed, Durban would have sorted out its city centre into a pleasant, truly functional CBD, the Point would be an estabished neighbourhood and commercial centre, with an amazing waterfront. Umhlanga and Durban would be practically joined, with the beachfront forming a continous line of residential, finance, hotel and mixed-use high rises. Transnet would have excavated a new harbour. Alleviating pressure on the original harbour to allow some competitions to be held there.

Moses Mabhida might require a major revamp though, as technology improves over the years and we South Africans naturally would want to wow our guests.

In the end, it wouldn't matter whether Durban or the Cape gets to host it.

dysan1

July 14th, 2010, 05:54 PM

2024 you mean...

Great to see this thread up and so active Jerome! i think there is going to be tons of news to fill this with in the coming weeks and months

p2bsa

July 14th, 2010, 07:14 PM

Now for an historical and background media report going back a few years. I suspect this may be resurrected given today's SASOC's announcement

------------------
Durban: Olympics or bust
Simon Osler
February 11 2007 at 04:23PM

EThekwini authorities have picked up the pace in their campaign for Olympic and Commonwealth Games attempt by embarking on a major new development at Durban's King's Park sports complex.

As court challenges hold up the start to the showpiece World Cup 2010 stadium across the road from the Sharks' Absa Stadium, tenders have been invited for a high-performance centre nearby - only South Africa's second - and an indoor sports complex to seat 10 000.

The preferred site for the new centre is the Newmarket Stables in Jaco Jackson Drive, adjacent to the existing cycling dome.

Tenders for the centre and indoor arena will close on Friday and interest was high, said a city spokesperson.

According to the tender documents, the old Newmarket Stables are the favoured site, but others under consideration include the Windsor Park golf mashie course and the SANDF's mustering grounds alongside Natal Command.

For many years local coaches and administrators within Olympic sporting disciplines like athletics and swimming have called for the city to look at creating a centre, and after consulting 42 sporting codes, the project may finally be ready to get off the ground.

The eThekwini Metro has used an events-driven strategy aimed at making the city the premier sporting destination in Africa. The centre is designed to take the city and province beyond the 2010 Soccer World Cup and bring leading exponents of a multitude of sporting disciplines to Durban.

The tender document goes on:

"This 'Beyond 2010 Strategy' is supported by favourable regional climatic conditions, geographical features as well as excellent infrastructure, most important of which are the existing, well located sporting facilities within the King's Parks Sports and Recreation Precinct. Currently eThekwini has the potential to host the 28 summer Olympic sporting codes within this Precinct, as well as the majority of the Olympic recognised sports - within easy access to the city centre, central beaches and accommodation.

"The A1 Grand Prix, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, African Rally, World Rally Championships, World Veterans Tennis, World Cycling, World Beach Soccer Series and FINA Swimming are some of the events recently secured.

"Looking beyond the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, the city and province seeks to position itself to host the Commonwealth and ultimately the Olympic Games."

At this stage the country's only high performance centre is based at the University of Pretoria. The creation of a new one in Durban would counter an athletic talent drain to Pretoria, and soothe disgruntled coaches who resent top KZN athletes being poached with promises of improved chances of making national teams.

In some cases, KZN coaches point out, the athletes' performances have deteriorated in their time away from home.

Some of the criticisms relate to big financial support from lottery funding, which aggrieved coaches in KZN feel should have been equitably split, with a share going to those who had sacrificed time and money to turn the youngsters into potential stars before they were lured to Pretoria.
... ...

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=vn20070211080103210C996353&singlepage=1

Roman - I think this was the 2nd historical big Durban Olympics Dream story...

Boost for Durban's Olympic ambitions

11 August 2008

Durban's bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics has been given a major boost, with the International Olympic Committee picking the city - ahead of Hong Kong - as the venue for the IOC General Assembly's congress in 2011.

The IOC made the announcement in Beijing ahead of the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games last week.

The 2011 congress - where the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics will be announced - will see thousands of influential personalities, accompanied by a major international media contingent, descending on Durban, giving the city and KwaZulu-Natal province exposure to more than one billion TV viewers.

It will also give those behind Durban's bid for the 2020 Olympics the ideal opportunity to canvass high-ranking IOC chiefs for the city to host the global spectacle.

Ethekwini municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe, speaking from Beijing, described the IOC's decision as "an incredible honour".

It will be the first time the IOC hosts such a prestigious meeting in Africa, and will enable South Africa to "pay tribute to the legacy of all great Olympic athletes from Africa, and assist us as we entrench the Olympic spirit among our people."

South African Tourism CEO Moeketsi Mosola said the announcement confirmed South Africa's international status "as a world-class tourism destination capable of hosting global events of the magnitude and stature of the IOC congress in 2011.

"It shows the kind of confidence that the IOC has in South Africa and Durban – following our country hosting major events like the 1995 and 2003 rugby and cricket world cups; the African Nations Cup in 1996; the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup last year; and the big 2010 Fifa World Cup."

Durban Tourism acting chief executive Perry Moodley said hosting the IOC congress was a strategic move in light of the city's ambition to host a Summer Olympics.

"Getting Olympic decision-makers from around the world in Durban is most important. We want them to see the infrastructure we have and are building. We believe the city has a strong chance of hosting an Olympic Games," he said.

The International Olympic Committee's 123rd General Assembly in 2011 will be hosted at Durban's award-winning International Convention Centre.

This article was first published in The Mercury. Republished here with kind permission.
Source: http://www.southafrica.info/news/conferences/ioc2011.htm

jimmialli

July 14th, 2010, 07:44 PM

p2bsa

July 14th, 2010, 07:56 PM

Durban should go for 2024 - since 2020 will go to a city in the US - maybe Chicago. The King Shaka debacle and the crap way it was handled will not count in Durban's favour. This is the only negative memory I have of the World Cup.

^^ - maybe not... ppl have short memories (except I suppose those that were stuck on the flights)

^^ anyway this opinion on the matter is great...

>>>>>
Rogge has never been to Durban but heads there for the IOC World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture, Dec. 5 to 7. Durban hosts the 123rd IOC Session in July next year and appears to be favourite to be nominated, if SASCOC and the government decide to launch a bid for 2020.

Rogge dismisses suggestions that the flight chaos at the city's King Shaka International Airport for the World Cup semi-final clash between Germany and Spain was an early minus point for the city's Olympic hopes.

"No, absolutely not. We are speaking about a potential bid for 2020, we are not speaking of 2010. If errors have been made, they will be corrected in due time. That's not an issue," he told INSIDER.

http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=33538
>>>>>>

DennisRodman817

July 15th, 2010, 04:59 AM

Durbs going for gold
Plans for 2020 Olympic Games streets ahead, says city's manager
Jul 14, 2010 11:24 PM | By NIVASHNI NAIR
Durban Mayor Obed Mlaba yesterday officially announced that the city will bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.

The Moses Mabhida stadium
Photograph by: Reinhardt Hartzenberg
'I can guarantee Durban will give SA the most cost effective Olympic Games'
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Durban has already planned where it will build the aquatic and equestrian centres, and the indoor sports area, as well as where it will construct the Olympic village.

This places it ahead of other cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, which might also decide to bid for the games.

On Tuesday night, city manager Mike Sutcliffe contacted South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) chief executive Tubby Reddy to announce the city's intentions.

"We would be honoured to be the city chosen. We are not going ahead because we want to come second . We are going ahead because we want to win," Sutcliffe said.

He said the money for the project - which will certainly amount to billions of rands - will not come from the city's coffers alone.

"It's very early to say how much it would cost for Durban to host the Olympic Games but I can guarantee that Durban will give South Africa the most cost-effective Olympic Games," he said.

"From an economy point of view, we are growing faster than Cape Town and Johannesburg . Our city is a very bright spot on a wonderfully bright South African map. For me, it's got an incredible spark about it. It's a great place to have in terms of climate and weather for an Olympics."

The city has been planning an Olympic bid since 2004. Officials strategically moved to grab the attention of the International Olympic Committee by successfully bidding to host the 123rd IOC session next year.

Durban has also identified where the different sports will be played for the mega event that includes athletics, swimming, sailing, canoeing, equestrian disciplines, cycling, and tennis.

"Our stadium is already built. Then looking at a swimming area, we will add to that of course. We will need an equestrian facility, all those stable facilities and places like that need a revamping anyway," said Sutcliffe.

"We have started revamping the metro police facility. We need to look at indoor areas. We built the arena at the ICC that can take a lot of those smaller sports that might only need 15000 seats. So we have already started putting in place facilities which can actually cope with any of the infrastructure needs four years ago."

Sutcliffe said that should Durban win the bid, the city would build the equestrian centre at The Stables, which is now a night flea market within walking distance of the Moses Mabhida stadium.

The aquatic centre, a cycling arena and yachting marina would have to be built from scratch.

"Our original plan was for the Olympic village to be at the old drive-in spot because it is near the stadium," he said.

The "old drive-in" is a large, vacant lot near the beachfront.

However, Sutcliffe and his team will have to wait until July 2011 for Sascoc to announce its choice of host city.

"The way the process works is that firstly, because of the scale of the Olympic bid, the government must agree that the country is going to bid for the event. Sascoc might then go through a bidding process or it might decide that the argument is so compelling for one city, that it might dispense with the bidding process," he said.

Efficient Group economist Marina Willemse said it was too early to estimate how much the country would spend on an Olympic Games, but it was likely to cost more money than it would generate.

Willemse warned that the perception that the cost would be low because infrastructure was already in place, was false.

DennisRodman817

July 15th, 2010, 05:01 AM

sorry jerome beat u at ur game

romanSA

July 15th, 2010, 07:59 AM

No problem, Dennis! Was in the air the last 11 hours (writing from Munich airport en route to Vienna) so any new updates from others is very welcome!

That's a very nice report and update. Seems to me the city has been doing a LOT of behind the scenes planning on this issue vs CT and JHB. In my opinion, methinks Mo knows more about CT's sports facilities and has done more planning and research re: a CT Olympics than CT officials! They should just hire him for their bid! LOL!

romanSA

July 15th, 2010, 08:03 AM

Durban should go for 2024 - since 2020 will go to a city in the US - maybe Chicago. The King Shaka debacle and the crap way it was handled will not count in Durban's favour. This is the only negative memory I have of the World Cup.

The US has indicated they are not going for a 2020 bid. Do some background research and you'll see why.

Moreover, the IOC have clearly indicated that the KSIA issue will not affect Durban's chances in the least, as P2BSA has noted, with a direct quote on the issue by the IOC head. Besides, KSIA was an ACSA issue, not a city issue. The same could have happened in CT or PE, had similar factors prevailed there.

romanSA

July 15th, 2010, 08:08 AM

Roman - I think this was the 2nd historical big Durban Olympics Dream story...

Boost for Durban's Olympic ambitions

11 August 2008

Durban's bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics has been given a major boost, with the International Olympic Committee picking the city - ahead of Hong Kong - as the venue for the IOC General Assembly's congress in 2011.

The IOC made the announcement in Beijing ahead of the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games last week.

The 2011 congress - where the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics will be announced - will see thousands of influential personalities, accompanied by a major international media contingent, descending on Durban, giving the city and KwaZulu-Natal province exposure to more than one billion TV viewers.

It will also give those behind Durban's bid for the 2020 Olympics the ideal opportunity to canvass high-ranking IOC chiefs for the city to host the global spectacle.

Ethekwini municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe, speaking from Beijing, described the IOC's decision as "an incredible honour".

It will be the first time the IOC hosts such a prestigious meeting in Africa, and will enable South Africa to "pay tribute to the legacy of all great Olympic athletes from Africa, and assist us as we entrench the Olympic spirit among our people."

South African Tourism CEO Moeketsi Mosola said the announcement confirmed South Africa's international status "as a world-class tourism destination capable of hosting global events of the magnitude and stature of the IOC congress in 2011.

"It shows the kind of confidence that the IOC has in South Africa and Durban – following our country hosting major events like the 1995 and 2003 rugby and cricket world cups; the African Nations Cup in 1996; the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup last year; and the big 2010 Fifa World Cup."

Durban Tourism acting chief executive Perry Moodley said hosting the IOC congress was a strategic move in light of the city's ambition to host a Summer Olympics.

"Getting Olympic decision-makers from around the world in Durban is most important. We want them to see the infrastructure we have and are building. We believe the city has a strong chance of hosting an Olympic Games," he said.

The International Olympic Committee's 123rd General Assembly in 2011 will be hosted at Durban's award-winning International Convention Centre.

This article was first published in The Mercury. Republished here with kind permission.
Source: http://www.southafrica.info/news/conferences/ioc2011.htm

Thanks, bud! :) Have added it to the 2nd post of this thread.

Durbsboi

July 15th, 2010, 09:53 AM

Im loving how everyone is getting on the Durban 2020 bandwagon! I listen to 3 different radio stations a day (Lotus FM, ECR & 5fm) & everyone of them is drumming in their support for this, well the 2 are bias but 5fm radio DJ's Sasha M & Gareth Cliff both stated publicly on air that they are behind Durbans bid 100%. As Mr Cliff said this morning "Lets give Durban its right to shine, they've done a marvelous job with the beach & stadium & they deserve to get the vote"

romanSA

July 15th, 2010, 10:39 AM

More good news for Durban. It just wacked Tokyo for a big sports meet. I wasn't even aware such a Games even existed! A few thousand competitors is great for the hospitality industry...

------------------------------

Durban to host World Transplant Games

15 July 2010

There has been widespread praise for South Africa's hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Now South Africa will have another opportunity to shine on the world stage when the country hosts the 2013 World Transplant Games.

Durban will host the Games from 28th July to 4 August.

In a very tightly contested vote, South Africa's "Surf City" edged Tokyo by six votes to five for the right to host the Games.

An ecstatic Willie Uys, president of the SA Transplant Sports Association, told the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee website that the association had many people to thank for helping Durban crack the nod.

'Great support'

"From the outset we received great support from Sascoc (the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee) and the Department of Sport & Recreation, as well as receiving help with various aspects from the Durban Municipality/eThekwini Metro, Durban International Convention Centre and Tourism."

He added: "Hosting the World Transplant Games in 2013 brings with it a huge responsibility, but also a wonderful opportunity for South Africans to see how people who have had life-saving transplant operations, compete in a wide variety of sports disciplines.

Life after a transplant

"We are hoping that we will be able to show that there is indeed life after a transplant. We invite people and companies to partner with us in making this a sporting and life-changing experience for all participants, supporters and spectators."

According to the Sascoc article, between 2 000 and 5 000 participants are expected in Durban, with more than 50 countries being represented. Participants would have undergone life-saving heart, lung, liver, pancreas, kidney and bone-marrow transplants.

The Games could serve as a useful learning exercise if South Africa bids for the 2020 or 2024 Olympic Games, with Durban being put forward as a possible host city.

Held biannually, the next World Transplant Games will take in Gothenburg, Sweden, in June 2011. It will be the 18th edition of the Games.

Source: South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee

http://www.southafrica.info/news/sport/transplant-games-150710.htm

p2bsa

July 15th, 2010, 12:18 PM

Here's another telling sign/comment of how strong a South African 2020 Olympic Games bid would be...

OLYMPICS
JOC chief wary of S Africa in bid race for 2020 OlympicsThursday 15th July, 03:35 AM JST

TOKYO —
Japanese Olympic Committee chief Tsunekazu Takeda expressed wariness Wednesday after South Africa emerged as a new rival in Japan’s bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
‘‘We kind of had expected this but South Africa is definitely a strong contender nevertheless,’’ said Takeda following Tuesday’s announcement that the ‘‘Rainbow Nation’’ will now try to host the 2020 Olympics after its success in staging the World Cup finals.
‘‘We need to carefully analyze how and in which city South Africa is planning to host the Olympics,’’ the JOC president added.

From Japan, Tokyo and Hiroshima are considering bidding for the 2020 Olympics. Tokyo lost in its bid to host the 2016 Olympics to Rio de Janeiro last year.

‘‘We must decide on our next course of action and act quickly,’’ JOC Secretary General Noriyuki Ichihara said. ‘‘Just as Rio won the right for it being the first South American city to host the Olympics, a favorable wind may blow to the continent of Africa.’‘

South Africa has stressed that it would be the first venue of the Olympics in Africa. Among other contenders, Rome has already announced its bid, while Istanbul and Doha have shown interest. The host city of the 2020 Games will be decided in 2013.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/joc-chief-wary-of-s-africa-in-bid-race-for-2020-olympics

romanSA

July 15th, 2010, 03:00 PM

Durban's possible bid is getting more international press...

-------------------

Increased tourism, improved services in South Africa may be legacy of World Cup
By Nicolas Brulliard

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — So now what? What happens after the World Cup?

South Africa successfully hosted the world's largest sports tournament, a huge organizational undertaking that many feared would be too much of a challenge for the developing nation. As the country says farewell to thousands of visitors, camera crews and soccer stars, it is also pondering what will be the tournament's legacy.

Over the past month, South Africa has put its best face forward, showcasing spectacular stadiums and modern transportation systems to a worldwide audience. The World Cup's success has instilled immense pride among South Africans, but it has also raised expectations. Now that the last ball has been kicked many here expect bigger and better things for their country.

"I think it's going to take the country forward," said Bernard Klaassens, a 32-year-old Johannesburg resident who attended the World Cup final at Soccer City. "I really, really do."

But exactly what awaits in South Africa's future remains an open-ended question. While South Africa can reasonably count on a greater influx of tourists in years to come, it is from within that change is most expected.

"This is a spirit we should not lose now that the tournament has ended," wrote the Times, a South African newspaper, in an editorial. "Let us build on what we achieved in the past month to make our country better."

In just two decades, the country has managed to transform itself from world pariah into world host, but the pace of change has been frustratingly slow for many South Africans whose living conditions haven't improved much from the years of the apartheid regime.

By building infrastructure on time, setting up speedy World Cup courts and organizing an efficient police force, the South African government has shown a focus and urgency that has not always been on display when it came time to address the concerns of its citizens.

Political analyst Steven Friedman said the World Cup has served to demonstrate to skeptics that the government can be competent if need be.

"I think the World Cup showed that the government knows what to do," Friedman said. "The problem is that it hasn't had enough pressure."

Friedman said the South African government achieved success at the World Cup because it had FIFA, soccer's governing body, breathing down its neck. The African National Congress has had a stranglehold on power ever since the first democratic election was held in 1994 and South Africans, because of their loyalty to the party of freedom fighters or a lack of political alternatives, have been reluctant to sanction the government's missteps.

The World Cup "could have a very positive long-term effect if citizens do what they should do" and apply pressure on the government to perform the same way FIFA did, Friedman said.

The business community is also looking to take advantage of the improved infrastructure, security and judicial systems and it's poised to benefit directly from the experience acquired during the preparations for the tournament. Already, several South African companies involved in World Cup projects have been approached by organizers of the next edition of the tournament, which will take place in Brazil in 2014.

"The World Cup has formed a basis on which real opportunities can be built and the potential that it has provided must be worked on and expanded," according to the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Perhaps the most logical next step for a country that pulled off the organization of a major sporting event is the hosting of another major sporting event.

South Africa is now replete with modern sporting facilities. The World Cup was not even over when officials began clamoring to bid for the organization of other major competitions such as the Commonwealth Games and the Athletics World Championships. The country is even mulling a bid to host the 2020 Olympics, which FIFA President Sepp Blatter and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge have encouraged.

Were South Africa to bid for the Olympics, Durban would appear to have a leg up on rivals Johannesburg and Cape Town, whose own bid for the 2004 Olympics was unsuccessful. The city's brand-new Moses Mabhida Stadium can easily be modified to host track and field events and Durban will host a major International Olympic Committee meeting next year, the first time an African city has done so.

FIFA abandoned its policy to rotate the organization of the World Cup between continents, but several countries have hosted more than one World Cup and nothing prevents South Africa from bidding to host the tournament again in the future.

"We have to see it again," Klaassens said. "I'm sure it will come back one day."

http://www.minnpost.com/globalpost/2010/07/15/19705/increased_tourism_improved_services_in_south_africa_may_be_legacy_of_world_cup

romanSA

July 15th, 2010, 03:20 PM

romanSA

July 16th, 2010, 08:20 AM

Durban Chamber of Business supports the bid...

---------------
Work with the city, Dbn Chamber urges
15 July 2010 - 14:21
Author: Lauren Holley

Building from the success of the World Cup, the Durban Chamber of Commerce is urging the private-sector to help attract other events to KZN's shores.

The Chamber's Jane Pillay says the city is well positioned after the hugely successful month long soccer spectacle, adding that it is up to businesses to continue leveraging off that.

She says the private-sector should join forces with the eThekwini municipality.

"If you look at the private-sector, they have a lot of leads and lots of connections in the international arena. And they can influence corporate events coming into the country. And we are saying bring in your conferences; bring in medical tourism -- get involved in that side of business."

Pillay has congratulated the municipality for capably hosting seven of the World Cup matches.

She says she's confident Durban would be able to pull off the hosting of the Olympics.

"Those seven precious games that took place in Durban; the infrastructure that was put up; the security; the roadworks -- everything was actually top form."

http://www.ecr.co.za/kagiso/content/en/east-coast-radio/east-coast-radio-mobile-news?oid=830950&sn=Mobile+news+detail&pid=171901

naushadessack

July 16th, 2010, 10:12 AM

would be great if durban gets the olympics..

we will have spaghetti junction widened! PLEASE

the airport will be expanded - almost as big as or tambo.

durban has the potential to become the No1 tourist destination in South Africa..

we have everything going for us, climate, beaches, facilities - all of them are 1st World standard.

we desperately need some form of functioning public transport system - altho it seems we're slowly getting there..

we need a link between the airport and city - has anyone seen anything planned for a train service similar to gautrain being planned in durban? this will be vital for the Olympics.

maybe a few stations along the beachfront, a few going up the hill towards berea,morningside, stadium, then a direct link to the airport.

the perfect site for it wud be next to suncoast - a high speed train along the coast towards to the airport - what a view that would give the passengers..

SharksBoy

July 16th, 2010, 10:23 AM

we will have spaghetti junction widened! PLEASE

Not sure what you mean widened? But i dont have problem with that way except sometime if there an accident on one lane.

naushadessack

July 16th, 2010, 10:48 AM

Not sure what you mean widened? But i dont have problem with that way except sometime if there an accident on one lane.

sorry - what i meant to say was the fly overs need to be bigger - the bottlenecks every day is ridiculous.. but i guess its a sign of how much our city is growing..

Pule

July 16th, 2010, 11:23 AM

MarcForrest

July 16th, 2010, 12:28 PM

I did a post about this on my blog earlier this week (http://www.marcforrest.com/2010/07/12/durban-needs-to-bid-for-the-2020-or-2024-olympic-games/)

One of the comments I had on the post was about the fact that we have a very serious problem with African horse sickness, and it is a huge issue in KZN specifically. This could count against us when it comes to the equestrian events.

The city would also need to construct 2 potential new buildings. 1 for multi sports events (weight lifting, judo etc) and 1 for multi purpose ball events (handball, basketball etc)

My logic tells me that the Exhibition centre could be demolished, (maybe workshop as well, who goes there anyways), and these 2 venues could be built there.

Other than that, a lot of the infrastructre is in place. A couple of nice to haves would be a Gautrain styled transport system, linking highspeed to Gauteng.

An interesting find in my research, is that PMB is hosting the World BMX champs next week. Very cool :)

My 2c worth :)

juzzy

July 16th, 2010, 12:38 PM

I really do think a rail service initially from KSIA down to umhlanga and along the coast to the point area, and then expanded from Ballito through KSIA to Amanzimtoti would be needed...its practically a money grabber even without the olympics

juanw

July 16th, 2010, 12:40 PM

Not sure what you mean widened? But i dont have problem with that way except sometime if there an accident on one lane.

Incidently, SANRAL put out a tender 2 or 3 months back for design services for doubling up of the Spagetti Junction and upgrading the N2 between Umgeni and Edwin Swales; if all goes well, you can expect construction in 3-4 years time :banana:

romanSA

July 16th, 2010, 02:25 PM

romanSA

July 16th, 2010, 03:49 PM

World Cup 2010: They Think It's All Over. Sadly, It Is Now... Any Ideas?
By Neal Collins (Featured Columnist) on July 16, 2010

The World Cup is over. I'm home. Back in my charming little village in Buckinghamshire, about 25 miles west of London. Great to see the missus and the kids, great to recount the South African tales, great to use the brand-new barbecue, perhaps the only built-in "braai" in historic Chalfont St. Giles!

But there's a hole in my life. The World Cup is over, and like so many others, I'm struggling to remember what I did before the whole thing started on June 11.

For me, it started years ago of course. I tapped out a book in six weeks last November, a novel which told how the Rainbow Nation's miracle was about to begin. Then I went out for the England cricket tour to South Africa, having set up my blog site with Andy Watts, the local internet guru.

Then South Africa tourism flew me out to their Indaba 2010 conference in early May. Since then, it hasn't stopped. An epic tournament, filled with drama on and off the field.

In brief, here's the statistics from my World Cup:

Newspapers: over 140 articles articles in an estimated 29 different newspapers, from USA Today and the Wall Street Journal in the US, to the Standard and Express in England and all over South Africa with translations appearing in India and Portugal among others. As I clip out the articles to create some kind of record of my trip, I find the Natal Mercury and the Shoot World Cup pull-out (which appeared in the Johannesburg Star, the Cape Argus, the Pretoria News, Natal Mercury and even Kimberley's Diamond Fields Advertiser, produced by the excellent Matshelane Mamabolo and dominated by the super Kevin McCallum) did me proudest.

Television: Apart from the usual Sky News stuff, there were two fascinating appearances on SABC2's Weekend Live plus interviews for Norwegian, Japanese, Indian and Italian television. Never saw those last four, but if anyone did, I hope I did okay!

Radio: nearly 50 crossings with David O'Sullivan on Johannesburg's 702 and CapeTalk's Aiden in the Mother City of South Africa, plus six or seven for BBC Radio 5. I did every Saturday lunch-time on WJR in the US which can be heard in 17 states, a couple with the BBC World Service and Ireland's NewsTalk, five or six for SABC's Radio 2,000 and one for a Portuguese outfit and various snippets for Guatemala, China and Denmark.

On-line: these are the verifiable numbers: YouTube 100,551, nealcollins.co.uk 30,129, Bleacherreport 128,730. How many of those are unique, different hits I'm not sure, but it puts up a figure of over 250,000 people.

I don't know how many readers/viewers/listeners actually paid heed to my views. Whether spoken, written or networked, I stuck to my guns.

When the foreign papers began their "South Africa sucks" campaign around April time, I firmly refuted their nonsense, sticking up for a nation which only shrugged off Apartheid 16 years ago.

There will be no bloodbaths, I said when the Daily Star's front page was emailed around the world. The stadiums, roads and hotels will be ready, I said when the Sun and Daily Mail said they were still building sites. The fans will be safe, I said when papers all around the world warned of crime and poor security.

Even on Sky News, when their Emma Hurd was down in Cape Town digging for anti-South African publicity at a squatter camp, I was on air saying such things wouldn't affect the World Cup.

They didn't. None of them. The stadiums were packed, the games started on time, the whole thing was magnificent.

I have made myself extremely unpopular in certain areas for being so outspokenly pro-South Africa. One site suggested I was paid by Durban's city council for being so keen on a 2020 Olympic bid. Rubbish. It's the best Olympic venue I've ever seen, and the official bid is underway now, six months after I first mentioned it here on December 29 of last year during the cricket tour.

An African Olympics is a certainty now. The IOL have been shamed in to it by FIFA's Sepp Blatter, not my favourite man but a visionary of sorts. He knew South Africa could do it, and stuck with them in a world full of doubters.

And ultimately, I should be happy. Crime in South Africa dipped to record lows during the World Cup. Security was perfect, just 170 arrests were made, a miracle of miracles. No bloodbaths, traffic snarl-ups, earthquakes, unfinished infrastructure, lethal snakes. How many times have I written that?

I was right all along. Of course, the foreign papers will make no apologies. None of them will call me and remind me: "Neal, you were right all along, we were wrong." South Africa, rightly, basks in the glory of a tournament which they pulled off with aplomb.
And I should be the happiest man in the world. Look at those stats above. I got the message out there, sold a few copies of my book.

But now it's over. Africa's first World Cup went off with barely a hitch. And here I sit, painting a fence, watering the hanging baskets, going to a school prize-giving, a county cricket final.

But what next? When you've been consumed by a crusade like South Africa 2010, how do you follow it?

Commuting into London has lost any allure it may have once held. The idea of doing shifts on the national newspapers and sniffing out a full-time role appalls me. There's a few Test matches coming up, the Ashes in Australia this winter... the start of the new Premier League season with England's rotten, over-paid let-downs.
Another book? A sequel to A GAME APART? Hardly. At 50p a book I'm never gone to get rich on current sales. Another career? Too late for all that at 49.

What I need is a new crusade. Any ideas? Feel free to leave them below. Help me lift the gloom. Please.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/421028-world-cup-2010-they-think-its-all-over-sadly-it-is-now-any-ideas

romanSA

July 16th, 2010, 07:04 PM

The influential Financial Times on a SA and Durban bid...

---------------------

S Africa reveals Olympic ambitions
By Richard Lapper in Johannesburg

Published: July 16 2010 16:07

South Africa will bid to host the 2020 summer Olympic Games, fresh from its triumphant staging of the World Cup.

Durban, the country’s third-largest city and Africa’s biggest port, has confirmed that it will be among the candidates. Cape Town – which competed to host the 2004 games – and Johannesburg may also bid, but Durban’s preparations are the most advanced.

“We are going ahead because we want to win. Our city is a very bright spot on a wonderfully bright South African map,” said Mike Sutcliffe, Durban’s city manager.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee has decided on the bid in the afterglow of the country’s successful hosting of the World Cup.

Durban was one of nine cities to host matches. Mr Sutcliffe told the Financial Times that his city had been planning an Olympic bid since 2004 and the International Olympic Committee would hold its 123rd session in Durban next year.

Mr Sutcliffe said he was confident about Durban’s chances. “This committee is quite independent in its views and we think the city will have an impact on them,” he added. The decision on the location of the 2020 games will be announced in 2013.

The Moses Mabhida stadium, built for the World Cup for $450m, is the most prominent of Durban’s attractions. The stadium’s flexible design means that it can be used for other sports, including athletics.

Next door is a rugby stadium, and a host of other facilities, including an Olympic-size swimming pool, are found nearby.

Its beach front has been redeveloped and there is space to build a centre for equestrian and other sports. Mr Sutcliffe added that Durban was also developing an integrated public transport system and laying its own fibre-optic cable network.

“A successful city has to have a broader strategy. You have to get the business case right,” he said.

Cape Town and Johannesburg cannot be ruled out of the bidding. However, Johannesburg’s altitude, 1,750 metres above sea level, could count against it. Pieter Cronje, communications director for Cape Town, was cautious about his city, saying this week that bidding for the Olympics was “an expensive and lengthy process”.

Rome is the only other city to have announced its bidding intentions for 2020. The 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, leaving Africa as the only continent yet to host the games.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8939834e-90ea-11df-85a7-00144feab49a.html

Trelawny

July 18th, 2010, 05:57 AM

Great Article! Durban is on the role now.

dysan1

July 18th, 2010, 05:28 PM

and i think we are all going to start getting tired of the Cape Town rhetoric on here "of not wanting to be emotional in the bid". Rubbish - they are not prepared and have been caught with their pants down and dont want to lose face!

Mo Rush

July 18th, 2010, 09:17 PM

Mo Rush

July 20th, 2010, 01:23 PM

Prepared?....for a domestic Olympic race which has just started?

The major events strategy started in 2008, to ensure that Cape Town was more pro-active in bidding for events, but no, its not centered around the Olympic Games, but would potentially include the Olympic Game s.

The Durban bid is good on its own, with or without a "pants down" Cape Town.

A true benefit of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is that visitors have come to Cape Town in winter. If this is repeated going forward, we will eventually see international carriers no longer needing to fly seasonally, but being in a position to fly to Cape Town all year round”.

Alderman Felicity Purchase, Mayco Member Economic Development and Tourism for the City of Cape Town agrees that the hosting of major events during Cape Town’s winter season is critical to unlocking economic growth for the city. “The City of Cape Town has developed an Events Policy and is now working on a post-2010 World Cup Events Strategy with key stakeholders from the events and tourism industry,” she said. “Events can play an important role in addressing seasonality, which is one of the greatest stumbling blocks in the development of Cape Town as a year-round tourism destination.” __________________

romanSA

July 20th, 2010, 01:42 PM

Building of BMX Worlds track on webcam

20 July 2010

Work on Pietermaritzburg's one-of-a-kind track for the UCI BMX World Championships in on the go at the Royal Showgrounds. As the track comes together, Internet users are able to view its construction by webcam on the event's official website.

Pietermaritzburg's mayor Mike Tarr got the construction going on Thursday last week when, armed with a shovel, he turned the first sod at the Royal Showgrounds. He watched with admiration as special soil started to be dropped onto the surface of the main arena, which will be sculpted into a world-class BMX track.

The sought after soil, which has been sourced in nearby Tweedie, has a distinctive reddish colour because of its high iron content and its high clay volumes. It is readily compactable, making for a smooth fast ride.

'It's great for the city of Pietermaritzburg'
"It's good to get out of the office for a few minutes and be a peoples' mayor," commented Tarr. "I'm at home with a spade in my hand, and wish this very prestigious event very well. It's great for the city of Pietermaritzburg."

The transformation of the piles of treasured earth to the race venue is taking place under the direction and bulldozer of Tom Ritzenthaler, the UCI's full-time BMX track builder.

The larger-than-life American has a reputation as a man with a tireless work-ethic who uses his earth-moving machines like a natural extension of his hands to artistically tracks. The one being built for the World Championships will be unique.

When completed, the track will be the first first ever double track, with a special eight-metre-high "hectic" start or pop-out ramp for the Elite Category, and a smaller safer start ramp for the rest of the entrants.

The main track will also be the longer track at 375 metres for a World Championship.

A permanent track

Event Director Alec Lenferna who was on hand to watch Pietermaritzburg's mayor wield the shovel, was clearly keen to pick up a spade too, but reflected: "I so hope we can find a good venue to put all this precious sand, creating a permanent track for the city."

"If Durban gets the Olympics 2020, we'd have a head-start to offer a nearby Olympic-standard BMX facility," he added.

Competitors will be using the Pietermaritzburg UCI BMX World Champs to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The South African Elite competitors are fronted by Sifiso Nhlapo who is currently racing in the USA and achieving plenty of good results. Also leading the way will be Dean Holdstock, who suffered a suspected cracked vertebrae after a crash earlier this month at the South African Nationals in Alrode, Gauteng, but who is reported to be responding to treatment.

Development contingent

An impressive contingent of Ilanga Newspaper-sponsored development riders will be arriving from Giba Gorge near Durban.

The four-day event will have a distinct family-friendly feel, with safe nearby parking, lots of good seating, a disco, and tasty food and refreshments on site.

To see how the building of the track is proceeding, visit the 2010 UCI BMX World Championships website.

The Championships take place at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg from 29 July to 1 August.

SAinfo reporter

http://www.southafrica.info/news/sport/bmx-worlds-200710.htm

romanSA

July 20th, 2010, 02:00 PM

After returning to SA yesterday, I caught up with the Sunday Tribune. There were at least 3-4 articles related to a possible Durban bid for the Olympics.

Main points of note:

1. A city bid seems to be backed by various political parties. I was very surprised to see the DA (which I thought would object to the bid) saying that notwithstanding his demerits, Mike Sutcliffe would be the best person to head the city bid as he knows the city's strengths, is politically connected, has pulled off a successful World Cup for the city, and his term as City Manager would end in 2011 (leaving him time to focus on a city bid).

2. The mayor of Durban has also been mentioned as a possible person to head the city bid given his political connection and because his terms also ends in 2011 (he's the longest serving metro mayor in SA).

3. One commentator, speculating about possible venues for a city bid, mooted that Umgeni River may have to be dredged and or widened to make it optimal to host rowing etc. He also suggested that the city was fortunate in having a very viable alternate venue for sports like rowing etc: Inanda Dam (the city also has Shongwni Dam and Hazelmere Dam, both of which are also within the city's boundries). If I could choose from the 3, I would select Inanda Dam simply because of its stunning surrounding scenery (the drive to Inanda Dam from Hillcrest must rank as one of the most stunning and dramatic drives in the city: the road descends rapidly and dramatically in several hairpin bends from approx 700m in altitude to approx 250-300m in altitude, all the while flanked by mountains, lush, steep valleys, and orange/red cliffs.

4. The same commentator also suggested that Kings Park be covered / enclosed to provide for a large indoor arena (approx cost R400-R500m).

5. The Durban media also seems sympathetic to the bid (an editorial and a weekly columnist both backed the bid).

Mo Rush

July 20th, 2010, 03:07 PM

After returning to SA yesterday, I caught up with the Sunday Tribune. There were at least 3-4 articles related to a possible Durban bid for the Olympics.

Main points of note:

4. The same commentator also suggested that Kings Park be covered / enclosed to provide for a large indoor arena (approx cost R400-R500m).

.

Makes sense but it would provide 2 large indoor arenas, not 1.

A similar proposal exists for Newlands Stadium given its roof structure dating back to 1996.

The Kings Park temporary cover would require a bit more work given the size/height/shape of the roof and stadium bowl.

Mo Rush

July 20th, 2010, 03:08 PM

Mike Sutcliffe would be the best person to head the city bid

There are other people that are more capable. This guy is an idiot. Kudos for pulling off the WC to him

romanSA

July 20th, 2010, 04:16 PM

Another good foreign review of SA's hosting of the WC, and another endorsement of Durbs...

--------------

South Africa perfect World Cup host

By Lee Kormish,
The StarPhoenix July 20, 2010

Having spent the better part of a month in South Africa, here is a review of the World Cup from a fan's standpoint.

In 2004, FIFA president Joseph Blatter announced South Africa would play host to the 2010 World Cup. From the get go there was skepticism whether an African nation could host successfully. The world now knows South Africa was the proper choice and this country is no longer a hidden gem to the rest of the world.

It was unbelievable to see 10 world-class stadiums in one country, not to mention it being an African nation.

The closing ceremonies were fantastic. Inside the stadium, the ceremony sparked more excitement than the final between Spain and Netherlands.

The organizing committee spent millions on security and the investment paid off. There were very few incidents and not much worth mentioning. I felt safe the entire month.

My accommodations were taken care of by Pastor Bruce McAlpine. He took my itinerary and called churches across the country. It was a blessing that I never had to pay for a place to sleep.

I didn't test the public transportation much. Rental vehicles were the way to travel. I did take a bus from Joburg to Port Elizabeth, and the bus ended up rear-ending a vehicle on the highway.

I was also on a plane from Cape Town to King Shaka International Airport in Durban during the debacle where 500-plus fans missed the semifinal between Germany and Spain. After being delayed for three hours, I made the game with time to spare.

My goal was to attend 19 games. All went according to plan. As a bonus I was able to squeeze one more game in, to total 20. The most exciting game I attended was Slovakia defeating Italy in a 3-2 thriller. A close second was a comeback led by Landon Donovan that helped the U.S. tie Slovenia.

A popular question is how much did I pay for my ticket to the final. They were being scalped on a website for anywhere from $700 to $2,000 per ticket. My price was a $750 bargain for a lower-level seat right behind the goal where Arjen Robben of the Netherlands choked on two breakaways.

The highlight of the trip was hanging around Soccer City long enough after the final to get to walk around on the pitch. The field was chewed up and not as soft as I thought it would've been.

In the end, the people of South Africa made the World Cup a true success. The atmosphere around the country was electric. Fans who took the venture were rewarded for their trip to the southern tip of the African continent.

People who live in South Africa are justifiably proud of their nation; they showed it and now the world knows.

The seeds of this tournament have been planted and will bear fruit for the country for years to come. From the game reserves of Kruger National Park to the luscious drive of the Garden Route to the top of Table Mountain, South Africa country has a lot to offer.

The World Cup is an opportunity the entire nation used to full advantage. I predict it is only a matter of time before the city of Durban is awarded hosting rights to the Summer Olympics.

The entire world looks forward and is already anxious for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Lee Kormish is a freelance writer. He can be reached at leekormish@sasktel.net

© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/sports/South+Africa+perfect+World+host/3298541/story.html

romanSA

July 20th, 2010, 11:05 PM

CNN and Sports Illustrated are now covering a possible Durban bid.

Seems the IOC definitely knows of Durban's intentions as an influential IOC member has directly mentioned a possible Durban bid. This report also alludes to the importance of television bidding rights (which provides a valuable source of funding to the IOC, the US being the biggest single source of such funding). This reports discusses how bidding rights between US networks have been delayed as a result of a sluggish US economy (slow US economy = lower $$ bids). As I noted elsewhere, a September Olympics clashes with US NFL season and will also attract lower bids (and lower ratings for the US network that buys the Olympics screening rights), as was the case with Australia in 2000...

-----------------

...IOC talks sponsors, bids

At a presentation in New York last Friday, the IOC announced the Dow Chemical Company as a new top sponsor in a deal that is reportedly worth $75 million over 10 years. It was good news for the committee during a sagging economy that has also delayed the bidding for U.S. television rights to host the Games in 2012 and 2014. NBC and ABC/ESPN are thought to be the main players, though Fox chairman Rupert Murdoch has given conflicting statements about his network's interest.

Timo Lumme, managing director of the IOC's television and marketing services, told SI last week he doesn't expect an announcement this year. "We're going to let the economic market decide the time for that," he said. "We usually start quite a long way in advance. We're not pressed. We're not hurried. We're going to take a look at the situation, but it isn't going to happen before 2011."

Look for the Games to head to Africa in the not-too-distant future, too. Cape Town and Cairo have been mentioned as options, but Durban may be the front-runner for the next strong African bid. "We have a slogan of universality," says influential IOC member Gerhard Heiberg, chairman of the committee's marketing commission. "We have to organize the Games all over the world. It's time now for South America. It will be a new challenge if Durban comes, or some other South African city. There will be other strong bids for 2020, like Madrid, Tokyo, but it will be time to consider Africa at some point."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/brian_cazeneuve/07/20/Olympic.notebook/

romanSA

July 21st, 2010, 11:57 AM

There's a report on page 3 of today's Mercury detaling the latest on Durban's Olympic aspirations.

Essentially, Sutcliffe reported to Council yesterday on the issue and said that an international bid process could cost the city between $40m to $200m (marketing costs etc), and that national government would have to be prepared to fund most, if not all those costs. Moreover, that the city had notified SASCOC of its intention to bid but was awaiting word from SASCOC on the way forward. Obed Mlaba was quoted as saying that there can't be a formal bid without SASCOC bidding documents.

Sutcliffe said he believed an SA bid would formally be announced and commence in July 2011, after the IOC Congress in Durban. We thus may have a long wait before we know which city, if any, the SA government has selected. This would make sense as once a SA bid city is officially announced by the government, canvassing and showcasing of that city to IOC officials would not be possible because of IOC rules. If Durban was selected, SA officials would lose the opportunity to showcase the city during the IOC Congress next year (even if CT or JHB is selected, the government won't be able to charm IOC bigwigs by flying them to either of those cities to show them off). The DA said they would need to see a feasibility / cost report, but were not against a Durban bid. The MF said more or less the same.

Coolidge

July 21st, 2010, 12:33 PM

Naturally, one of the important things to consider when bidding for these major events (especially events that are primarily located in a single city) are the infrastructural investments that are required.

I read an article recently that discussed the heavy financial burden that hosting an event like the olympics could have on a city (in fact, one of the reasons why I'm against the CT bid is the money required to finance the building of an entirely new olympic athletics stadium which would largely be redundant thereafter). The interesting thing about the article was that the IOC member quoted in it explained that in most recent olympics cases where 'white-elephant-stye spending' was criticised in the media, the host cities had decided - on their own steam - to finance major infrastructural improvements, which were not specific requirements for an olympic bid. Beijing was the case in point; where the city decided to build an entirely new airport, even though the incumbent was perfectly suitable and fit the olympic prerequisits.

Now I'm not saying that this has to be a bad thing, but the point is that it seems that the 'major spending on infrastructure' (public transport infrastructure, not stadium infrastructure) is taken upon by many cities on their own accord and falls outside the scope of what the IOC requires. This would suggest that many hosts in the past have used the opportunity of the olympics to upgrade their cities' transports infrastructure, and are able to write off or recoup some of the costs by the revenue generated during the event. Furthermore, as was the case with Barcelona, the city's reputation (think of CT's beauty and Durban's weather and beaches) rises dramatically, and the infrastructure therefore also becomes necessary for increased tourist numbers in the future.

That said, the South African bid hopefulls would in either case require major public transport infrastructure improvements if they were to host an olympics. And funnily enough, I stumbled upon a previous post of mine from the Durban Discussion in September 2009, outlining a potential Durban public transport plan in the cities tender documents:

Check it out:

Guys, just found a VERY interesting notice in the Ethek Tenders Notice document that's just come out, talking about a planned Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network planned to be rolled out to accomodate phase one of the next 15 years' public transport's requirements including rail, light rail (think London's Docklands Light Rail automated driverless rail system) and associated bus links. This was taken from a pdf file so please excuse the short lines.

- CONTRACT 1T- 4643:
“eThekwini Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network and Services Plan” Tenders are hereby invited from suitable Traffic and Transportation Professional Consultants to undertake the planning of an Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network and Services for the eThekwini Municipal area, meeting current and future demand, with a phased implementation programme and to develop and cost in detail, corridors and PT services for Phase 1 of the programme. The broad Scope of the Work Includes: An investigation to update current and future demand and modal split analysis and confirm or amend, as necessary, current proposals for the location and extent of the corridors that will form part of the integrated rapid public transport network ( IRPTN ) Development of a plan for an IRPTN and an operations plan for related public transport services, covering the eThekwini Municipal area, which can meet the requirements for public transport over the next 15 years, is affordable, sustainable and can be implemented on a phased basis during that period. This plan must be defined in terms of a network of public transport corridors, serviced by an appropriate combination of road-based public transport services, commuter rail services and light rail services, if justified, each supported by feeder services and various forms
of infrastructure where required to provide prioritised movement of public transport in the corridors. Where appropriate, this investigation must incorporate and build on the public transport system restructuring proposals carried out in Phases 1 and 2 of this project.

A compulsory briefing session will be held on 17 September 2009 from 9h00 to 11h00 in Room 127, 1st Floor, 30 Archie Gumede Place, Durban. A formal attendance register will be taken, and no proposals will be entertained from firms not having attended the session.

The minimum requirements for the proposals are:

One project manager with at least ten years relevant experience in project managing large multi-disciplinary projects with a primary focus on transportation. One transportation professional with ten years experience in public transport planning. A transportation specialist with ten years experience in public transport operations, PT service and maintenance contracts. One transportation professional with ten years of experience in transportation systems planning and modelling. A design team of engineers, architect and urban designer, with experience relevant to planning and geometric design of the types of infrastructure in this project, urban design and the design of support systems as described in the ToR

One or more traffic engineers with experience in traffic operations and management; one being a traffic signal systems specialist with ten years of experience.

A legal expert familiar with South African transport and contract legislation and land legal matters.

Accounting / financial professional(s) with experience in comparative systems analysis, with preference to those having experience with the public transport systems environment; preparation of business plans and experience with the preparation and negotiation process for the formation of business structures involving the formal and informal sectors.

Experience with the public transport industry environment, particularly in South Africa, would be considered beneficial ITS professional(s) with capacity and experience in public transport industry matters related to:-

Fare systems and revenue management systems based on smart card technology
Database design
PT Service operations monitoring
CCTV monitoring systems
Real time user information communications systems
Management information reporting systems
Systems hardware and software planning and design related to the above
Communications systems and technology related to the above
An environmentalist or specialist in the field of carbon emissions and the carbon credit programme

The project team must have expertise and extensive experience with BRT and LRT projects. This experience may be local or involve participation of international expert(s).
Such expertise must be available to the team in a way that ensures hands on participation with the team and engagement with the Client as required throughout the work programme.

Proposals that do not meet these minimum requirements will NOT be considered for scoring as outlined below. Consultants may be called in to give a brief presentation of their methodology and approach as part of the evaluation of the tender. Enquiries can be directed to Robin Chetty of the eThekwini Transport Authority on Tel (031) 3117403 or email: chettyrobin@durban.gov.za.

A tender fee of R 1000,00 will
apply.Tenders (five hard copies of volumes 1 and one CD) need to be placed in a sealed envelope addressed to the eThekwini Transport Authority and clearly endorsed Contract 1T4643 : EThekwini Rapid Public Transport Network and Services Plan” must be placed in the tender box located in the Ground Floor, 166 K E Masinga Road, Durban, not
later than 11h00 on 16 October 2009.
The public reading of the tenders will take place in the Boardroom on the 6th floor, 166 K E Masinga Road. The eThekwini Transport Authority will accept no responsibility for the late delivery of tenders by courier services or any other means.
The eThekwini Transport Authority reserves the right to not necessarily accept the lowest or any tender.

Coolidge

July 21st, 2010, 12:38 PM

This would make sense as once a SA bid city is officially announced by the government, canvassing and showcasing of that city to IOC officials would not be possible because of IOC rules. If Durban was selected, SA officials would lose the opportunity to showcase the city during the IOC Congress next year.

Very interesting. Explains why they've been so mumm on the bid. Very clever. Bring them here, showcase the city, then announce the bid. Announcement is 2013 right?

romanSA

July 21st, 2010, 01:32 PM

Here's today's Mercury article...

-----------

Olympics: Big reality 'cheque' hits Sutcliffe
July 21 2010 at 11:25AM

By Gugu Mbonambi

The bidding phase for the 2020 Summer Olympics could cost Durban anything between R306-million and R1.5-billion, eThekwini municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe told the council's executive committee on Tuesday.

He was commenting after speculation that Durban would bid to hold the event.

"It's an honour that the International Olympics Committee meeting will be held in Durban in July next year... With the Olympics, you have to go in with your eyes wide open," said Sutcliffe.

"Just the bidding phase can vary from something like $40m to $200m. So we are not talking about just a cheap process, and a process like that can start between 2012 and 2014."

Sutcliffe said bidding for the Olympics also required national government involvement. "One needs to deal with these things one step at a time. We are still waiting for the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) to write to us and indicate what process we will need to go through," he added.

Sutcliffe said bidding would be a costly venture as Durban would have to market the city, and put forward development plans on stadiums and infrastructure, including public transport and hospitality sector developments.

Durban would have to convince IOC technical teams that the city had the infrastructure for the Olympics.

Unlike the World Cup, Durban would have to persuade 30 sports codes to buy into the bid.

Sutcliffe added that various developments would get under way during the process.

"The bidding process will begin next year, after July."

The Mercury understands that Sascoc has written to potential host cities - including Durban - saying they should contact the confederation and state their intention of being involved in the 2020 Olympics bidding process.

According to mayor Obed Mlaba, "no bid document has been issued and you can't bid when there's no bid document".

DA caucus leader Tex Collins said holding the Olympics required much more funding and planning than the World Cup, which dealt with only one code.

"In the Olympics there's about 100 different disciplines. You need indoor stadiums, equestrian stadiums, an Olympic village... the Olympics take place in one city and the cost of staging the event will be a lot more compared to the World Cup, but it's not to say we shouldn't bid," he said.

Collins added that the DA first wanted to see what the World Cup had cost Durban before it would support an Olympic bid.

"We need to know how much funds to divert and how much the state will give us, because clearly the city could never in a million years afford to host the Olympics (alone)."

Collins said the Olympics was an "amateur sport" and the city would not be subjected to the draconian rules and regulations Fifa had subjected the country to, enabling Durban to have more freedom to generate funds via sponsorships.

Minority Front executive committee member Patrick Pillay also asked for a comprehensive financial report on the World Cup.

This article was originally published on page 3 of The Mercury on July 21, 2010

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=39&art_id=vn20100721050220388C153334

romanSA

July 21st, 2010, 01:44 PM

romanSA

July 21st, 2010, 01:47 PM

Very interesting. Explains why they've been so mumm on the bid. Very clever. Bring them here, showcase the city, then announce the bid. Announcement is 2013 right?

Successful SA bidding city, if any, will be announced July 2011, from what Sutcliffe indicates. International winner be chosen in 2013.

Mo Rush

July 21st, 2010, 02:02 PM

Mo Rush

July 21st, 2010, 02:06 PM

Sand-Shark

July 22nd, 2010, 09:51 AM

Although drawing a comparison is not fair, I was just thinking about the pros and cons - hear me out and let me know what you think.

- F1GP: Much smaller initial outlay. Annual return of one of the world's most high profile sports (and the associated celebs). The international view is focussed on your city every year, even if it is only for a short while. Debt risk is small.

- Olympics: Massive cost. Once off big-bang of international attention which will obviously massively boost the profile of a city, but maybe not sustainit over time. Debt risk is enormous.

The two aren't mutually exclusive, but maybe Cape Town focussing on getting the GP isn't such a bad move? Will be fantastic for the country to have all these events in the future....

dysan1

July 22nd, 2010, 12:11 PM

^^ the question around both remains the cost question. Government will step in to fund an Olympics, it will not for F1. To get F1 Cape Town would have to get some serious backers with big financial muscle to outlay the cash and there will have to be imaginative uses for it besides the few days of an annual F1 race as CT already has a race track.

The other option for F1 is to upgrade Kyalami which would also be expensive, but much more practical and realistic

Mo Rush

July 22nd, 2010, 05:14 PM

^^
The other option for F1 is to upgrade Kyalami which would also be expensive, but much more practical and realistic

and with an IRT link! and with amazing aerial views!

F1 in CT would be optimistic, and likely to remain a "plan".

romanSA

July 23rd, 2010, 11:44 AM

Contrary to the assumption of some on this forum that Durban may (and can only) be selected ahead of CT on political grounds, not merit (heaven forbid), and that if both cities were assessed by the IOC, not local officials (who are allegedly now biased in favour of Durban for no good reason), CT would be selected ahead of Durban -- sorry to burst your bubble. It seems IOC officials actually favour Durban, not Cape Town, for an Olympic bid. This is what the IOC is communicating to the foreign press.

Moral of the story: Perhaps it would be best to not assume anything ("my city has glamour so *must* be foreigners' choice"), or to let personal biases creep in on this issue. Most importantly, the lesson here is let the IOC speak for themselves...

------------------

Durban for South African Bid...
7/22/2010

Durban Tipped for South African Bid

A senior IOC member tells Around the Rings that Durban is the best city in South Africa to make a strong bid for the 2020 Olympics

So far Durban is the only South African city to announce its intentions to become the country's candidate city for the Games; authorities in Johannesburg and Cape Town have yet to decide whether to bid.

The IOC member admitted to ATR that climate and altitude issues would likely make it difficult for Johannesburg to mount a viable bid. During the World Cup, temperatures plummeted after sunset.

He said Cape Town, which lost out to Athens in its bid for the 2004 Games, was challenged by its wet winter weather.

But Durban enjoys a sub-tropical climate with average temperatures of 16 to 25° C year-round. Its mild and sunny winters and its hosting of the 123rd IOC Session next year are huge factors in its favor.

A Cape Town official yesterday conceded that the city was not ready to make a bid and appeared to rule out its chances of doing so.

"I don't want to be negative, but I don't think in the short term we are ready yet to do an Olympic bid," mayoral committee member for economic development Felicity Purchase was quoted by the South Africa Press Association.

"We will be looking at that, and have a committee that will [consider the issue] shortly. But to be quite honest with you, I think it is premature."

She said a cost-benefit analysis of hosting the Olympics was required, adding that the city was short of venues and without a good athletics track. Purchase noted that research had shown such mega-events did not deliver a great return on investment compared to smaller events.

"Yes, you achieve a lot, and there's a lot of legacy that comes with it. And that is the benefit of the [soccer] World Cup for us. But realistically, can we afford it, having to deliver all those things that are required for an Olympics, now?

"I can honestly say, I don't think so," she said.

Purchase claimed Cape Town had been "naive" in believing it had the capability to host an Olympics when it mounted a bid for the 2004 Games.

Last week, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam confirmed that the country would enter the 2020 Olympics race and urged potential host cities to come forward.

Durban declared its intentions the same day. It has already planned where it will build some of the sports venues required for an Olympics including the aquatic centre and Olympic village.

The Moses Mabhida stadium built for the World Cup was originally designed to be expanded from its existing 62,760-seat configuration to the 80,000 capacity required by the IOC to host the Olympics.

SASCOC chief Sam and CEO Tubby Reddy told ATR last week that they would be guided in their choice of a candidate city for the 2020 Olympics by the development goals of the government led by President Jacob Zuma.

IOC President Jacques Rogge encouraged South Africa to submit a bid for the Olympics at a meeting with SASCOC chiefs in Johannesburg on July 12.

Durban will host the IOC Session in July 2011, the first-ever in South Africa.

http://www.aroundtherings.com/articles/view.aspx?id=35248

Mo Rush

July 23rd, 2010, 01:15 PM

Contrary to the assumption of some on this forum that Durban may (and can only) be selected ahead of CT on political grounds, not merit (heaven forbid), a

Who said that?

I maintain though that if Cape Town and Durban went head to head in an IOC vote that Cape Town would win. This however is irrelevant as only Durban is in the domestic race with CT unlikely to bid.

The IOC race after the applicant phase is all about glamour, don't be fooled into believing otherwise.

At this stage its 112% Go Durban!

romanSA

July 23rd, 2010, 04:05 PM

Who said that?

Although I think Durban will get it anyway if bidding, for political sake

I realise there's been some debate on it, but I don't think you guys are giving the political angle as much emphasis as it deserves. It should be clear that the national government would favour a Durban bid over Cape Town.... And the political component, as always, is paramount.

Also, you cannot underestimate the power of having the "powers that be" being from "The Zulu Kingdom." We saw it with Danny, we will see it again come an Olympic bid.

In response to a statement that there could be court challenges between CT and Durban if the other gets the bid, alluding to the political connections Durban has in its favour…

I don't think so.

Tubby Reddy
Ruben Reddy
Sam Ramsamy
Jacob Zuma.

I maintain though that if Cape Town and Durban went head to head in an IOC vote that Cape Town would win. This however is irrelevant as only Durban is in the domestic race with CT unlikely to bid.

Yes, its also irrelevant because until 'he who alleges adduces the objectvely verifiable source' to corroborate their statement, their statement remains fanboy wish/fantasy/hope/opinion.

Mo Rush

July 23rd, 2010, 04:12 PM

Tubby Reddy
Ruben Reddy
Sam Ramsamy
Jacob Zuma.

It could of course win the "domestic race" on merit, but politics will and has played its part.

I maintain as below that Cape Town if head to head with Durban in an IOC vote, CT would get the nod.

This is my opinion.

The "fan boy" rubbish is unnecessary, I've been following a Durban bid for 14 years but I suppose this is the Durban Olympic Discussion thread.

jetjunky

July 24th, 2010, 04:34 PM

Who said that?

I maintain though that if Cape Town and Durban went head to head in an IOC vote that Cape Town would win. This however is irrelevant as only Durban is in the domestic race with CT unlikely to bid.

The IOC race after the applicant phase is all about glamour, don't be fooled into believing otherwise.

At this stage its 112% Go Durban!

Mo, What would the case for Cape Town look like? You know more about it than most, please put it in a post - in comparison to Durban's bid.

Mo Rush

July 25th, 2010, 01:04 AM

Mo, What would the case for Cape Town look like? You know more about it than most, please put it in a post - in comparison to Durban's bid.

In terms of venues or otherwise?

Durban has the stadium and available land making it less risky. The question in Durban's case is what is the city wide benefit? Does it have the weight in the candidate phase against the big guns (not suggesting that CT has )

Now that Durban is basically our candidate its all about making the bid exciting. The reality is you could either place 5th or 1st.

The "Games coming to Africa" should be the first message. "Durban" needs to take second place to the "African Games".

The priority for Durban is making the shortlist, after that its votes, votes and votes.

dysan1

July 25th, 2010, 05:48 PM

There are other people that are more capable. This guy is an idiot. Kudos for pulling off the WC to him

he might be an idiot in his PR skills, but he really does get things done effectively

dysan1

July 25th, 2010, 05:52 PM

So what if Durban is getting the political favours AND has a very credible setup? Other cities in South Africa had political favours for years and no one went "agg shame poor Durban is being ignored by government". The other cities lapped up every bit they could get. Now that the reverse is seen to be happening we are told Durban doesnt deserve it? Its unfair? Blah, if its our turn to finally get some political favours then i say take them with open arms and do not apologise for it.

Mo Rush

July 25th, 2010, 11:36 PM

Anyway, moving along. Seems like Madrid will not be in the 2020 race.

The stars are aligned. Go go go!

ZATUGA

July 26th, 2010, 11:36 PM

http://thedurbanolympics.com/

p2bsa

July 27th, 2010, 08:39 PM

this is old news and has been mentioned on the Durban thread... but this is the latest report on the centennial SA Open that will take place at the DCC... Olympic 2020/2024 golf competition venue?

SA Open returns to Durban

Jul 27, 2010 2:13 PM | By Staff Reporter
Durban Country Club will host the 100th South African Open tournament from December 16-19, the SA Golf Association confirmed on Tuesday.

The club has hosted the event on 16 previous occasions, more than any other venue.

“We are delighted to welcome Durban Country Club on board as the host venue for 2010,” said Mbali Ngqula, managing director of Dlamini Weil Communications, the tournament's promoter. “Given their illustrious history as a venue for the national Open, it is certainly fitting that they will host the 100th playing.”

Since it was first shaped from the bush and dunes of the KwaZulu-Natal coast in the early 1920s, the 18-hole championship course designed by Laurie Waters and George Waterman has remained a classic.

Gary Player, Bobby Locke, Ernie Els, Tim Clark, Tony Johnstone, Wayne Westner and Bobby Cole have all won the SA Open title at Durban Country Club.

Ann Robbie, chief executive officer of Durban Country Club, said, “We certainly have a long history with the SA Open and are deeply honoured to have been selected to host the 100th playing.

“As always, the course will be a great test of golf and we will ensure that it is in pristine condition. We have established ourselves as a world-class golfing venue and we believe our course will enhance the reputation and prestige of the South African Open.”

Saga president Enver Hassen expressed his approval of the spectacular venue: "This course, with its challenging lay-out and wonderful spectator viewing locations, will provide a dramatic stage for the world’s second oldest Open.

“The South African Open sits proudly on the amateur and professional schedule with a list of past champions that compares with the best in the world. We look forward to welcoming the world’s best golfers to Durban Country Club in December.”

Sunshine Tour commissioner Gareth Tindall added, “The SA Open has gone from strength to strength in recent years and is truly one of the great sporting events held in South Africa today.

“We are delighted to hear that Durban Country Club will be hosting the SA Open. This is fantastic news for our professionals and further evidence of how we are determined to build the legacy of the SA Open, by staging it at top venues.

“We look forward to working closely with Durban Country Club.”

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/golf/article572218.ece/SA-Open-returns-to-Durban

ZATUGA

July 29th, 2010, 10:55 PM

Olympic Newsdesk -- African Bid Premature; YOG Village Complete, Venues Questioned
7/28/2010

Africa likely won’t host the Olympics for at least another 20 years, an IOC member tells Reuters.

“There is a huge amount of work to be done besides political desire, hence the experts' view that any realistic chance for (hosting the) Olympics in Africa is between 2030 and 2040," Nawal el Moutawakel, who chaired the IOC's Rio 2016 coordinating committee, told the news agency.

South Africa’s recent World Cup success ignited hype in the media and hope throughout Africa that the continent was ready for the bigger stage. Or, at least, that South Africa could be ready by 2020.

"Soccer World Cup is one sport in nine cities, with 64 matches played by 32 countries in one month. Olympics is 26 sports in one city played by 10,500 athletes in three weeks and watched by billions around the world,” El Moutawakel told Reuters.

The Olympic champion hurdler did applaud the city of Durban for winning its bid to host the July 2011 IOC session, at which the 2018 Olympic host city will be announced.

A senior IOC member told Around the Rings last week that Durban is the best city in South Africa to make a strong bid for the 2020 Olympics.

El Moutawakel made the comments in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi Wednesday for the African Athletics Championships.

DennisRodman817

July 29th, 2010, 11:04 PM

^^ those clowns can go to hell....same ol old clowns doubting africa even after a successful world cup....these folks in europe are so blind.

Sand-Shark

July 30th, 2010, 07:25 AM

romanSA

July 30th, 2010, 08:10 AM

I totally agree. She also said something along the lines of 'Let's face it; Africa has more pressing social problems to address before hosting an Olympics.' I don't see why she is sweeping the whole of Africa with one brush. Moreover, I think hosting an Olympics is not necessarily mutually exclusive to addressing social issues given the thousands of jobs that preparing for an Olympics will bring, many of which, would be ongoing (services industry such as hotels, restaurants, future hosting of major events, etc). Thankfully other senior IOC officials, including the IOC President, think otherwise.

Mo Rush

July 30th, 2010, 04:12 PM

Doesn't mean much

1. Get evaluated technically during the applicant phase, in the same way as any other city is

2. Candidature/Glamour Phase: visit by the evaluation commission.

Then a vote.

In step 1, that will determine whether a city is "capable".

In step 2, there is no guarantee that any city, whether in or outside of Africa will host if they make it to this phase.

romanSA

August 2nd, 2010, 11:07 AM

Prince Albert has changed his wedding date so that IOC officials can attend his wedding, and so that he and Charlene can attend the event in Durbs...

---------

Monaco's Prince Albert changes wedding date
Sun Aug 1, 2010 8:03pm GMT
PARIS Aug 1 (Reuters Life!)

Prince Albert of Monaco, son of the late Hollywood star Grace Kelly, has brought forward his wedding with South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock by six days to avoid a clash with an International Olympic Committee meeting.

The couple will hold ceremonies in Monaco on July 2-3 next year, the prince's palace said in a statement on Sunday.

"This is because a meeting of the International Olympic Committee is scheduled in Durban from 5 to 9 July and the couple wished for the presence of the Olympic family by their sides," the palace said.

"The prince also wanted the princess's first trip abroad to be to her homeland, South Africa.

The palace had said last month that the couple would hold a civil ceremony on July 8 followed by a religious marriage on July 9, in what is expected to be a star-studded event.

The last time Monaco celebrated a wedding of its ruling prince was in 1956, when Albert's father Prince Rainier married Kelly.

(Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Michael Roddy)

http://af.reuters.com/article/southAfricaNews/idAFLDE6700DQ20100801

p2bsa

August 2nd, 2010, 04:36 PM

Another Durban Olympics Dream intl connection?
Seems the stars are lining...

New date for Monaco royal wedding
(AFP) – 6 hours ago

MONACO — Olympic rings will trump wedding rings next July when Prince Albert II of Monaco will bring forward his nuptials to accommodate the International Olympic Committee, his palace said Monday.

In June, Prince Albert announced plans to marry South African swimming champ Charlene Wittstock on July 8 next year, a date which, it now turns out, would clash with the IOC's July 5 to 9 meeting in Durban.

Albert, himself a former Olympic bobsleigh racer, has been a member of the world's top sporting federation since 1985 and has decided to get married a week early on July 2, 2011 so as not to miss the meeting.
But his 32-year-old bride need not worry that the playboy prince has his priorities mixed up -- the palace said Albert plans to make the best of the clash of dates by turning the Durban jaunt into an African honeymoon.
"The couple wanted to have the Olympic family around them," a statement from the princely household in Monaco explained. "The prince also wanted the princess' first foreign trip to be to her homeland, South Africa."

Charlene and Albert -- the son of the late Hollywood star Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III -- will therefore wed at a civil ceremony at the palace on July 2 and at a religious ceremony on the next day.

Perhaps the Olympic postponement was to be expected, as Albert and Charlene's relationship has thus far been dominated by the sporting calendar.

The 52-year-old prince met his love when she competed at a swimming meeting he was hosting in Monaco in 2000, and they made their first public appearance together at the Turin Winter Olympics of 2006.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hLaAeqV7rFlKyxrb3ols9RQlU-Kw

p2bsa

August 4th, 2010, 06:44 PM

more Olympics insight...

got this from my media man Quick...

TOP SHOW-JUMPING RETURNS TO DURBAN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Record entries have been received for the Showjumping Championships of South Africa, which return to the heart of Durban from Thursday 5 – Monday 9 August 2010.
The event, known as ‘The City of Durban Sunshine Tour,’ will take place at the Cyril Geoghegan Stadium adjoining the ABSA Stadium and will be followed by the ‘2010 World Cup Qualifier’, from Thursday 12 – Sunday 15 August 2010, at the same venue.
The first show, which includes the Showjumping Championships of South Africa, has 365 horses entered, with over 280 of these coming from other provinces. The country’s top riders, including Ronnie Lawrence for the first time, are entered. Winner of last year’s SA Showjumping Championships, Gareth Neil, will be defending his title as will his brother, Shaun, who won the 2009 World Cup Qualifier.
Other top entries from Gauteng include 2008 champion, Sean Henderson, Dominey Alexander, Lisa Wiliams, Barry and Lorette Taylor, Tossy Raynor, Oscar Ncube and Jonathan Clark.
KwaZulu-Natal has a record entry of over twenty horses entered in the premier open category. Local favourite Jodi Pieters will not be entering, due to injury, but the likes of Phillipa Baxter, Katelyn Lepart, Carol Nurden, Michelle Green, Ann Oliff, Heather Mostert, Kim Isaacs, Lauriann Minnet, Grant Langley, Colin Ferreira and Alwin van Breda, will be amongst the line-up.
An exciting new addition to this year’s programme are the Night Classes, which should appeal to the public.
There will be a six-bar event at the first show, on 6 and 7 August, starting at 6.30pm. A six-bar is six vertical jumps in a straight line, two strides apart. It is run over a maximum of five rounds with the jumps being raised every round.
CITY OF DURBAN SUNSHINE TOUR Page 2
Another highlight of the first show will be displays from The Soweto Vaulting Team. The displays will take place before the South African Young Riders Grand Prix on Saturday 7 August, at midday and before the main class of The Showjumping Championship of SA, at midday on Monday 9 August.
The second show, featuring the third leg of the World Cup Qualifier series, also has big entries. The majority are from other provinces and all the top riders are staying for both shows. Andreas Hollmann of Germany is the course designer once again. The riders love his tracks which are very challenging, but fair.
The 13 August night class at the World Cup Qualifier, sees a knock out pairs competition which is also great fun for the spectators.
Both shows carry ‘CSN’ status, which means that points gained by riders in the international class count towards the international World Rankings. (WCQ show is CSI status).
The event is being hosted by C&S Shows. Show Director, Sue Pieters, hosted last year’s event, which attracted a record number of spectators. The riders were also delighted with the venue and the event, resulting in the massive entry field this year.
Head of eThekwini Strategic Projects Unit and 2010 Programme, Julie-May Ellingson, commented; “The City of Durban is looking forward to welcoming this premier event back to Durban. It is quite unique to have an equestrian arena in the heart of the city, close to beachfront, hotel and entertainment attractions. This fact, coupled with our warm August weather, has resulted in the event being known as ‘the holiday show.’ This event provides the ideal opportunity to strengthen Durban’s reputation as ‘Africa’s Sporting Capital.’
There is no entry fee for development riders and sponsorship has been provided for them wherever possible. Public entry to all shows is free (7.30am – 4.00pm daily) and refreshments are available.
Issued on behalf of : C&S SHOWS
By: Frances Park-Ross.
For further information contact: Sue Pieters on tel: 031 7834619

Mo Rush

August 5th, 2010, 11:54 AM

There are currently negotiations/talks that Durban may step in to host the 2012 African Athletics Championships if Benin does not obtain a government guarantee necessary for staging the event.

romanSA

August 5th, 2010, 04:58 PM

That would be nice but lots of behind-the-scene negotiations are underway to get the Benin government to give those gaurantees. Plus, Egypt and Morocco are also being considered as alternatives...

GregPz

August 10th, 2010, 09:50 AM

Support for a Durban bid from the CEO of SATSA...

Olympics 2020 – ready or not?
10 Tue, Aug 2010

Africa should expect to wait at least 20 years before hosting the Olympic Games according to a Reuters report quoting Nawal Moutawakel, a Moroccan former Olympic 400m hurdles champion and IOC official.

The article refers to university studies that conclude Africa is more likely to host the Olympics between 2030 and 2040. Moutawakel, who also chaired the IOC’s co-ordinating committee for the London 2012 Summer Games and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics says: “I know South Africa did a wonderful job with the Soccer World Cup, right from the airport, going into Johannesburg city and suburbs on wide smooth roads, to world-class hotels and wonderful facilities in all the cities. But the Soccer World Cup is one sport in nine cities, with 64 matches played by 32 countries in one month. Olympics is 26 sports in one city played by 10 500 athletes in three weeks and watched by billions around the world. Let us face it. Africa has many unique problems and other priorities to handle at the moment. So I think those studies are not off the mark.”

But not everyone is in agreement with Moutawakel’s views. Michael Tatalias, CEO of SATSA responded in a letter to the editor:

Chin up, South Africa! This report is wrong. Hosting the Olympics is not harder than the World Cup, just different.

Having been actively involved in preparing tourism in SA for the Soccer World Cup, this is typical Afro-pessimism (the self-doubt has annoyingly started again, already)... not able to be bold enough to grasp the vision. The world is quite prepared to believe we can do it but we ourselves and the rest of Africa spend so much effort on talking down our abilities. I for one will not stand for this. The evidence does not support the negativity.

We CAN, and MUST bid for the 2020 Olympics. We may not win the bid but key to maintaining the World Cup 2010 momentum is to keep bidding for all events. If we don't get Olympics 2020 (and I cannot see why anyone could possibly beat us...) we should carry on bidding until we do get it. Having a fixed deadline was the best thing for cabinet and government - it focused their minds wonderfully and inspired actual delivery - which for the 14 years before had been patchy at best.

The Olympics will do the same - get senior government egos on the line and ensure that action is taken. The Olympics is much better for the citizens than a Soccer World Cup. The vast number of athletes requires a dedicated village and transport infrastructure, and pretty much a redesign of the city that is chosen to host it. On a much smaller scale SA has previously hosted the African Athletic Games (currently in Kenya). The Athletes’ village was designed to be the East Bank of Alexandra, and that area is part of the rejuvenation of Alex. Soccer only builds big stadiums, Olympics builds proper cities by spending on development that can be used by citizens.

Durban is best placed to bid. The event has to be – for TV revenues (the only thing that FIFA and IOC care about) – in the European summer, so our winter. And the IOC fears altitude. Thus Durban is probably our best bet.

Durban is warm enough. Also, Durban cleverly designed the Moses Mabhida stadium to handle athletics, so the job is done already for the main stadium. It is right next door to Kings Park, which can handle a significant amount of events itself. Plus, don't forget that there is already a large Olympic pool across the road from Moses Mabhida (where we host the national swimming champs every year, and good enough to attract international swimmers). But wait, that's not all....there is sufficient land around Moses Mabhida precinct to build all the other sports facilities required for the Olympics. Plus there is the massive harbour, sea and a large dam and river (the Duzi is held there every year, plus Comrades route for the marathon....) to host all the water events like sailing.

The open land around the stadiums can be expanded by using unused rail/transnet land for the massive train station. Plus there is already a well linked metro rail system that can be expanded to provide the spine of the transport infrastructure. There is also a large amount of land around the new large airport that could be used for the athletes’ village, and could be the core of a hi-tech/Silicon Valley type growth node for future growth opportunities.

The joy of this is that a massive event like this unlocks national and provincial money, alongside the relevant city's own development funds. This money needs to be spent, a big event gives it focus.
If you think R40 billion is a lot of money (mostly what was spent in the lead-up to FIFA 2010, relook at the annual national budget and see how much money we spend on development. We are a big country with large budgets, not a piddly banana republic. Fixed and visible targets (don't get much more visible than FIFA or IOC) "help" government to do real delivery, and force genuine and productive public-private partnerships - and give focus. Proper PPPs are actually what got the World Cup done.

All this already exists. The rest can be built, and easily. Can we build it? Of course, YES WE CAN. SA construction firms built the deepest gold mining industry, all our cities, all our stadiums, most of Dubai and the Middle East, the Katse pump-storage dam and infrastructure, the Gautrain (fabulous, do yourself a favour and take a trip on it as a tourist).... We have a strong history of building on time and on budget, which is why we are contracted to build around the world. We have already proved our abilities.

Hosting the Olympics is part of our internal tourism industry long-term vision under discussion right now. We achieved the FIFA World Cup for 2010, and probably will get 10 million visitors this year, up from 600 000 in 1994. The 20/20 vision calls for 20 million visitors by 2020, the Olympics in 2020, being in the Top 20 in the Anholt Roper Nation Branding Study and WEF Tourism rankings. Big and challenging goals - but we can do it!

We could possibly even host the Olympics by 2016 (allocated to Brazil) - we delivered the FIFA2010 in only six years - given enough willpower and money reallocation. The talent, drive and skill already exist right here in SA.

All we need is political willpower to allow us to get going. Sadly, the tourism industry can't bid for this by ourselves (or we would have already). The relevant sporting codes have to do the bid - so SASCOC has to get going, and SOON. And we have to magically find another Danny to champion the process in SASCOC.

Let us not forget that in 2011 the Durban ICC is hosting the IOC conference. It is a massive opportunity to start our bidding process.

A key point is that to win the Olympics we have to get the Commonwealth Games, often seen as a tester for Olympic ability – much like FIFA uses the Confederations Cup to test for the World Cup. Now we are much harder pressed for time - so our bidding and planning teams should be set-up and funded now. This month, next week. NOW.

Now is not the time for fear, trepidation, self-doubt. At the risk of being called arrogant, I firmly believe that people who are negative about our ability to host the Olympics quite simply haven't understood the question or the issues.
Now is the time believe and unite in taking our country forward. The Olympics is only one of many projects that we should be tackling. It is a signature project and one that we should try very hard to get.

We have never failed in hosting an event, and are now the only country in the world to have hosted three world cup tournaments (soccer, rugby, cricket), hosted the IPL with three weeks’ notice, successfully hosted the WSSD, Non-Aligned Movement, CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government), the largest medical conferences like the AIDS conference, the list goes on and on. When we host the Olympics, then we become a unique country, and must then be acknowledged as the expert country on hosting events of all sorts.

Mo Rush

August 10th, 2010, 12:15 PM

land around the airport for the athletes village?

I think he means using the old airport site.

romanSA

August 10th, 2010, 01:24 PM

That's great endorsement from the CEO of the Southern African Tourism Services Association, on top of all the other endorsements and support the city has received, to date.

I don't think an athletes village near either the old or new airport is viable. There's sufficient land nearer to the CBD (Greyville's Block AK, next to Independent Newspapers and adjacent to Greyville Racecourse, is another relatively large strip that comes to mind) and Kings Park precinct (such as the drive-in site, which is the city's preferred site).

ToxicBunny

August 10th, 2010, 04:14 PM

Around the airport?.. thats bloody miles away, it would never fly with the IOC...

as for the Comrades for the marathon.... i'm guessing someone neglected to mention the VAST difference in length between the Comrades, and a marathon...

romanSA

August 16th, 2010, 10:24 AM

Danny Jordaan positive and optimistic about a 2020 Durban bid...

---------------

Durban gets 2020 thumbs-up
August 15 2010

By Agiza Hlongwane

Football heavyweight Danny Jordaan is cautiously optimistic about Durban's bid to host the Olympic Games in 2020.

Jordaan, credited with the successful delivery of Africa's first World Cup, believes the city is well poised to stage the Olympics, although he admits it will place huge demands on resources and infrastructure.

"I certainly think Durban has what it takes. I'm sure the city will make a proper analysis on whether to go with it," he told the Tribune after presenting a lecture at a Diakonia Council of Churches gathering in Durban this week.

"Durban has done incredibly well, both from the point of view of infrastructure and the hosting of the World Cup. You have one of the best stadiums in the country, one of the best in the world. The Germans were very happy, the Dutch were here. They are happy. I was in Australia last week, they were very happy. And of course the fan park in Durban was a huge success. So, I think many people who came here will certainly be coming back."

Jordaan, the former CEO of Fifa's local organising committee, said he always knew that once the World Cup had been delivered successfully, attention would shift to the 2020 Olympic Games.

"I knew the IOC would be under pressure because it's then the only mega-event not to touch African soil. I hear Durban has expressed an interest; we'll have to see what it comes up with.

He said South Africa's hosting of the World Cup had already endeared the country to the International Olympics Committee's Jacque Rogge.

"When he came here to watch the World Cup final, he said he thought it was time for Africa to host the Olympics. I think that was a good statement from the president of the IOC," added Jordaan.

The city had already invested in infrastructure, which would help its bid.

Jordaan's wife, Roxanne, speaking at the lecture, praised South Africa's hosting of the spectacle, saying it showed the country had enough resources to help the poor.

"The World Cup has shown us that we can deliver and now the government must deliver according to the needs of the people."

Her statement was echoed by Anglican Bishop of Natal Rubin Phillip, who has been vocal about the lack of housing at the Kennedy Road informal settlement. "If we can successfully host a massive event like the World Cup, spending billions, then why can't we provide water, electricity and housing for a handful of shack dwellers."

Jordaan, responding to criticism that ordinary South Africans did not benefit from the billions made during the World Cup, said the event had created 329 000 sustainable jobs.

He said 1.4 million people had passed through the country's land and sea borders during the month-long event and half a percent of the country's economic growth could be attributed to the event.

He said the government's main objectives - nation-building, boosting tourism, improving infrastructure and creating jobs - were achieved.

Jordaan appealed to South Africans to draw on the "positive spirit of the togetherness" that existed during the tournament.

"The World Cup has redefined who we are. It has repositioned and rebranded our country. People are looking at us differently.

"All the negativity about our country people were saying we can't host the World Cup, we don't have the capacity - all those things are gone. Now we need to find a way to take this forward as a country."

Jordaan is on his way to Europe to do duty on Fifa's technical inspection committee, which will report on the feasibility of countries bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup events.

Jordaan said he had not yet decided whether to return to local football administration. That decision would be made after he had enjoyed his holiday in September.

"I need a rest," he said.

agiza.hlongwane@inl.co.za

This article was originally published on page 13 of Tribune on August 15, 2010

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=vn20100815073907660C247444&singlepage=1

dysan1

August 16th, 2010, 11:50 AM

Developing accomodation in the vicinity of the new airport (think cornubia) would not actually be a bad thing in my mind (unless there are strict proximity rules for athletes villages, i have no clue). It is a rapidly growing area. The accomodation will easily be taken up after the Olympics and it will provide a new node for the athletes, away from the crazy inner city (it will be jam packed if the city hosted).

Also building 25x 20 story blocks on the drive in site will, in my mind, not be good for the future of the city. Will be expensive, may deteriorate in the long term as high rise living for the masses will lead into all sorts of problems going forward.

shacky

August 16th, 2010, 08:47 PM

they could be talking abt durbans first ever airport :)

Durbsboi

August 17th, 2010, 10:16 AM

Thats the site the new stadium is on though?

ToxicBunny

August 17th, 2010, 05:07 PM

Partially...

The Natal Mounted Rifles occupies what was the Control Tower of the original Aerodrome iirc...

Awesome.e

August 18th, 2010, 10:33 AM

romanSA

August 23rd, 2010, 10:27 AM

It's good to see Frankie Frederick's pledge to bring the Games to (South) Africa getting more coverage.........

------------------------

African Olympic Vow
8/20/2010

IOC Member Pledges Support for South Africa 2020

Four-time silver medalist Frank Fredericks will do his part to bring Africa its first Olympics, the IOC member from Namibia vowed Friday to AFP.

"I will take up the challenge of improving athletics in Africa and take up the international challenge to make changes," he told the French news agency.

Fredericks, chairman of the IOC’s Athletics Commission, is in Singapore for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, where he participated Friday in a “Chat with Champions”.
Fredericks won silver in the 100m and 200m in both Barcelona and Atlanta. (ATR)
"It would be nice to share our culture, to share our vuvuzelas, to share our food, to share the way we do things with the world," he said.

"I do think we should get a chance to host the largest event in the world."

South Africa’s recent World Cup success ignited hype in the media and hope throughout Africa that the continent was ready for the bigger stage. Or, at least, that South Africa could be ready by 2020.

IOC President Jacques Rogge encouraged the country to submit a bid for the Olympics at a meeting with South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee chiefs in Johannesburg on July 12.

Durban will host the IOC Session in July 2011, the first-ever in South Africa.

A senior IOC member told Around the Rings late last month that Durban is the best city in South Africa to make a strong bid for the 2020 Olympics

http://www.aroundtherings.com/articles/view.aspx?id=35434

dysan1

August 24th, 2010, 04:12 PM

Seems the ball is moving on this one from a city perspective. two rather important points on this.

1) The Durban chamber of commerce have recently discussed this and have given the city support if it is sturctured in a way of massive city wide investment.

2) The city council is tabling that any new developments within the sports precinct and certain land parcels bordering it include elements that benefit a bid. (i.e. the old waterworld site can include highrise development, but preference will be given to hotel development and something that incorporates an additional "arena" - so be it a large conference space that could be used for events, or an additional concert venue, or even better still a fixed sports specific focussed venue.

I am sure Suncoast will be given the same mandate when they reapply for their casino licence next year - more hotels, a large conference/arena venue (they do SOOOO many events in a current temporary venue on the Sunstrip or on the Sundeck that I dont think pushing them for a permanent larger venue would be difficult). If they meet this, they will prob get the extra slots and tables they want.

romanSA

September 1st, 2010, 04:29 PM

Olympic bid = major opportunities
01 September 2010 - 14:48
By Thrishni Subramoney

Durban authorities say major projects like the city's bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, could create major opportunities for small businesses in eThekwini.

Small business owners from around KZN are in Durban for the city's SMME conference and expo.

The municipality's business head, Philip Sithole, says major housing projects - as well as maintenance on 2010 infrastructure like the Moses Mabhida Stadium, and the new promenade - represent opportunities for small businesses.

Sithole says even though there are no targets in place - around 40-percent of the city's budget goes to small and medium enterprises.

He however says they're providing training to ensure that small businesses are up to the task.

"I have had problems in the past where people were given tenders but they could not finish projects. In instances where they could finish projects [they] were not of the standard expected.

"We can not say to people they must not tender for projects but what we need to do is to provide support and we've put together programmes to deal with those problems."

http://www.ecr.co.za/kagiso/content/en/east-coast-radio/east-coast-radio-news?oid=886186&sn=Detail&pid=490476&Olympic-bid---major-opportunities

dysan1

September 3rd, 2010, 06:03 PM

Interesting coverage by Engineering News today

As SA cities weigh their 2020 Olympic options, scepticism abounds

By: Petronel Smit
3rd September 2010

In the aftermath of hosting a successful R30-billion FIFA World Cup, some South African cities are said to be fired up to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, which could require investments of more than R40-billion.

Some observers canvassed by Engineering News indicated that they were wary of submitting such a bid, warning of only modest economic benefits and material costs and risks, such as the development of inappropriate transport infrastructure, the construction of ‘white elephant’ facilities and the uneven allocation of budgets. How-ever, others believe the tourism and con- struction boost could be material, and that there could be significant intangible business confidence spin-offs, as was the case with the World Cup.

The question is whether South Africa, which has serious domestic challenges, such as unemployment, as well as housing backlogs and deep educational and healthcare problems, would be wise to jump straight into such an audacious sporting bid. In other words, would it be more beneficial to postpone a bid to between 2030 and 2040, or to seek to build upon the unquestionable success of the FIFA tournament and take President Jacob Zuma’s words to heart and bid immediately for the 2020 Games.

Possible Candidates
South Africa’s governing Olympic body, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), announced in July that it would formally oversee any bid, should one arise. Sascoc president Gideon Sam mentioned that Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria could all be contenders for the Games.

While authorities in Durban say that the city is keen to put its name in the ring and Cape Town is still considering its options, the high altitude in Johannesburg and Pretoria makes the cities unlikely Olympic candidates.

Durban city manager Dr Michael Sutcliffe says that the city is interested in bidding for the 2020 Olympics. “Once we have sent the letter to Sascoc, indicating that we are interested in bidding and have received the full details from them, I will prepare a report for the executive committee and council to make a final decision,” he explains.

Durban’s bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics was given a significant boost when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the city would be the venue for the committee’s 2011 congress to announce the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The congress will see thousands of influential personalities, accompanied by world media, descending on the KwaZulu-Natal city. Durban Tourism acting CEO Perry Moodley says hosting the IOC congress was a strategic move in light of the city’s other ambition to host a summer Olympics.

“Getting Olympic decision-makers from around the world in Durban is most important. We want them to see the infrastructure we have and are building. We believe the city has a strong chance of hosting the Olympic Games,” he said.

Déjà Vu?
Any bid would be South Africa’s second, with Cape Town having finished third in the race for the 2004 Games, behind winner Athens and Rome.

Cape Town mayoral committee member for economic development and tourism Felicity Purchase says that it is still too soon to tell whether Cape Town could tender once again, as the city is still in the process of evaluating the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“We need to conduct a cost/benefit analysis of an Olympics, look at the Olympic bid book, and conduct a ‘gap analysis’ of what is required and what could be achieved in a given time,” she explains.

She adds that many recent events have cost the city dearly and the Olympic Games will be no exception, as it is a one-city bid, which means that the city will be expected to provide all the requirements.

Cape Town’s report on the 2010 FIFA World Cup is expected to be complete by the end of August, after which an analysis of a possible Olympic bid will start. Purchase points out that careful evaluation must be done. “Ten years is far enough off to plan an Olympic budget, but there are also a number of other things that need funds in the meantime,” says Purchase.

Infrastructure Stretch
Lecturer in economics at Stellenbosch University Johan Fourie notes that the choice of host city depends on a number of factors, such as sport, transport and tourism infrastructure, geographical location and climate, as well as beauty, culture and history. The chosen city must also be able to contend with other famous cities that may bid, such as Doha, Dubai and Rome.

Sam says there is a lot of work to do before launching an Olympic bid. “At this point, there are no cities in South Africa that have the requisite infrastructure that the Olympic movement would need,” he notes.

An aquatics centre, a kayaking or canoeing facility and an equestrian centre are some new facilities that Durban will have to build, as well as many other smaller centres, including a media centre. Sutcliffe notes that the city already has the Moses Mabhida stadium, which was designed to accommodate an Olympics and can be converted into an 80 000-seater athletics venue. The stadium is part of the multisport Kings Park sporting precinct.

Should it bid, Durban claims that it will aim to host an Olympics that focuses on sustain-ability and reduces construction that does not have a long-term legacy.

Sutcliffe notes that it is difficult to say what the expense of hosting the event will be. “You cannot really use London as a case study as they are rehabilitating a whole new area of the city, while we will be building on what we already have. But it could mean an injection of more than R40-billion,” he points out.

While there are a number of infrastructural requirements already in place in Cape Town, such as the Newlands Olympic swimming pool and the integrated transport system, which will be finished by the end of this year, the city will have to build other infrastructure, such as a rowing course and an Olympic village.

Cape Town’s new stadium would also need to be substantially modified, at considerable cost, as it does not have an athletics track, the main requirement to host the Olympics.

However, Purchase notes that these infrastructural challenges can result in new opportunities, as some new infrastructure, like accommodation, can be sold after the games.

Economic Injuries
Experience from past Olympic host cities indicates that there are a number of risks inherent in all Olympic events, which are difficult to manage effectively. These risks include inaccurate budgeting, public debt, inappropriate transport infrastructure, construction of ‘white elephant’ facilities and the uneven allocation of benefits.

If considered from an economic point of view, Fourie believes South Africa should not bid for the 2020 Olympics, as research shows that the sporting event does not hold significant economic benefit for a region.

“Most sport economists agree that, except for Barcelona in 1992, the Olympic Games has, in the past, done little to improve unemployment and productivity. In short, it seldom happens that the people of the hosting country draw any benefit from the Olympics,” he asserts.

Purchase does not believe that an African country can put in the sort of bid that a developed country can, as we do not have the same tax scale. “We can have a successful event, but it will have to be down-scaled. We do not have a working population with money to spend on more stadiums,” she asserts.

The most senior African member of the IOC, Nawal El Moutawakel, agrees, saying that it will be another 20 years before the continent is ready to host the Games.

“I have read studies by some universities specialising in the Olympics, who gave Africa between 2030 and 2040 to host the Olympics Games, as it is a different ball game from the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” says El Moutawakel, who is also a member of the IOC’s executive board.

El Moutawakel claims that an Olympics poses far greater challenges than a soccer World Cup. While the 2010 FIFA World Cup required football facilities and related infrastructure in nine cities, the Olympics needs facilities for 10 500 athletes taking part in 300 events and 28 different sports in one city, significantly increasing the possibility of redundant facilities after the event.

“Africa has many unique problems and other priorities to handle at the moment,” she asserts.

Purchase agrees, saying that, while the 2010 FIFA World Cup had fantastic spin-offs and bidding for the Olympic Games is very tempting, the country must ensure that it is the right decision in every respect.

“Countries that have hosted the Olympics say that the return on investment is far greater for small events held in a regular, sustainable way than for a mega event,” says Purchase.

Andrew Boraine, the current CEO of public– private partnership the Cape Town Partnership, and city manager of Cape Town when the city bid for the 2004 Olympics in 1997, says that Cape Town is already a popular global and local events city, hosting events such as the Design Indaba, the Cycle Tour, the Jazz Festival and the Mining Indaba, and has strengthened its reputation by helping to host a successful 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“We need to be planning now how to bid for a range of sporting, cultural and business events in the future as part of promoting economic growth and job creation and not just on the issue of the Olympics in isolation,” he notes.

Bid Benefits
Sutcliffe believes that hosting the Olympic Games holds many advantages. “Firstly, it means South Africa, after doing so wonderfully in hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, will stay in the world spotlight. This has significant marketing potential and continues to show that Africa can be an excellent host,” he asserts.

He adds that Durban, as a city, will benefit economically, as a result of infrastructure spend, marketing and tourism spend. The city can also benefit socially, with the completion of its public integrated transport that links the whole city, information and communication technology investments, densifying housing along key corridors and building an athlete’s village, which could become social housing afterwards. There can also be environmental benefits, boosting Durban in its aim to remain Africa’s greenest city.
The elements of social cohesion that such an event brings are also unquantifiable. “Hosting the Olympics will lift the profile of the host city and improve tourism. But, from an economic point of view, it is probably not worth it,” Purchase asserts.

While Fourie acknowledges that tourism and construction will benefit from hosting the Olympics and that local prestige, for both the community and politicians, is also a motivating factor for bidding for the Olympics, he believes that the redeployment of the national budget may be the most important factor in the decision to bid for the Olympics.

“Cities often struggle to secure proportional infrastructure expenditure from national government. The hosting of the Olympics allows host cities to claim a larger budget from the national Treasury,” he asserts.

This will result in much-needed transport development, particularly public transport. However, residents of other cities will pay for one city’s development.

An important developmental benefit of the Games is provided by the job opportunities created by preparing for and hosting the Games. Opportunities also exist for skills development and the empowerment of members of disadvantaged communities through job-training programmes, parti-cularly in the tourism, construction and communications sectors. The additional skills will contribute towards improving overall productivity levels and provide an incentive for further investment.

However, most Games-related job opportunities created in tourism and construction are likely to be temporary. The extent to which permanent jobs are created will depend on the long-term growth in tourism resulting from the Games. Further, most of these Games-related employment opportunities are likely to be in the lower-skills, lower-wage sector.

Meanwhile, IOC president Jacques Rogge said in a statement that South Africa had already successfully staged the All Africa Games in 1999, the 1995 Rugby World Cup and a number of major cricket tournaments. He added that it was now up to the nation to decide whether the Olympics should be hosted in South Africa.

While Durban currently seems to be the most likely city to get the national nod, Boraine points out that Cape Town and other cities can still capitalise on large numbers of visitors and country branding and marketing.

Secret to Success
Boraine believes that an Olympic bid can only succeed with 100% backing from other spheres of government. “One of the weaknesses of Cape Town’s bid in 1997 for the 2014 Olympics was lukewarm support and, in many cases, direct interference from national govern- ment. However, things have improved since then, with examples of good intergovern- mental cooperation around the 2010 FIFA World Cup demonstrated over the past three years; so, perhaps, that pitfall can be overcome,” he asserts.
Cape Town executive mayor Dan Plato agrees, saying, at the full council meeting of the City of Cape Town, in July, that it would be inconceivable to host the Olympics without support and guaranteed funding from the national government.

He added that there must be a return on effort and investment benefits for the host city and all its people. In Cape Town’s case, he stressed that the facilities and gains from hosting such events should support the city’s long-term development goals and events must be used as an economic catalyst.

“Now that the 2010 FIFA World Cup is over, we need to buckle down and reset our focus on the bread and butter issues that face the people of Cape Town on a daily basis,” said Plato.

Spending Priorities
Fourie believes that the money budgeted for the Olympics should rather be spent on education, health, housing and water and sanitation. However, he points out that there are ways to minimise the negative economic impact. “The Olympics can be used as a catalyst for urban renewal, road, rail and public transport infrastructure, housing, security and communal recreation,” he points out.

Although the country still faces domestic challenges, like unemployment, housing and education, Sutcliffe does not want to equate these challenges with the challenge and expense of hosting the Olympic Games. “We must tackle backlogs and deal with unemployment, but that does not mean we should not also engage in events like the Olympics. Such one-off events allow us to keep positioning ourselves as a world-class country, ensure economic growth and build infrastructure, as well as ensure that we continue to be a sporting nation,” he asserts.

He believes that a successful Olympic project must be sustainable and properly funded with the right team driving it. “The most significant challenges that must be overcome in Durban and in South Africa to host the Olympics include getting our whole country behind the bid, dealing with Afropessimism and marketing ourselves to the world,” he says.

Fourie recommends that South Africa should rather bid for the 2024 or 2028 Olympic Games. “While the sport infrastructure will probably be ready by 2020, the road, rail and air transport infrastructure will need more planning and community contributions,” he says.

Sam adds that the Olympics is an enormous event that is not to be taken lightly. “A vast amount of homework and consultation has to be done and all sides of the equation have to be taken into consideration by the stakeholders concerned,” he points out.

The IOC’s decision on the host for the 2020 Olympics will be made in 2013, but preliminary bids must be submitted next year. So far, Rome is the only city to have formally announced it will bid for 2020.

Edited by: Martin Zhuwakinyu

dysan1

September 3rd, 2010, 07:00 PM

Snippet from todays on air Mining Weekly discussion on SAFM with Martin Creamer (03/09/2010 (On-The-Air))

Molebatsi: Some South African cities are fired-up about bidding for the 2020 Olympic Games. Is it not to soon after World Cup hosting?

Creamer: Well, our State President Jacob Zuma said South Africa is ready to host the 2020 Olympic Games. Now this has inspired some of the cities. Of course, we've had the South African Olympic Committee, Sascoc coming out and saying look, there are four cities potentially here, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban.

Of course, you can rule out Johannesburg and Pretoria, the altitude problem. Cape Town had a go in 1997 and they bid to have the 2004 Olympics and lost out to Athens. Rome was second and Cape Town was only third. They seem a little bit lukewarm at the moment and we see some hesitancy.

Others say look, we are tempted to do it, but the more strident comment coming out of Cape Town is that they prefer smaller sporting events on a regular basis, at this stage they have got bread and butter issues they have got to deal with, the mayor says.

So the only ones coming our red-hot, Durban. They want this and they have obviously strategised ahead of time for this, because we've noticed they are already going to host the Olympic committee. The Olympic committee is going to use Durban as a venue to announce the 2018 Winter Olympics, next year. The bidding cities have to have their bids in early next year.

The preliminary bids have to be in early next year and it seems like Durban is very much in pole position. We are talking about 10 500 athletes, 300 events and 28 sports, all in one city. It is not like the World Cup, its all in one city. It can be great news for Durban, because they can obviously get guarantees out of National Treasury.

So it will be us maybe that suffer, but Durban might really benefit from this, because if you've got 10 500 athletes you've got to build houses. That becomes a housing project. When those guys move out as we ride along our Johannesburg freeway here at Alexandra township, we look left and we know that that was a village for the African Games in 1999, now people are living in it. So it can be a great benefit for the city.

Molebatsi: And it puts South Africa once again into the international spotlight, doesn't it?

Creamer: Absolutely.

http://www.miningweekly.com/print-version/03092010-on-the-air-2010-09-03

dysan1

September 3rd, 2010, 07:06 PM

I still find it funny how on some other forums on the net its a foregone conclusion that SA will never ever get the games unless it is Cape Town. Even stating comments like Durban can be Cape Town's test run. Boggles the mind that people who clearly are more over-obsessed with the Olympics than RomanSA, to the point where one wonders if they ever get out much, cant even fathom that SA has other cities which surprise surprise might be much better for the event. It seems to some a pretty picture is all that matters.... sad really.

romanSA

September 6th, 2010, 09:55 AM

100% agree with you, Mike. However, passion mustn't be confused with obsession/OCD. I also wonder whether some SA posters actually go out and have a life. They seem to be on these boards 24-7-365 and spend enormous amounts of time compiling unofficial reports etc. :nuts:

Durbsboi

September 6th, 2010, 10:59 AM

Its called dedication Jerome, shh, :lol:

dysan1

September 6th, 2010, 02:54 PM

And the support keeps rolling in. Cant get the full article as it is currently locked. But the jist is that at the weekends SATSA conference at Zimbali all the heavyweights in the tourism industry backed the Durban bid and said they will go all out to support the cities endevours.

Support came from:

The CEO's of SATSA, The Tourism Business Council, Association of SA travel agents, Fedhasa, Tourvest, Thompsons and Southern Sun.

Tourism bosses back Durban to host the Olympic Games
2010-09-06 06:00:00 Edition 1
THE SA tourism industry has thrown its weight behind Durban to bid to host the 2020 or 2024 summer Olympic Games. [ Full Story... ]

romanSA

September 6th, 2010, 05:18 PM

Yup, I think any other potential SA candidate city (CT, JHB, PTA) is going to find it very hard to stop Durban's momentum now. In addition to shaking off all the *major* endorsements that Durban has already received, they are now going to have to convince the country's tourism industry leadership to change their mind about their preferred candidate city. Not impossible but unlikely.

Here's a bit more of the story. Am working on getting the full article tomorrow...

--------------------

Tourism bosses back Durban to host the Olympic Games

THE SA tourism industry has thrown its weight behind Durban to bid to host the 2020 or 2024 summer Olympic Games.

Leaders of four of the country’s most influential private sector tourism industry organisations – at the annual Southern African Tourism Services Association (Satsa) conference at the Fairmont Zimbali Resort on the North Coast at the weekend – expressed unequivocal support for Durban to be South Africa’s candidate city for an Olympic bid.

http://themercury.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

dysan1

September 6th, 2010, 06:04 PM

Its momentum indeed, but i think tis all the behind the scenes stuff which would be much more interesting to watch. Lets be open here, the country will not announce its intention to bid until the last day of the IOC congress in Durban next year if Durban is their chosen city. That will make maximum use of the visit and they would not be able to have the conference in Durban if they announce it as a bid city before then.

Therefore they are going to have to be clever with how they announce the winning SA city if they do decide to bid for the games. They will obviously need to decide soon so that all the planning can begin for the bid.

romanSA

September 6th, 2010, 07:08 PM

Methinks Durban's planning and preparations have already commenced...

An article in yesterday's Tribune noted that the tenants occupying the site of the Stable's Flea Market, (adjacent to ABSA stadium), have already been given notice to vacate, and are currently being issued with month-to-month renewals because the city wants that site soon for its high-performance (indoor) sports centre. Methinks this venue will form an integral part of the city's possible (internal/external) Olympic bid.

Here's the report from 2007 that details what this centre will entail...

----------------------------

Durban: Olympics or bust
Simon Osler
February 11 2007 at 04:23PM

EThekwini authorities have picked up the pace in their campaign for Olympic and Commonwealth Games attempt by embarking on a major new development at Durban's King's Park sports complex.

As court challenges hold up the start to the showpiece World Cup 2010 stadium across the road from the Sharks' Absa Stadium, tenders have been invited for a high-performance centre nearby - only South Africa's second - and an indoor sports complex to seat 10 000.

The preferred site for the new centre is the Newmarket Stables in Jaco Jackson Drive, adjacent to the existing cycling dome.

Tenders for the centre and indoor arena will close on Friday and interest was high, said a city spokesperson.

According to the tender documents, the old Newmarket Stables are the favoured site, but others under consideration include the Windsor Park golf mashie course and the SANDF's mustering grounds alongside Natal Command.

For many years local coaches and administrators within Olympic sporting disciplines like athletics and swimming have called for the city to look at creating a centre, and after consulting 42 sporting codes, the project may finally be ready to get off the ground.

The eThekwini Metro has used an events-driven strategy aimed at making the city the premier sporting destination in Africa. The centre is designed to take the city and province beyond the 2010 Soccer World Cup and bring leading exponents of a multitude of sporting disciplines to Durban.

The tender document goes on:

"This 'Beyond 2010 Strategy' is supported by favourable regional climatic conditions, geographical features as well as excellent infrastructure, most important of which are the existing, well located sporting facilities within the King's Parks Sports and Recreation Precinct. Currently eThekwini has the potential to host the 28 summer Olympic sporting codes within this Precinct, as well as the majority of the Olympic recognised sports - within easy access to the city centre, central beaches and accommodation.

"The A1 Grand Prix, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, African Rally, World Rally Championships, World Veterans Tennis, World Cycling, World Beach Soccer Series and FINA Swimming are some of the events recently secured.

"Looking beyond the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, the city and province seeks to position itself to host the Commonwealth and ultimately the Olympic Games."

At this stage the country's only high performance centre is based at the University of Pretoria. The creation of a new one in Durban would counter an athletic talent drain to Pretoria, and soothe disgruntled coaches who resent top KZN athletes being poached with promises of improved chances of making national teams.

In some cases, KZN coaches point out, the athletes' performances have deteriorated in their time away from home.

Some of the criticisms relate to big financial support from lottery funding, which aggrieved coaches in KZN feel should have been equitably split, with a share going to those who had sacrificed time and money to turn the youngsters into potential stars before they were lured to Pretoria.

The envisaged centre near Absa Stadium is designed to take raw talent and unlock star potential by developing all-round skills on and off the field.

Effectively those who enrol at a performance centre are "sports students" who are expected to study academic subjects in addition to improving their sporting prowess.

Such centres have become elements among the world's leading sports nations. In China, for instance, 20 such bases are now operating, involving 1 000 potential stars in each area. Their HPC explosion happened within weeks of the announcement that it was going to host the 2008 Olympics.

Durban's proposal has accommodation, an educational facility - usually linked with a local tertiary institution - a training and rehabilitation centre, which includes elements like a gymnasium and a swimming pool, and a medical centre which would have a full range of support, including physiologists, sports scientists, psychologists, physiotherapists, massage therapists and others in attendance.

To assist in the centre's financial sustainability, the tender documents say a sports goods retailer and several restaurants, along with a gymnasium and a hotel, would be invited to rent premises on the site.

The Durban centre is expected to have a strong focus on water-based sports, given the area's historical strengths. To be self-sustaining it will also need buy-in from the mainline sporting codes, the document states. It does not specify which these are.

The facility could also be used for training by local and international visiting sports teams, and to support international sports events like the 2010 World Cup.

Disabled sports would also be catered for in the project, and tender specifications include meeting the requirements of Disabled Sport South Africa and the QuadPara Association, "wherever possible".

This article was originally published on page 1 of Tribune on February 11, 2007

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_i...3&singlepage=1

romanSA

September 6th, 2010, 07:46 PM

When Durban declared its desire to bid for the 2020 or 2024 Games before the 2010 WC even ended, some people mocked the city's strategy. Even though these individuals want CT (and/or JHB) to bid (and have openly stated so), they applauded CT (and JHB) for "not making an emotional decision" on the issue, and for taking time to announce their bid (which some seem posters seem certain will eventually occur). However, I think all the major endorsements that Durban has received (and continues receiving) since its early announcement, sends a clear signal to all those who said (and may still doggedly claim) that there's no urgency in the matter.

What such people are overlooking is that an internal bid will have to commence asap if SA is going to announce its candidature in just 10 months time (July 2011, after the IOC Congress). That said, SA cities should have begun their lobbying asap after the SA government and SASCOC announced SA was considering bidding for 2020/2024 Games. Durban has obviously begun this process.

I am already wondering what high-level support possible candidate cities like CT will be able to secure if/when they decide they want to bid given that virtually all the major roleplayers of note have already endorsed Durban, not just for 2020, but for the 2024 Games too. The moral of the story: the early bird catches the worm.

I don't think a CT / JHB bid is out of the question. However, I do think that CT's and JHB's chances are getting dimmer they longer they take to commit to wanting to host the Games. There may be left with no high-level significant endorsements by the time they commit to bidding.

dysan1

September 6th, 2010, 10:21 PM

It goes back to what i ws saying months ago, the folks in Cape Town talked a good talk but the city leaders were in a different place altogether with the olympics not even on their agenda's.

Durban on the otherhand has kept a low profile, working hard behind the scenes but constantly working on its sports credentials, sports centred marketing image and getting the right message heard in the right places. The public has not been shouting Durban, the city has done all the talking and taken things one step at a time.

The interesting thing is that it seems no matter what the city leaders of Durban do, certain quarters will always criticise these actions. If we were quiet like Jhb and CT we would bemoaned as having lacklustre leaders and that "typical Durban laziness". But when the city is proactive, they are seen to be "jumping the gun" and "talking without knowing anything". It clearly seems that they can do no right...no wonder at times they have to be completely arrogant and forthright....At least they have been planning and thinking about this for over 5 years.

Going forward the crux is going to be how SASCOC handling things.

The other thing is how so many of the reports state that we dont have any influential IOC backers. I think people forget that that one chick from Morocco is just that, one person with an agenda for her own country. Most of the senior sports figures related to the olympic movement from SA have a strong Durban link. Lets get the bid official and i can bet the right folks will come out of the wood work.

There is alot of hard work ahead for them to elevate this, fight simple minds that think SA is only Cape Town when commenting on internet forums, and use every opportunity we get to punt the Durban message.

The events we have ahead will serve us well:

7th World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture in December at the ICC. This is an IOC event. The city needs to structure events around this to highlight the changes a foot in the city, to focus attention onto the fact that we are a sports mad and sports focused city. THe new cafes on the revamped beachfront need to be up and running. events need to be organised that push the outdoor culture here.

The next event to leverage is the Indaba 2011 (7-11 May 2011). Enhance the legendary beach parties, talk up new ventures.

Then the June-September conference season begins, with a large number of events to place the city in the global spotlight. The 27th INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF MIDWIVES CONGRESS (3000 people), The 13th ISSI International conference (2000 people), The 2011 WASLI Conference (700 people) and then following the massive WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF CONGRESS (5000 people)

All of these are taking place within a period of 6 weeks. In the middle of them, the most strategically important of all takes place, The 123rd International Olympic Committee Session . All of these events will seek to put forward the message that Durban can host multiple large events within a tight time period. It will showcase the weather of the city during the most likely Olympic period and it will more than likely serve as the launch pad for the SA bid - with Durban the current front runner.

There are so many other events that follow to build this credibility more. COP17 in December 2011 with 20000-30000 people would be a huge coup for whichever city gets it in SA, but if Durban succeeds in winning that event too it will serve as a huge event to leverage for a bid. The logistics of organising something of that size and importance with the likely demonstrations and global media attention will do wonders of further enhancing the cities global standing.

And the 2013 World Transplant Games, while after the voting for the 2020 host, will definately serve to show that the city can bid for and win large global sports events, beating out Tokyo for the honour.

All in all, an incredibly toughroad lies ahead for those that will steer the cities Olympic ambitions. What seemed like to so many as foolish gesturing and "Durban trying to be something it is not" is slowly starting to alter perceptions of this once sleepy town. And the fact that Durbanites and fellow South Africans are openly saying the city can do it is a massive turnaround of faith that shows just how far Durban has come from.

Lets watch the roads ahead carefully. Getting firm plans in place for the Sports Institute will show the commitment the city has even without the Olympics. The city also has big influence over Anant Singh, therefore i am sure that what he builds for the Film City complex (the court case is nearly resolved) will be done in such a way that some of the massive studio's can be turned into temporary sports facilities in the middle of the precinct.

The Waterworld site and Suncoast will be developed and will probably have sports facilities as part of their requirements enabling development.

The city has many aces it can play and leverage in the precinct, and i am sure if they have done all the planning it appears they have done, that they will already know about most of this.

Its going to be an interesting few years...

dysan1

September 7th, 2010, 07:45 PM

BIG news... Durban was the only SA city to submit a bid...

Durban puts hand up for 2020

Tuesday September 7, 2010

It’s official — Durban was the only South African city to submit a bid to possibly host the 2020 Olympic Games.

South Africa’s Olympic governing body SASCOC invited four cities to apply for the hosting rights — Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.

But it was confirmed by SASCOC’s CEO Tubby Reddy at the national Olympic governing body’s Annual General Meeting at the weekend that of those four cities only the coastal city of Durban submitted a bid.

The bidding process is now finalised as far as SASCOC are concerned and the decision on whether a formal bid will be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for consideration now rests with the national government.

Extensive investigation and feasibility studies will now be done as national and local government attempt to get buy-in for the bid.

After the IOC Session to be hosted in Durban in August, 2011, the IOC will then send a formal invitation for countries to submit bids for the right to host the Summer Games.

The IOC executive board then conducts its own exhaustive investigations before the host for the 2020 Olympics is finally announced at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2013.

http://www.sascoc.co.za/2010/09/durban-puts-hand-up-for-2020

dysan1

September 7th, 2010, 07:49 PM

water rat

September 8th, 2010, 08:55 AM

Tourism bosses back Durban to host Olympics

September 07 2010
By Suren Naidoo

The SA tourism industry has thrown its weight behind Durban to bid to host the 2020 or 2024 summer Olympic Games.

Leaders of four of the country's most influential private sector tourism industry organisations – at the annual Southern African Tourism Services Association (Satsa) conference at the Fairmont Zimbali Resort on the North Coast at the weekend – expressed unequivocal support for Durban to be South Africa's candidate city for an Olympic bid.

They were Satsa CEO Michael Tatalias, Tourism Business Council of SA chief executive Matsatsi Morobe, Association of SA Travel Agents chief executive Robyn Christie, and Clifford Ross of the Federated Hospitality Association of SA.

Other supporters of Durban included marketing heavyweight Paul Bannister and Tourvest boss Gary Elmes.

Satsa represents about 1 000 SA tourism businesses and Tatalias has been one of the most vocal supporters of a South African bid.

He has supported Durban because of its sporting infrastructure around the new Moses Mabhida Stadium, and its weather.

Tatalias was peeved by the sentiments of Morocco's International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Nawal Moutawakel last month that Africa was not ready to bid for the Olympics.

"This is a classic case of Afro-pessimism and it's sad that it comes from our own continent," Tatalias said.

"South Africa is the only country in the world to have now hosted the soccer, rugby and cricket world cups as well as the T20 Cricket World Championships, the IPL cricket tournament and the Confederations Cup within a period of just 16 years," he said.

"Moutawakel's view that Africa will only be able to host the Olympics in two to three decades is way off the mark, especially from a SA perspective.

"South Africa, with an already strong contender in Durban, can and must bid to host the Olympics," he added.

Bannister said the tourism industry was looking to capitalise on the World Cup success and looking to hosting more events, including the Olympics, to keep the momentum going and brand SA in the global limelight.

"It could be perfect timing with Durban strategically hosting the next IOC Congress in 2011. Both Fifa and the IOC have recognised that South Africa hosted a very successful World Cup.

"No one can now doubt our ability to host global mega events," he said.

"We need to ask are we in it to make money or are we looking at the infrastructure and post event legacy benefits from a tourism, business and exposure view."

Ross said: "My money is on Durban, because the city has a lot going for it.

"It has the weather, much of the key sporting infrastructure needed is already there and it has the warm sea.

"I would fully back an Olympic bid," he said.

http://www.ioltravel.co.za/article/view/5636629

whilst Durban has a lot of the 'land side' facilities it lacks avenue for rowing and, even if the sch were built as per the current plan, this would be way too small to host a Olympic sailing event. The sailing waters off Durban are ideal but how does the city propose to handle the logistics ?

following quote from an expert may highlight the challenges :

"If you look at the sailing venues for the Athens, Tsing Tao and Barcelona Games they were all within a purpose built SCHs. The Athens venue was later taken up by the private sector for a marina development. The reason that the current Vetch’s scheme is not suitable for major regattas is the lack of support space for the 100s of trailers, shipping containers, workshops, admin facilities, spectators etc that are also needed. Overseas sailing draws large crowds. A recent regatta in Kiel drew 50000 people over 2 days. One of our senior national race officers has indicated that it would not be possible to hold a world championship for one class at the SCH. The Olympic regatta is like holding 12 world championships all at the same time ! ".

It will be very odd if a sport which is relatively small in Durban, is the cause for our bid to fail.

Ideas anyone ?

SA BOY

September 8th, 2010, 02:51 PM

yip lets blame Jonny if we dont het olympics

water rat

September 8th, 2010, 04:00 PM

yip lets blame Jonny if we dont het olympics

nope - you may have to thank him ....imagine if the sch, which as presntly designed would not be able to handle the olympics, had been built already!

romanSA

September 8th, 2010, 07:15 PM

Was in the air the last 28 hours so it's FANTASTIC to see this news! :cheers: :banana:

I suppose a lot of people who were openly convinced Durban would never be selected and CT would not just bid, but win too, will have to eat humble pie now. Even if the government were to bid, and Durban were to lose the 2020 race, the government will likely submit Durban's name again for 2024 (or 2028), not CT or JHB, given that Durban would have gotten fantastic exposure from the 2020 bidding race and would be fresh in the ICC's mind. I can't see the government investing hundreds of millions of dollars promoting Durban for the 2020 bid, and then totally changing track just a few years later with another city.

romanSA

September 8th, 2010, 07:42 PM

Now that it's been confirmed that Durban will be SA's bid city, let's try and figure out possible venues.

I just read a report that Lords Cricket Grounds will be playing host to archery during the 2012 Olympic Games. That said, it makes total sense to utilise Kingsmead given its proximity to the Kings Park Sports (can we call it Olympic now? :wink2:) Precinct. Since Kings Park already has archery facilities (not sure if existing grounds are big enough, though. If not, perhaps they can serve as practice areas?), I think Kingsmead could easily host equestrian events. That would amount to a huge cost savings as viewing stands already exist so there would be no need to construct a hippodrome just for the Games.

Any other suggestions?

romanSA

September 8th, 2010, 08:02 PM

Am currently in North America and Durban's selection is being widely covered by the international press.

Associated Press is running the story and it has already been picked up by ESPN, USA Today, amongst others. This will likely increase in the next 24 hours. Here's ESPN's report...

------------------

Durban set to bid for 2020 Summer
Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG -- Durban has emerged as South Africa's candidate for the 2020 Summer Olympics after three other cities failed to express interest.

The government is expected to rubber-stamp Durban's bid after Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth failed to apply to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee.

Durban city manager Mike Sutcliffe said Durban officials and SASCOC will meet with the government in the next month about the bid, which could bring the Olympics to Africa for the first time.

So far, only Rome has declared its intention to bid for 2020. Tokyo, Istanbul and Dubai are among other possible candidates.

The host city for the 2020 Olympics will be announced in 2013 at the International Olympic Committee session in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=5546988

Durbsboi

September 9th, 2010, 09:09 AM

Here's the story from the Mercury

City gets inside track for Olympics bid (http://themercury.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx)

DURBAN has emerged as the only South African city on the starting blocks in the race to host the 2020 Olympic Games after Cape Town, Joburg and Port Elizabeth failed to respond to an invitation to bid from the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).

This was confirmed by Sascoc chief executive Tubby Reddy yesterday, who said the committee was surprised that Durban was the only city to respond to its call. However, he said Durban had shown strong intent and Sascoc would work with the city in seeking government support for a South African bid.

“We only had a response from Durban. We are surprised, especially after getting some good signs that Cape Town and Joburg would also put in bids. It would have been good internal competition… At Sascoc’s annual meeting at the weekend, the board declared that this part of the bidding process has now been finalised.”

Reddy would not be drawn on why Cape Town and Joburg had held back. “It would be wrong for me to speculate,” he said.

“Now Durban is it and the real homework begins as we start to engage with the national and (KZN) provincial governments for their support for Durban and South Africa’s bid for the 2020 Olympics. There will be extensive investigation and feasibility studies, but ultimately the decision on whether a formal bid will be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will rest with the national government,” he added.

Reddy could not say when the national government needed to make a decision. However, he said the IOC would open global bidding for the 2020 Olympics in August next year, after the IOC Congress meeting in Durban. The IOC conducts exhaustive investigations before deciding on host cities.

Municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe said Durban found itself in the “brilliant” situation of not having to go through an internal national bidding process.

“We have shown intent and now we’ve got Sascoc’s backing. Now we just need the national government’s backing,” he said.

Project Director

September 9th, 2010, 09:19 AM

romanSA

September 9th, 2010, 12:56 PM

I think you're referring to Windsor Park Golf Course. That's apparently the busiest golf course in the country so I doubt it would be easy to tamper with it, although it is city-owned. However, the park grounds immediately next to Windsor Golf Course (between Windsor Ave and Goble / Smiso Road [opposite the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium] has always been earmarked for equestrian facilities in the city's master plan for the area, so that park could go. Since it's owned by the city, that should be easy to achieve.

http://maps.google.co.za/maps?rlz=1T4ADFA_enZA367ZA368&q=durban+map+goble+road&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Goble+Rd,+Durban&gl=za&ei=0rmITOuZLoPinAfmqtTKCw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ8gEwAA

Methinks Greyville Race Course could perhaps be used for archery. It has a long grandstand which seats thousands in front of the main stretch, where the archers could be positioned. Greyville is very close to Kings Park so will keep the Games very compact.
Horseracing in Durban wouldn't be affected as Clairewood Race Course could serve as venue for events scheduled for Durbs.

dysan1

September 9th, 2010, 01:48 PM

forgot about greyville being a potential site option for some events. other places that come to mind would be UKZN - i am sure they would get new facilities built there that would upgrade what they currently have and therefore leave a legacy for the University in the future.

dysan1

September 10th, 2010, 09:26 AM

Durban keen for Olympic bid despite R1,4bn price tag
10 Fri, Sep 2010

Durban has been named as the only candidate from South Africa to bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, with the tagline ‘The warmest place to be’.

The news of the intention to bid comes in spite of costly estimates by the Ethekwini Municipality. At a meeting of the municipality’s executive committee, City Manager, Michael Sutcliffe said the Olympic bidding process could cost between R292m and R1,4bn.

Durban was the only city to submit a proposal to bid, despite South Africa’s Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s (Sascoc) extending invitations to three other cities, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

The next step will be for government to meet with city officials to decide whether a formal bid will be submitted.

SATSA CEO, Michael Tatalias, has said in a previous letter to Tourism Update Online that Durban is actually positioned as the ideal city to host the Olympics out of all of the country’s potential hosts. Tatalias cites various reasons for his opinion including that which the event has to be in the European summer and that the IOC fears altitude. Also, Durban designed the Moses Mabhida stadium to handle athletics and it is right next door to Kings Park, which can handle a significant amount of events itself.

He furthered that there is already a large Olympic pool across the road from Moses Mabhida and there is sufficient land around Moses Mabhida precinct to build all the other sports facilities required.

The open land around the stadiums can be expanded by using unused rail/transnet land for the massive train station and there is already a well-linked metro rail system that can be expanded. There is also a large amount of land around the new large airport that could be used for the athletes’ village.

http://www.tourismupdate.co.za/NewsDetails.aspx?newsId=22473

briker

September 10th, 2010, 09:47 AM

Durban make us proud! Just hope your finances are in order. Expect that R1.4 Bll price to increase exponentially.

Project Director

September 10th, 2010, 12:29 PM

best to quote these figures in hard currency ie US$ so as to par with the competition, see US$200m, much less.

ToxicBunny

September 10th, 2010, 01:55 PM

Hard currency?

How is Rands not a hard currency?

and $200m is exactly the say as R1.4bn.

romanSA

September 10th, 2010, 04:10 PM

Learning from history? Durban’s 2020 Olympic Bid

By Miko Schneider

10 September 2010

Durban hopes to host the 2020 Games.

http://www.playthegame.org/typo3temp/pics/1361c86b41.jpg

Photo: The International Convention Centre in Durban (picture) which will host the 123rd IOC session in 2011. (c)Graeme Williams, www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com

FIFA President Sepp Blatter seems confident that his African legacy will live on in the form of an Olympic Games held in South Africa. In July 2010, encouraged by President Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s governing Olympic body SASCOC announced that it would oversee a bid for the 2020 Games and encouraged potential host cities to state their intention to bid.

On September 7, SASCOC announced that the internal bidding process was closed, and Durban was the only South African city to submit an application. It is now up to the government to decide whether to submit a formal bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the 2020 Games, following ‘extensive investigation and feasibility studies’ in Durban.

Added leverage for Durban’s 2020 chances, should national and provincial governments go ahead with the formal bid, is that the city is hosting the 123rd IOC Session in 2011.

The 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee chairperson, Danny Jordaan, as well as the South African tourism industry, publically support Durban’s 2020 bid. On the ground, the mood seems optimistic that South Africa can augment its own glowing record. But what are the implications of an Olympic bid for the Durban Metro?

Durban’s Achilles heel
Durban’s stadium has been transformed to world-class standards, but the sheer size of a tournament such as the Olympics might prove problematic for the city. Its size (approximately 3m population) is small, comparative to cities such as London and Beijing.

Then there is the logistical challenge of housing 10,000 athletes and convening competitions in 28 sports. Match days during the World Cup 2010 were reported as crippling for locals attempting to get to and from work, and major rail system and airport upgrades will need to occur. Repeated industrial action in Durban, especially the docklands strikes that were seen just before the 2010 World Cup, might be the Durban bid’s Achilles heel.

On the plus side, the subtropical climate will ensure that the southern hemisphere winter will be warm – the coastal city averages around 320 sunny days a year, and athletes will not have to contend with altitude adjustment.

Upgrades needed to meet Olympic standards
The main hub of the Games would be the Kings Park sports precinct, which includes the new 85,000-seater Moses Mabhida Stadium that can facilitate a 10 lane athletics track around the pitch, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an additional athletics track, golf courses, a cycle track, baseball fields, and nearby lagoons and beaches. However, these facilities will need to be substantially upgraded to meet rigorous Olympic standards.

Has Durban learnt its lesson with regard to the uncanny ability of initial cost estimates to rapidly multiply? The cost of the Moses Mabhida Stadium alone escalated from an estimated €2.8m to €3.6m in the final analysis.

Julie-May Ellingson, head of Durban's Strategic Projects Unit and 2010 Programme, reported that Durban was confident it would be able to cover the cost of its World Cup infrastructure and stadium maintenance. But Durban ratepayers might be left to foot the bill, for example, if the stadium fails to make a profit.

The costs of hosting a Soccer World Cup and the costs of hosting the Olympic Games, however, are not comparable. Almost every Olympic host city is left in debt. Whether the national government will prioritise spending in other areas, after weighing up the outcome of the 2010 World Cup, remains to be seen.

http://www.playthegame.org/news/detailed/learning-from-history-durbans-2020-olympic-bid-4985.html

ToxicBunny

September 10th, 2010, 04:26 PM

Match days were crippling for locals getting to and from work?

Really, I drive through the centre of town and onto the M4 everyday.. and it only took an extra 5 or 10 minutes to get to work... I think we did a bloody good job of managing the traffic flows.

Project Director

September 10th, 2010, 05:06 PM

Hard currency?

How is Rands not a hard currency?

and $200m is exactly the say as R1.4bn.

global projects of this nature revolve around dollar quotes as its traded everywhere, not a new thing at all for those involved in many international mega projects...

the word billion is a lot more new to local sentationalists ...elsewhere billions are the new millions and shock and awe comes where trillions are mentioned i find.

So, do as i say and the bid will be a sinch. If the money was put on the table i would lead the project to success as my current project is circa 5 times this one ...in dollar terms and i would love to do just that.

:cheers:PD.

ToxicBunny

September 10th, 2010, 06:02 PM

This isn't a global project yet.. thats the costing for BIDDING for the possibility of hosting the Olympics.

and the word billion is not new to local sensationalists.. we've been hearing it for years... but then I wouldn't expect you to know that because you've gone and buried your head in a different country.

Do as you say?... please.. if they follow your advice we have less than no hope of even being considered a viable city to host the Olympics. Who cares what the cost of your current project is, or are you just trying to blow your own negative little trumpet?

Project Director

September 10th, 2010, 08:35 PM

^^

its typically following a project timeline, so whatever stage its at, its a globally contested project and it appears to be well known, the beauty of mega project personel is their infinite flexability when called upon to move resources around the globe.

Sitting squat around the beer pot is definitly not going to get the process going, get your skills in there and assist, its the right thing to do.........

have to say that who ever drives this must have reservations for a single city uncompetitive approach to the local bid.

:cheers:PD.

Project Director

September 10th, 2010, 09:55 PM

Alex_10

September 10th, 2010, 10:49 PM

...

dysan1

September 11th, 2010, 11:29 AM

PD and Toxic please keep things on topic. And PD stop moaning about trivial things like the fact that a South African newspaper quoted the cost in South African Rand.

dysan1

September 11th, 2010, 11:35 AM

dysan1

September 11th, 2010, 11:37 AM

Durban to host Africa's first Olympic Games in 2020?

September 10th, 2010 9:19 am ET

The South African city of Durban is gearing up to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

It will be South Africa’s second Olympics bid. Cape Town finished third in a bid for the 2004 games behind Rome and the winner, Athens.

London will host the Olympics in 2012, followed by Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

In 2011 the Indian Ocean city of Durban will become the first city in Africa to host an International Olympics Committee (IOC) session (the 123rd).

Durban’s successful hosting of several 2010 World Cup matches, its reputation as Africa’s events and sporting capital, its weather during the weeks the Summer Olympics will take place, the user-friendly nature of the city, it’s multiple amenities, the fact that all planning for 2010 World Cup city upgrades were organized around a “2010 and beyond” strategy — and that the Indian Ocean city’s iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium was built with Olympic Games requirements in mind — are just some of the factors that make Durban a likely international front-runner and definite gold medal contender for an International Olympics Committee nod.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) confirmed yesterday that they would fully support Durban and work with the city to seek government support for a South African 2020 Olympics bid.

Sascoc chief executive Tubby Reddy said he had expected 2020 Olympics bids from the cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg, which would have meant internal competition for a host city winner. “But we only had a response from Durban.”

Now the real homework would begin, he said. “... we start to engage with the national and KwaZulu-Natal provincial governments for their support for Durban and South Africa’s bid for the 2020 Olympics.

“There will be intensive investigations and feasibility studies. Ultimately the decision on whether a formal bid will be submitted to the International Olympics Committee (IOC) will rest with the national government.”

Reddy said the IOC would open global bidding for the 2020 Olympics in August 2011, after their IOC Congress meeting in Durban. The IOC conducts exhaustive investigations before deciding on cities.

Durban’s city and municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe said Durban had found itself in the “brilliant” situation of not having to go through an internal bidding process. “We have shown intent and we’ve got Sascoc’s backing. Now we just need the national government backing.”

Reddy announced in July that the successful 2010 World Cup and the “endorsement” of a possible Olympic bid by President Jacob Zuma meant that Sascoc would look toward a 2020 Olympics bid for South Africa. “We have decided our best way forward would be to engage government and stakeholders but our intention is to provide a world-class city capable of hosting Africa’s first Olympic Games in 2020.”

http://www.examiner.com/south-africa-travel-in-national/durban-to-host-africa-s-first-summer-olympics-2020-see-city-slideshows

romanSA

September 11th, 2010, 03:47 PM

Inside the Games is now covering the selection of Durban.

Good to see confirmation of Frankie Fredericks now endorsing the bid too.

-----------------

Durban put forward as South Africa candidate for 2020 Olympics
11 September 2010

http://insidethegames.biz/images/stories/Moses%20Mabhida%20Stadium%20with%20Olympic%20rings%20on%20it.jpg

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

September 11 - Durban will be put forward as South Africa's candidate to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics if the country decides to bid after the other cities declined the opportunity to take part.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) had invited Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg to bid but only Durban took up the chance.

SASCOC said the decision on whether a formal bid will be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) now rests with the national Government.

Extensive investigations and feasibility studies will soon get underway before the IOC invites countries to submit their bids in August next year after the IOC holds its annual Session in Durban, where the key decision will be the selection for the Host City of the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Durban's bid has been boosted already by the successful hosting of seven World Cup matches earlier this year, including the semi-final between Germany and Spain, at its breathtaking Moses Mabhida Stadium, with it signature arch.

Frankie Fredericks, the four-time Olympic silver medallist who is now a member of the IOC, has already pledged his support to Durban's bid.

"It would be nice to share our culture, to share our vuvuzelas, to share our food, to share the way we do things with the world," said Fredericks, who is from South Africa's neighbours Namibia.

"I do think we should get a chance to host the largest event in the world."

Durban, which in Zulu means eThekwini, from itheku meaning "bay", is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in the country with a population of 3.5 million, forming part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.

It is also the country's largest port and is renowned for its sandy beaches on the banks of the Indian Ocean which have made it is a popular holiday destination.

http://insidethegames.biz/cache/Durban%20beach1284201301_thumb_medium550_362.jpg

Michael Tatalias, the chief executive of the Southern African Tourism Services Association, promised that there was already plenty of support for Durban's campaign, despite influential IOC member Nawal El Moutawakel predicting that the African continent is still 20 years away from hosting an Olympics.

"There is a huge amount of work to be done besides political desire, hence the experts' view that any realistic chance for [hosting the] Olympics in Africa is between 2030 and 2040," the Moroccan, a member of the IOC's ruling Executive Board and head of the Coordination Commission for Rio 2016, had claimed in July.

Tatalias said: "This is a classic case of Afro-pessimism and it's sad that it comes from our own continent.

"South Africa is the only country in the world to have now hosted the soccer, rugby and cricket World Cups as well as the Twenty20 Cricket World Championships, the IPL (Indian Premier League) cricket tournament and the Confederations Cup within a period of 16 years.

"El Moutawakel's view that Africa will only be able to host the Olympics in two to three decades is way off the mark, especially from a South Africa perspective.

"South Africa, with an already strong contender in Durban, can and must bid to host the Olympics."

The IOC is due to choose the Host City for 2020 at its Session in Buenos Aires in 2013.

Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames.bizThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots.

http://insidethegames.biz/summer-olympics/summer-olympics-2016-news/10491-durban-put-forward-as-south-africa-candidate-for-2020-olympics

jimmialli

September 11th, 2010, 06:50 PM

It will be excellent if Durban does win the bid - I think the biggest issue is Durban's low profile - I wonder how many people know of Durban outside South Africa. I think this is an opportunity that should be exploited to raise Durban's international recognisability.

dysan1

September 11th, 2010, 07:56 PM

i totally agree. Much of the negativity about a Durban bid online can be attributed to alot of people just not knowing anything about the city. If this exercise serves nothing other than raising the international profile of the city, then it has done well!

ToxicBunny

September 12th, 2010, 11:37 AM

PD and Toxic please keep things on topic. And PD stop moaning about trivial things like the fact that a South African newspaper quoted the cost in South African Rand.

Apologies... I've greasemonkey'd him now so I won't even know that he's posted in the thread anymore, then he can't irritate me...

On Topic though : I think even if we don't get to actually host the games.. just bidding for them will raise Durban's international profile in a really huge way... International visitor will be shown a different side of South Africa...

dysan1

September 12th, 2010, 11:44 AM

^^ completely agree. as i said above, if it serves nothing but raising the profile and discussion on the city it will have served well. Whats the realistic chance though?

ToxicBunny

September 12th, 2010, 11:56 AM

I'm totally biased so in my own heart I think we've got a great chance, but we'll honestly need to see which other cities put their names in the hat before we can make a calculated guess about our realistic chances of getting the games....

dysan1

September 12th, 2010, 12:17 PM

^^ yes i agree to a degree. I think while seeing the other cities is important, i think it is more crucial to see what out bid would entail. The precinct is there and waiting and few cities anywhere in the world can offer that location, compactness, right in the heart of the city. That in itself is a winner - there are so many "green" aspects one can play off that.

dysan1

September 12th, 2010, 09:15 PM

Durban 2020 Bid "Looks Strong" But "Expensive"

Sunday, September 12, 2010 9:51am EDT GB Staff

South Africa's Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam said Durban's bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games "looks strong", but reportedly admitted it would be expensive and take a lot of planning. Sam will be in Durban this week to meet with officials to discuss the city's bid.

"We're not talking thousands or millions here, we're talking billions. I don't know exactly what it will cost because we don't know exactly what infrastructure is needed. That's why I'm meeting various people this week to discuss these things.

"Remember, its 26 sports, not one, as with the World Cup. We have to put our heads together, see what we need and what costs are involved".

The SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) said last week Durban was the only city to indicate it wanted to host the 2020 Games.

President Jacob Zuma said during the World Cup he would support such a decision, and International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said he would support an African bid.

Michael Sutcliffe, eThekwini municipal manager, said he was delighted at the Sascoc announcement and that there was "no point in going into a contest against other cities (in South Africa) and wasting our energy when we still have to compete against other international cities".

He added, "everyone who is anyone with connections to the IOC - as well as the journalists who came here for the World Cup - said Durban was the only city that could pull it off".

A decision will be made after the IOC's biannual meeting in Durban next year. The Daily News reports the meeting is considered vital because all the IOC voting members attend, enabling the city to showcase what it offers and get support for a possible bid.

The host city for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games will be announced after the IOC meeting in 2013.

http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/olympic_bids/future_bids_2016/1216135348.html

Upington

September 13th, 2010, 12:24 AM

....desperate times calls for desperate measures.....durban can use the biggest south african weapon of them all.....the Madiba card!.....it worked in 2004 for WC 2010 and it can still work for Durban 2020......he is old but not dead....he still can twist some wrists at 92......

dysan1

September 13th, 2010, 11:14 AM

or 94 when it gets to 2013...thats alot to ask of the man. Cruel to say, but if he passes during that time, they could use the card of "do it in his honour...or legacy". Lets hope it does not come down to that though.

dysan1

September 13th, 2010, 11:16 AM

Durban's Olympic bid looks good

September 12 2010 at 02:07PM
Get IOL on your mobile at m.iol.co.za

By Matthew Savides

South Africa's Olympic committee president Gideon Sam will be in Durban this week to meet officials to discuss the city's bid to host the 2020 Games.

Sam said Durban's bid "looks strong", but admitted that it would be expensive and take a lot of planning.

"We're not talking thousands or millions here; we're talking billions. I don't know exactly what it will cost because we don't know exactly what infrastructure is needed. That's why I'm meeting various people this week, to discuss these things.

"Remember, it's 26 sports, not one, as with the World Cup. We have to put our heads together, see what we need and what costs are involved."

Durban's bid got a huge boost this week after the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) said it was the only city to indicate it wanted to host the 2020 Olympics. Cape Town, Joburg and Port Elizabeth were invited to bid, but did not do so.

"The bidding process is now finalised as far as Sascoc is concerned and the decision on whether a formal bid will be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for consideration now rests with the national government," Sascoc said. President Jacob Zuma said during the World Cup that he would support such a decision. IOC president Jacques Rogge also said he would support an African bid.

Sam said Durban would probably compete with Tokyo and Madrid for the rights to host the Games. "Madrid especially has a really strong bid," he said. Other cities mentioned are Rome and Dubai, although there has been talk of a possible American bid.

eThekwini municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe said he was delighted at the Sascoc announcement, adding that there was "no point in going into a contest against other cities (in South Africa) and wasting our energy when we still have to compete against other international cities".

"We have always believed that our bid was the strongest South African bid and we have the best chance to host an Olympics.

"Everyone who is anyone with connections to the IOC - as well as the journalists who came here for the World Cup - said Durban was the only city that could pull it off.

"Maybe that played a role in the other cities not expressing interest. But I can't be sure," he said.

Sutcliffe said "cost-effectiveness" was one of the key areas in the city's bid, although he did not know exactly what it would cost yet.

"We can't really know until you've looked at various things. We've done preliminary research and it's looking great," he said.

Asked whether the city had a strong bid, Sam said: "Oh, yes. If the appetite is there in the city, the province and national government, this bid is something we can seriously take forward." A decision would be made after the IOC's biannual meeting, to be held in Durban next year.

This meeting is considered vital because all the IOC's voting members attend, enabling the city to showcase what it offers and get support for a possible bid. The 2020 host will be announced after the IOC meeting in 2013.

Journalist Neal Collins, who has been involved in covering London's preparations for the 2012 Olympics, said Durban had the upper hand.

"Durban has a big advantage simply by being African. The IOC is desperate to give Africa its first Olympics, given Sepp Blatter's decision to go to South Africa with the World Cup." Collins added that the layout of the city's sports precinct was its biggest advantage.

With the Moses Mabhida Stadium, the city already has its main Olympic stadium, and the other nearby venues - including Absa Stadium, King's Park swimming pool, Durban Country Club, Kingsmead Sahara Stadium, cycling velodrome and the beachfront and already established marathon and cycling routes - would make Durban "the most compact Games ever".

The generally warm and temperate weather would be favourable, as would the time zones, which suit European and American TV viewers.

"There has never been a better city for the Olympics! It won't be easy, it won't be cheap. But like Sydney and Athens, London and Barcelona, Durbanites will discover the day the torch is lit (that) it will be worth it," Collins said.

matthew.savides@inl.co.za

This article was originally published on page 2 of Tribune on September 12, 2010

romanSA

September 15th, 2010, 12:40 AM

S. Africa planning to bid for 2020 Olympics

23:13, September 13, 2010

After hosting a successful first soccer World Cup on the African continent, South Africa is now planning to host the Olympic Games, with Durban emerging as the only city to have submitted a bid to possibly host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games after three other cities in the country failed to do so.

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the country's Olympic governing body, had invited four of South Africa's prime cities - Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg to apply to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

However, Durban, South Africa's third largest city with a population of 3.4 million located on the Indian Ocean coast and with temperature averaging 28 degrees Celsius during summer, was the only city to submit a bid according to SASCOC.

"We put our hand up and SASCOC has supported as, which is great," Durban city manager Mike Sutcliffe told Xinhua in an interview on Monday.

"We believe we have the credentials. Now, it is a probability rather than a possibility of us bidding. We are very happy."

According to SASCOC, the bidding process is now finalized as far as their involvement is concerned and the decision on whether a formal bid will be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for consideration lay in the hands of the South African government.

Sutcliffe said Durban officials and SASCOC will meet with the government in the next month over the bid. Once the South African government has approved the bid, extensive investigation and feasibility studies will then be done.

"The government would have to be involved. We couldn't do it on our own," he said. "We will begin a process in the next three or four weeks where we will engage with the government over the nuts and bolts of the bid."

Looking in retrospect, the South African government will most likely give the bid a go-ahead, especially since the country's President Jacob Zuma has prior indicated and endorsed South Africa's interest in hosting the 2020 Olympics.

Zuma has in the past been quoted as saying in reference to the bid "I'm sure we could do it. We have got the facilities. Those who take decisions (about hosting the Olympics) have seen how South Africa is."

South Africa last bid for the Olympics in 1997 for the 2004 Summer Olympics, with Cape Town finishing third behind Rome and winner Athens.

Many believe that the weakness of Cape Town's bid was the lack of support and in many cases, interference from the South African government. Therefore, a successful bid by South Africa this time will require 100 percent support from all spheres of the South African government.

Durban's chance of hosting the 2020 Olympics received a major boost in 2008 when IOC selected the city as the venue for the IOC General Assembly's Congress to be held in July 2011, where the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games will be chosen.

This event will see thousands of influential personalities, accompanied by the world media descend onto Durban, giving the city a wonderful opportunity to showcase its capability to host the Olympics to the voting committee.

Another great upliftment for South Africa to bid to host the event comes from Jacques Rogge, the head of the IOC, who has encouraged the country to bid for the games.

Rogge said "It's always good news to see that a country like South Africa wants to bid. We're glad they're thinking about the Olympic Games."

Throughout his tenure as the head of the IOC, Rogge has made it his mission to take the event to new markets. Under his presidency, the 2014 Winter Games were awarded to Russia. Similarly, the 2016 Summer Games were awarded to Rio de Janeiro, the first time they will be held in South America.

This only leaves Africa as the only continent to never have hosted the Olympics.

Sutcliffe said that if Durban is given the go-ahead by the South African government to bid for the games they would centre their bid on the newly built Moses Mabhida Stadium, which was built for the 2010 World Cup, but according to Sutcliffe the stadium was also built with the Olympic Games in mind.

The stadium hosted five group games, one second round game, one quarterfinal and a semifinal match during the World Cup. Sutcliffe explained that the stadium's capacity can be raised from 70,000 to 85,000 to meet IOC guidelines for the Olympic Games.

"We built the Moses Mabhida according to the Olympic code, as well as for the World Cup," he said. "We gave six consortiums 1 million rands (142,850 U.S. dollars) each and asked them to come up with a well built, sustainable stadium that will also be able to host an event such as the Olympic Games."

However experts canvassed by Engineering News have warned that perhaps a bid at the current state South Africa is at will not be such a great idea. The experts warned of issues such as modest economic benefits and material costs and risks caused by the event.

Lecturer in economics at Stellenbosch University Johan Fourie believes that from an economic point of view South Africa should not bid for the 2020 Olympics, as research shows that the sporting event does not hold significant economic benefit for a region.

"Most sport economists agree that, except for Barcelona in 1992, the Olympic Games, in the past, done little to improve unemployment and productivity. In short, it seldom happens that the hosting country draw any benefit from the Olympics," Fourie said.

Nawal El Moutawakel, the most senior African member of the IOC told Xinhua on Monday that it will be another 20 years before the African continent was ready to host the games.

El Moutawakel holds that the Olympics pose for greater challenges than soccer World Cup. While the 2010 FIFA World Cup required football facilities and related infrastructure in nine cities, the Olympics need facilities for 10,500 athletes taking part in 300 events and 28 different sports in one city, significantly increasing the possibility of redundant facilities after the event.

"Africa has many unique problems and other priorities to handle at the moment," El Moutawakel said.

After the IOC session scheduled for next year in Durban, the IOC will send a formal invitation to countries to submit bids for the 2020 Summer Games.

Durban will be rivalled by other world-class cities such as Rome, Tokyo, Istanbul and Dubai who have already voiced their intentions to host the 2020 Olympics.

The winner to the host of the 2020 Olympics will be announced in 2013 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Source: Xinhua

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90855/7139019.html

romanSA

September 15th, 2010, 12:55 AM

Monday Sep 13, 2010

'Too early' to discuss financing Durban Olympics

It is too early yet to raise questions about the financing of the Olympics in Durban if the city was to win the bid to host the event, according to city manager Michael Sutcliffe.

"I think the key thing to focus on is that the media jump on the finance issue when we are very far away from the process. Sascoc (the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee) is the body that has to make the decision and it has decided that Durban is the best bet.

"It will have to engage with the national government to make sure it is good for the future of the country, and that process will take a number of months. I don't see it being a decision that will be taken in a click of the fingers," he said yesterday.

Sutcliffe said only once Sascoc had completed consulting |the national and provincial government would the city council look at the issue and explore how hosting the event could enhance Durban internationally, capture tourism and contribute to the improvement of infrastructure.

He said the city was presently reaping the benefits of hosting the World Cup, such as the building of infrastructure, including the new stadium and a revamped beachfront that residents could enjoy.

"We will need to see what needs to be done for the Olympics and the city, and what appetite national government has for it. It's not just financial, it's also human resources," Sutcliffe said

A formal decision would have to be made by the government before the bid opened in mid-July.

However, asked whether Durban ratepayers might be asked to foot the bill through increased property rates, Sutcliffe said he could not "give anyone an assurance of what the rates increase will be in the city. Giving a rates assurance would be a lie."

He added that in some cities that had hosted the Olympics, different levies had been introduced and the private sector had also invested in property developments by way of athletes' villages, which had housed athletes during the event before the owners took occupation.

"There are many different ways to deal with it. It depends on how the provincial government comes to the party.

"I don't want to say there is going to be a levy? Hosting |the Olympics can be a daunting undertaking, but if you look at it innovatively it does not have to be so daunting," Sutcliffe said.

In Montreal finances had been a problem because for 20 years after the event they were still paying off their stadium.

However, he said, Barcelona had reaped the economic benefit of becoming a major port hub in Europe.

He said Durban could benefit from the event because it would give the government the opportunity to ramp up economic development, including the building of a high-speed rail link between Durban and Johannesburg.

Daily News

Posted at 10:47AM Sep 13, 2010 by Editor in Cities and Towns

http://www.iolproperty.co.za/roller/news/entry/too_early_to_discuss_financing

dysan1

September 15th, 2010, 11:59 AM

I am gathering that most of the work going forward is going to be behind the scenes?

romanSA

September 15th, 2010, 09:28 PM

Yes, I think most of the assessments and decisions will be behind-the-scenes.

romanSA

September 15th, 2010, 09:32 PM

Now CT's erstwhile biggest Olympic sponsor / supporter has endorsed Durban's selection. And he's made some interesting remarks re: relative atmospheres in SA's big-3 cities during the WC...

-------------

Ackerman backs Durban Olympic bid
September 15 2010 at 05:23PM

By Dasen Thathiah

Renowned entrepreneur Raymond Ackerman has pledged his support to Durban to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

"I promise you, if Cape Town is not standing for the Olympics, I'll back you all the way and give you any advice you want. The whole country will be behind you," he said to applause.

Ackerman, the founder and chairperson of the Pick n Pay Holdings, was addressing about 850 business people at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry's 154th gala dinner at the Durban Exhibition Centre last night.

The respected businessman is the latest high-profile figure to throw his weight behind the city's bid.

And it was reported this week that the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said Durban was the only city to indicate it wanted to host the 2020 Olympics.

Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth did not bid despite being invited to do so.

Ackerman expressed faith in it hosting the massive event, saying the city had already proved itself during the World Cup.

"Durban was remarkable. Cape Town was good, Johannesburg was good, but there was just a terrific atmosphere here."

Speaking about core business values, the 79-year-old Ackerman told the audience that the success of companies relied largely on their social responsibility.

"Social responsibility is good business. It's not just (about) being kind and sensitive to the environment. People will back you," he said.

When an extortionist poisoned several food items at Pick n Pay in 2003, creating a huge public scare, the retailer had lost R250-million in two weeks. But years of good customer service had ensured that customers remained loyal to the company, he said.

Ackerman also reiterated his support and belief in the country's ability to succeed.

"It's easy to forget when you see strikes and mining problems and political problems. But we're still a teenage country, with teenage problems. So we're going to have those up and downs.

"We just have to lead the way. When you think back, we've got a lot to be thankful for."

Ackerman said he and his wife had 12 grandchildren and they were encouraging them to stay in the country.

"We do have the money to emigrate with them if we felt this country was going one way. But they're all here. We're encouraging them to stay here.

"It is such an exciting country. Sure, we've got problems - but we'll conquer those problems with the right attitude and the right people," he said.

dasen.thathiah@inl.co.za

This article was originally published on page 1 of Daily News on September 15, 2010

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=180&art_id=vn20100915123518374C900499

dysan1

September 16th, 2010, 12:54 AM

saw it in the daily news... good to hear more getting behind it

dysan1

September 16th, 2010, 03:09 PM

Durban: Running Olympic rings around the rest

Barbara Cole
September 16 2010 at 01:19PM
Get IOL on your mobile at m.iol.co.za

There was really only ever going to be one realistic South African bidder for the 2020 Olympics - Durban.

It makes the process a lot simpler for the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc). No internal squabbling, no local play-offs - it's just Sascoc and Durban. The city has been understandably chuffed with itself. Its long-term goal was always the Olympics, otherwise it wouldn't have spent an absolute fortune on the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The World Cup was South Africa's biggest PR exercise to date, but the Olympics will surpass that. It could lift Durban into the international light like never before. But the euphoria will be tempered in the next few years as the amount of work and money required become reality.

Sascoc president Gideon Sam said: "We're not talking thousands or millions here; we're talking billions. "I don't know exactly what it will cost because we don't know exactly what infrastructure is needed. That's why I'm meeting various people this week, to discuss these things. "Remember, it's 26 sports, not one, as with the World Cup. We have to put our heads together, see what we need and what costs are involved."

Make it happen

With an internationally acclaimed reputation for hosting successful global sporting events, there is no doubt that Durban "can really make the Olympics happen". Deputy mayor Logie Naidoo is upbeat about Durban's chances. The city has the expertise, the best infrastructure and plenty of land to build extra facilities, if necessary.

City manager Michael Sutcliffe agrees.Durban's long-term planning has always been to think big. It has already dubbed itself "Africa's sporting and events capital" (Joburg has a similar slogan), but the city's vision foresees Durban becoming the world's sporting capital. It certainly has a lot going for it, particularly as a multi-sport venue.

An impressive track record already includes hosting events such as the Rugby World Cup, the Cricket World Cup, the World T20 Championships, the A1 Grand Prix, the Quiksilver ISA World Surfing Games, the Fina/Arena Swimming World Cup, the Clipper Round-the-World Yacht Race, the International Cycling Federation's World's View Road Challenge in Pietermaritzburg, and just recently, the BMX World Championships, also in Pietermaritzburg.

Then, there are the Comrades Marathon, the British/Irish Lions Tour in 2009, the Dusi Canoe Marathon, the Vodacom Durban July, and the Indian Premier League tournament in 2009. Durban has had some memorable and nail-biting sporting moments too.

Remember that mud-bath of a game when South Africa took on France in the torrential rain during the 1995 Rugby World Cup - and won? Then there was the Tri-Nations clash in l998 between the All Blacks and South Africa, when South Africa won 24-23 and took the Tri-Nations title for the first time. What about the 2007 Super 14 final when The Bulls snatched victory from the Sharks in that 20-19 thriller?

This was followed by victory the next year when the Sharks raised the Currie Cup, to cheers from ecstatic local fans and a ticker-tape celebration.

Finally, the ultimate sporting event (so far, that is), the seven 2010 Soccer World Cup matches played in the city's Moses Mabhida Stadium, hailed as one of the best stadiums in the world by Fifa officials.

And didn't the world love Durban?

The stadium got 700 mentions in the global media every day. The experience, the atmosphere, the beach, the close proximity of the stadium to other attractions and the weather - it all had journalist Steven Goff on the Washington Post raving: "Oh Durban, where have you been for my whole World Cup?"

We have had our fair share of sporting stars too? Olympic gold medalist Penny Heyns, world surfing champion Shaun Tompson, Springbok rugby captain John Smit, cricketers Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Hashim Amla and former Bafana Bafana skipper Neil Tovey.

The award-winning Moses Mabhida Stadium (15 awards to date) was, of course, especially built for the soccer World Cup, but with the future in mind, an athletics track was also included. There are 70 000 seats and enough space for another 15 000 - enough for the Olympics. Should Durban become the host city, this would be the main stadium.

The Absa Stadium, a stone's throw away, would be the secondary athletics venue. There are many other facilities nearby that cater for a range of sports - from golf to cycling, archery, swimming, rugby, judo, canoeing, yachting. And there's a fully-equipped gym for athletes wanting to train during the 22-day event. And, across the city, there are the ICC and the Durban Exhibition Centre.

Ideally, what is needed is a new multipurpose indoor sports centre near the stadium. The Olympic Village, complete with accommodation, dining facilities and a laundry, could go up on the old drive-in site, says Naidoo. Durban's advantage is that it could stage a host of sports (together with training venues) within a few kilometres of the Olympic Village. And that all fits in with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) "compact solution" of having events in a concentrated precinct.

While the city has not done any estimates of likely costs, the bill would be cushioned by the fact that "a lot of money" was spent preparing for the World Cup: thus much of the infrastructure is already in place.

However, although the city is confident of its Olympic prospects, it would not be taking anything for granted. And when the IOC comes to Durban for its conference next July, the city plans to show off the town "in all its glory".

The advantages in Durban as a host city, says the city manager, are the climate, location and the infrastructure and eventing record. It would also be "the lowest cost solution for Africa".

Those in the know say that the biggest lesson learnt from the World Cup was that it was not the infrastructure that was the city's main asset, but the weather. While Cape Town has the potential for bad weather and Joburg can be miserable and cold, Durban has warm weather, even in winter. And, finally, before we forget... Durban is in Africa. The IOC is keen to take the Olympic Games to the developing nations.

Durban will have its work cut out to prove it is worthy of representing the continent.

Facilities already in place ...

The Moses Mabhida Stadium ... For soccer and athletics. And of course, the opening and closing ceremonies.

King's Park Precinct ... For athletics and archery, with the fields also used as training venues for various sports.

Kingsmead Stadium ... A training venue for football.

Cyril Geohegan Stadium ... For cycling, with mountain biking at Giba George near Hillcrest and road cycling on surrounding roads.

Durban Country Club/Royal Durban Golf Club/Windsor Park Golf Club ... The match and |training courses and driving range.

Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC) ... For fencing, gymnastics, judo, table tennis, chess and weight-lifting.

Centrum Parking (near ICC, DEC) ... These venues may be used for the International Broadcasting Centre.

Umgeni River ... For slalom canoeing.

Queensmead Stadium, Umbilo ... For hockey

Shongweni Club ... With 34ha available, it is "perfectly positioned" for all equestrian events, says Anton Mostert, chairman of the Durban Shongweni Club. Just 20 minutes' drive from Durban with access from two freeways.

BMX Track, Pietermaritzburg ... BMX is the newest Olympic sport.

Badminton Hall, Cobhan Grove... For badminton.

Other infrastructure

Hotels... Come 2020, there will be no shortage of accommodation in Durban and the surrounding areas. The beachfront already boasts several hotels and new ones are going up in Umhlanga all the time. By 2020, the Point Waterfront will be finished, and there will probably be another top-end hotel there.

Transport... Durban ran a successful World Cup transport programme involving moving thousands of people from the suburbs into the city in shuttle buses, and this could be replicated again. Passengers were also moved around the city in the new People Mover buses.

Then there is the region's new King Shaka International Airport.

There is likely to be a new passenger terminal and direct international flights, certainly to and from the East and Europe, by 2020.

Trains... There is already a new train station next to the Moses Mabhida Stadium, and long before 2020, the service will have been extended to King Shaka International Airport, providing easy access in and out of the city.

Fast train... By 2020, the proposed fast train between Durban and Johannesburg, could well be a reality.

What still has to be done ...

Ideal scenario... A new, multi-purpose indoor sports centre, to be built somewhere near the Moses Mabhida Stadium) for such sports as badminton.

King's Park Pool Complex ... This has to be upgraded and the city would be up for that, says deputy mayor Logie Naidoo.

Umgeni River ... A 200 to 300m artificial white-water slalom course would need to be built near Kingfisher Canoe Club, the canoeing capital of South Africa. A similar one was built for the Sydney Games at a cost of $12 million, and it became such a popular attraction afterwards, the authorities recouped their money within a year. "We would seriously consider that and look at that international best practice and see how it worked," said Naidoo.

Westridge ... The tennis stadium would have to be dramatically upgraded to cope with the huge influx of fans expected to flock in to watch the big names, who are professionals, unlike athletes in other disciplines.

What will the visitors be able to do ...

With the beach (now upgraded) on the doorstep, what a question? The Durban World Cup Fan Festival was the most popular in the world.

There are no shortage of other attractions either ...

This article was originally published on page 13 of Daily News on September 16, 2010

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=4&art_id=vn20100916124120808C257551&singlepage=1

romanSA

September 16th, 2010, 05:20 PM

Nice article.

dysan1

September 16th, 2010, 05:33 PM

momentum is building. The Daily News are featuring daily Durban Olympic coverage all week and it is being rolled out in all the Independent titles across SA.

romanSA

September 17th, 2010, 09:31 PM

Interesting piece...

----------------

Friday Sep 17, 2010
'Durban might score from Olympics'

If Durban gets it right the city could score from the Olympics, writes Kevin McCallum

The Beijing Games may have done the rest of the Olympic world a favour. There will never be a games like it again. No city will ever be able to extend itself financially as the Chinese did in 2008. They would be daft to even try. It was the last no-expense-spared Olympics in history.

The Olympics have, since the second half of the 20th century, been about one-upmanship, to pip the previous games in terms of grandeur and gravitas. It became less about the sport than a huge PR exercise for the city and the country. More cash, splash and flash than "Swifter, Higher, Stronger".

Beijing spent an estimated $40 billion on the games, although we will never know the exact figure. London intends spending a lot less, and that is good news for Durban as it readies itself to bid to become the first city in Africa to host the Olympics. It would do well to watch London carefully and take the lessons learnt there to heart. London could be the model for many Olympic Games to come.

"The International Olympic Committee themselves recognise that Beijing is the last edition of a Games which is going to look and feel like this," said Lord Sebastian Coe, head of the London Olympics organising committee, who said London would not attempt to equal the "scale and stature" of Beijing.

London won the right to host the Games when the economy was flying and the city was flush with cash. Now, says London mayor Boris Johnson, it has been asked to put on an Olympics in a "recession". That recession has now abated ever so slightly, but money is still too tight to mention.

That is not to say that the London Games will be cheap. They will cost $17.4bn, some $13bn more than had been budgeted for in what has been called a "wildly optimistic" budget. The London Olympics is already the biggest public works project in European history.

A study by Merril Lynch said 10 of the past 11 games had left the host cities with a "lingering" bill that took years to pay off. It took Montreal 30 years to pay off the 1976 games, the horror story of all Olympics.

A year before, the Montreal organisers were well behind schedule and had to rush to finish in time. The debt reached the $1bn mark and the Olympic Stadium, which was dubbed the "Big O", became known as the "Big Owe".

The mayor of Montreal, Jean Drapeau, predicted in 1970, "the Olympics can no more have a deficit than a man can have a baby". The Quebec government insisted the city pay the debt in full and by itself, and it was the provincial government that had to step in save the games when construction fell behind.

The stadium eventually cost Montreal $2.4bn and the cigarette smokers ended up paying for most of that through heavier and heavier taxes. The taxes on sin paying for the wages of sin, you might say.

The legacy of Montreal was that no one wanted to host the games and only Los Angeles, New York and Tehran expressed an interest. LA beat New York for the right to be the US host and Tehran withdrew, leaving LA as the host. Iran boycotted the games.

The Los Angeles Games saved the Olympics, and Durban would do well to visit the people involved here. They turned a massive $200 million profit, thus becoming the most financially successful games in history, by establishing a model that saw existing facilities being used and private corporate funding.

Only two new facilities had to be built: a velodrome and a swimming centre. Sound familiar, Durban?

The Atlanta Games in 1996 had a similar model, using taxpayers' money for infrastructure - the transport system, upgrading the airport, etc - and commercial sponsorship and ticket sales to pay for the new venues and hosting the games.

They made a $10 million profit, although there were complaints about transport, overcrowding in the Olympic Village and over-commercialisation of the games.

Barcelona about got it right, as did Sydney, which looked to spark development in the Homebush Bay area by building the precinct there.

Although, this week, about 10 years after the Sydney Games, a university study has found that "in purely measurable economic variables" the Olympics "had a negative effect on New South Wales and Australia as a whole. Specifically, a net consumption loss of A$2.1bn".

The Syd

http://www.iolproperty.co.za/roller/news/entry/durban_might_score_from_olympics

romanSA

September 21st, 2010, 12:03 AM

Durban property to surge
Wed, 15 Sep 2010 8:23

http://iaf1.stat.cdn.playfair.co.za/assets/13/653/130187/279681.JPEG

Durban’s plan to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics could be just the shot in the arm the local property market needs.

"The Soccer World Cup was an excellent advertisement for Durban's ability to host the Olympic Games," says Gerhard Kotzé, CEO of the ERA South Africa property group, "and the decision by South Africa's Olympic body SASCOC to back a bid to host the 2020 games is very exciting news for the city."

The bid will also have the support of President Zuma, who met with International Olympics Committee president Jacques Rogge during the Soccer World Cup, and of Sepp Blatter, president of world soccer body FIFA, who hailed the World Cup as an outstanding success and said it proved that SA could easily host the Olympics.

In addition, Durban is to host the 123rd International Olympics Committee conference in July next year, when the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games will be announced, and many believe the IOC will quietly use this as an opportunity to make an early assessment of the city’s capacity to host the games.

Dave Hitch, owner of the ERA Upper Highway office, says that, historically, hosting the Olympic Games has generally been good for real estate in the host city.

"For example, house prices in the Olympic cities of Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens all rose by more than the national average in the five years before the staging of the Olympics."

And a report from global real estate company Jones Lang Lasalle entitled "Reaching Beyond the Gold: The Impact of the Olympic Games on Real Estate Markets" says one of the most important effects of staging the games, especially in developing cities, is the improvement of urban infrastructure which can have a major impact on property values. In Athens, it points out, a new airport built to the east of the city sent land and property prices in the Messogia area soaring while the Barcelona games in 1992 led to the complete redevelopment of the city’s waterfront and huge property gains.

Of course, Durban has already seen major infrastructure improvements thanks to the Soccer World Cup with the upgrading of the beachfront areas and the public transport system and the completion of the long-awaited King Shaka airport being the most obvious examples.

But according to city manager Michael Sutcliffe the planning strategy for the World Cup was called "2010 and Beyond" because the work is going to carry on to reinforce the fact that Durban is "Africa’s sporting and event capital", capable of hosting events like the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

Indeed, suggestions are already doing the rounds that the city could host the Commonwealth Games or World Championship Athletics as a prelude to the Olympic Games in much the same way as the Confederation Cup served as a curtain raiser for the Soccer World Cup – and all this points to a boost for Durban’s economy, with one of the main beneficiaries being the property market, says Hitch.

"Areas that would be likely to benefit particularly include those close to the stadium, those close to the Olympic village that would accompany the games, residential areas close to suppliers of Olympics-related products and services and areas offering tourist accommodation on public transport routes.

"Musgrave, Hillcrest, the Bluff and Queensborough could all be in line for positive spin-offs, and one would also expect an increase in commercial, retail and residential property development around the new airport."

http://property.iafrica.com/hot_property/661860.html

jimmialli

September 27th, 2010, 07:25 PM

Durban should bid for 2018 Commonwealth Games too - may prove a good dry run for 2020.

Sorry blond moment!

romanSA

September 27th, 2010, 08:44 PM

Deadline passed long ago and two cities (from Oz and Sri Lanka) are already finalists.

dysan1

September 28th, 2010, 10:04 AM

most likely handed to Oz on a plate. Seems the commonwealth games are more harm than good these days

romanSA

September 28th, 2010, 10:52 AM

With South Asia's financial superpower, India, having such problems pulling off the Games, I can't imagine the Commonwealth Committee taking another chance so soon with minnow, Sri Lanka. Def going to Oz, on a platter.

romanSA

September 28th, 2010, 11:15 AM

It's interesting how SA Tourism is still only talking about a possible Durban Olympics, despite the very public SASCOC-CT spat, and SASCOC considering giving CT more time to "think" about the bid.

--------------

Tourism Month: 'lesser known' provinces cry foul over marketing budgets
By: Issa Sikiti da Silva

South Africa's 'lesser known' provinces are facing the tough challenge of marketing themselves efficiently as attractive tourist destinations because of inadequate marketing budgets, while the well-funded big three - Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal and Western Cape - are basking in financial and touristic glory. This emerged at the media expedition undertaken over the long weekend in Limpopo for the commemoration of the 2010 World Tourism Day celebrations.

A thorough investigation found that a huge province such as Limpopo, which critics believe fares far better than some of the big three in terms of exciting touristic attractions, only received R67 million this financial year, R4 million of which was allocated for marketing projects. Reports said, however, that the big three do each get around three times of that amount annually.

"What can you market with R4 million?"

"What can you market with R4 million in this big province? Marketing is a costly exercise that requires more money and skills," Mike Tauatsoala, Limpopo Tourism and Parks spokesperson, told Bizcommunity.com in Phalaborwa, the home of the marula tree.

Limpopo Tourism and Parks, which uses Capricorn FM radio station to market the province locally, is understaffed and lacks a proper marketing division, he said, adding that the lack of funding and proper marketing structures poses a serious challenge to the development of tourism in the province.

As the media crew cruised past elephants, hyenas, giraffes and impalas through the Kruger National Park (KNP), he said more than 70% of the park was located in Limpopo, and the rest in Mpumalanga, and not the way around.

"The confusion arises because we have not been able to market this place properly due to inadequate funding and staff shortage," he said, adding that his organisation is in the process of establishing a marketing division and hiring more marketers as soon as enough money comes in.

Underfunding the main cause

Some observers said underfunding was the main cause of the lesser known provinces' tourism projects falling through and visitors staying away.

Limpopo's world heritage site, the Makapane Valley, home to the Cave of Hearths and the Cave of Gwasa, is in a deteriorating state, and the number of visitors to the site continues to shrink due to lack of promotion. The Cave of the Gwasa is the site of deadly battles in 1854 between the Kekana Ndebele groups, led by chief Mokopane, and the Trekboers under the leadership of Potgieter.

"We have no money to market this amazing treasure," site manager Ernest Mkhari told Bizcommunity.com. "What we only did was to prepare a video of this place, which we handed over to [South African] Tourism to market for us internationally. But we also need to market it to locals because it is part of our country's history."

Another lesser visited province, the Free State, is also complaining about inadequate marketing budget. Trevor Sibeko, of the Free State's Tourism Programme Development, said it was impossible to even compare his province's agency budget of R20 million to one of the big three's R200 million.

"Want to increase capacity"

"We are seriously underfunded and understaffed. We want to increase capacity and develop strategies by working together with marketing agencies," Sibeko said, adding that his organisation learned valuable and unforgettable lessons from the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

In an interview with Bizcommunity.com near Chuene Village, SA Tourism CEO Thandiwe January-Mclean said: "Our mandate is to promote the country, not the provinces. But we are always appealing to them to use us as a platform to market their provinces as tourism destinations. That is why we maintain good relations with the provinces."

Asked whether tourism could be affected if the country's media freedom was compromised, she said: "That is a hot debate that I would prefer not to discuss. However, I don't believe that tourism will be affected by that."

Regarding the Durban Olympic bid, she said the bid, if successful, would enhance tourism and further promote SA as an attractive tourist destination. January-Mclean also said that her organisation has learned fantastic lessons from the world cup: "As people, we proved to the world and to ourselves that we can do better."

Lastly, she said her organisation will only release the final tally of world cup visitors towards the end of the year.

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/423/52576.html

briker

September 29th, 2010, 05:43 AM

I'm actually touched by Durban's enthusiasm to host the Games. Quite frankly, I don't feel anything coming from other cities :( Perhaps Durban does deserve the Games

Durbsboi

September 29th, 2010, 01:38 PM

partially due to Durban being the only city in SA that submitted a bid? Or are you talking about the international cities?

romanSA

September 29th, 2010, 02:00 PM

Durbs hasn't actually submitted a bid. SA cities were just asked to express their interest in bidding and only Durban responded.

The 5th Horseman

September 29th, 2010, 09:29 PM

I've been following Olympic bid races since Sydney won in '93, so I know a little bit about the dynamics of this.

I think, provided the right plans get drawn up and with significant investment, Durban can host an Olympics in 2020. But my concern is in actually winning the bid. Essentially what needs to be done is that 100 (give or take) IOC members must be convinced that Durban is the right spot. I worry that even with the exposure of the world cup, Durban still does not have that international status required to win a bid. When you consider that IOC members will have to pick among cities which may include Rome and Tokyo you see the enormity of the task facing Durbs. Unfortunately hosting the IOC session is not an automatic guarantee that the IOC will take a bid seriously - Prague hosted the session in 2003 and failed to make the final cut for the 2016 Games. And other recent hosts include Copenhagen and Guatamala, hardly places with the ability or stature to host the Olympic Games.

I think it can be done though, but it's gonna be a massive challenge. I believe 100% that geography plays a major role in host selection, generally you know before the bidding process even starts which region will host it (e.g. it was very clear that the Americas would host 2016, Europe 2012, Asia 2008 etc). 2020 is surprisingly not that obvious, the Americas is out, but the rest of the world is still in with a shot. I do not think that we will have any chance at 2024 due to geography - if Europe wins 2020 Asia/North America will win 2024 and if Asia wins 2020 Europe will get 2024. Because 2020 is geographically speaking 'open', we are in with a shout on that front.

This will be interesting, I will fully support a bid and hopefully the IOC will see the potential too.

briker

September 30th, 2010, 06:48 AM

Durban lies within a very central time zone. That's a great plus. The city and the country should actively market the city internationally.
How about building a very tall iconic tower in Durban aka Dubai? Africa's tallest building?? That would get grab the attention. It's stadium did :)

dysan1

September 30th, 2010, 12:56 PM

^^ i think the stadium has already served that role.

At the end of the day the winner is often not a logical conclusion to come to. Front runners often lose in shock and outsiders pip it. The reality is that the IOC are made up of vastly different people all with agenda's. Its how you pay with them that matters.

Mo Rush

September 30th, 2010, 01:17 PM

The Africa brand of the bid needs to be very strong. There must also be a will for the IOC to

1. Go to Africa after Rio
2. Select Africa over Rome and co.
3. Select Durban over other cities
4. Shortlist Durban or any other South African city, which is not a given.

briker

October 1st, 2010, 05:34 PM

yes, try something exotically new.

jimmialli

October 1st, 2010, 10:07 PM

romanSA

October 2nd, 2010, 12:41 AM

Some incorrect info here. CT finished 3rd for the 1996 Games, not Toronto. I love the city, but with Vancouver just having been awarded the Games (and Canada having hosted the Games 3 other times previously), I can't see it going back to Canada so soon.

-------------

It's Toronto's Time To Host The Olympics

Author: olympicfanatic
Published: Oct 01, 2010

The buzz about which city will host the 2020 Summer Olympics is starting to grow louder. I thought this would be a good time to once again chime in about a city deserving of this honor.

It seems that my sentimental favorite, Lisbon will not be (actively) pursuing a bid. Following South Africa's successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup, the South African city of Durban announced it will bid for the 2020 Games. Madrid, Rome, Hiroshima, Tokyo, Guadalajara, and Monterrey are also still in the race. Then there's the other stalwart city in the mix: Toronto.

Toronto's attempts to host the Games began in 1996 when it finished third behind Athens and Atlanta. The city made some changes and bid again for the 2008 Games, which it lost to Beijing, coming in second. As cities are preparing their initial bids for 2020, Toronto is there again, still determined and confident that it has what it takes to host the Games. And I couldn't agree more.

Quite frankly, I'm baffled as to why Toronto has yet to host the Summer Olympics. The only answer I can offer is this: politics. (Certainly the mayor's controversial comments didn't help its chances in 2008.) The southern-most Canadian city has all the elements required of a host city. It's technologically-savvy, a modern city. Like most of Canada, it strives to be eco-friendly, serving as a world leader in environmental consciousness. One of the largest cities in the world, it already possesses a sophisticated infrastructure, with an impressive mass transit system, well-designed highways, and an abundance of taxis. Its airport, Pearson International Airport, is one of the busiest in North America and recently underwent a major renovation, adding a new terminal.

I lived in Toronto, albeit briefly. The people there possess a proper, yet casual demeanor. I like to think of them as a mixture of American and British relaxed-like Americans, but more polite like the Brits. The city is a melting pot of cultures, offering a wide array of exposure to the arts and sciences. It has repeatedly been voted one of the most livable cities in the world.

Montreal hosted in 1976. Calgary did so in 1988, and this year's Olympics were held in Vancouver. Yet Toronto, the largest city in Canada, has continually been snubbed. I see Toronto as the perfect host city. Its size and infrastructure make it capable of handling thousands of people converging on the city for a few weeks. And what better city to host a global sporting event than one with numerous athletic venues, such as Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre, and the Canadian National Exhibition Centre, which boasts majestic buildings and two stadiums: BMO Field and Exhibition Stadium. These are just the major venues in Toronto and don't include the other arenas in suburban Toronto, such as the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta for rowing.

Many speculate that the IOC is eager to continue awarding the Olympics to countries which have never had the opportunity, such as Rio, which was recently chosen to host the 2016 Games. If this is the case, then Durban is almost a shoe-in. A part of me supports Durban's bid for the Games. I am eager to see the Olympics held in new, exotic places, but can cities like Durban afford such a monumental task? Some critics have predicted that hosting the Olympics would surely bankrupt Durban.

One glint of hope is that Toronto was awarded the 2015 Pan-American Games. Hosting the Pan-Am Games is a great beginning for a city which is bidding to host an Olympics. Does this mean that the IOC is giving Toronto the chance at an audition for 2020? Or are they simply offering Toronto leftovers from 2008?

The people of Toronto are ready and waiting, IOC. How much longer will you continue to make them wait? How much maple syrup will it take for you to come to your senses?
Swifter, Higher, Stronger.

http://blogcritics.org/sports/article/its-torontos-time-to-host-the/

The 5th Horseman

October 2nd, 2010, 04:40 PM

The article is correct. Toronto finished 3rd for the 1996 Games, CT finished 3rd for the 2004 Games with the vote taking place in 1997. I don't think Vancouver just hosting the winter games will have much impact on Toronto going forward, it is more going to be a case of whether the IOC wants to go to the US before Canada or vice versa, because if Canada wins a bid it effectively cancels out the US for 2-3 cycles.

romanSA

October 2nd, 2010, 07:04 PM

You are correct. I was thinking back to CT preparing for its bid in 1996. However, that was for 2004 Games.

I don't, however, agree that Vancouver's hosting of the 2010 Games will have no bearing on a Toronto campaign. I live part-time in Toronto. When Vancouver was announced the winner of the 2010 Games, Toronto Olympic supporters were dismayed as they equated this to a doomed Toronto campaign for a Games between 2012-2020. Even local newspapers said Vancouver's award would impact on a Toronto bid for the next 8 years. That said, I do think that if Toronto does bid for, and win, 2020, it will rule out a US city for at least the next one or two cycles (2024, 2028). I think another factor against Toronto is that it doesn't fulfil the IOC aspiration of taking the Games to new frontiers (Africa, Middle East, South Asia).

The 5th Horseman

October 2nd, 2010, 07:19 PM

To be honest the jury is still out on the effect of Winter Games hosts on Summer Games bids from the same country and vice versa. I think it's safe to say that you won't host the next Games (e.g. 2012 after 2010), but from there I think it is open, i.e. Vancouver 2010 is not going to affect Toronto 2020.

Bear in mind that the available host cities (countries) for the Winter Games is very limited - Salt Lake City hosted 2002 only 6 years after Atlanta (granted the US is a 'special' case, but again the IOC also had the chance to go to Canada that year and still chose the US, even though Atlanta had just hosted). But I honestly believe that any North American city would have a snowball's chance of winning 2020 thanks to Rio 2016.

Geographically the stars are strangely alligned for SA in 2020. The big question is going to be if the IOC wants to go south twice in a row, but if we can convince them of our technical abilities we could be in with a shout.

The 5th Horseman

October 2nd, 2010, 07:23 PM

And always remember with the IOC - as much as they have aspirations to go to new places, they also have to scratch the backs of those 'in the club'. Consider this - for 2004 the 2 favourites (Rome and Athens) were cities that already hosted the Games vs two other cities (CT and Buenos Aires) on entire continents that have never hosted the Games in it's then 100 years.

dysan1

October 2nd, 2010, 08:30 PM

Interesting article...but the comment that the Olympics will bankrupt Durban seems a bit off as most of the funds for it would come from National government and not the city budget

Jim856796

October 2nd, 2010, 09:58 PM

I think that any city in the Africa wanting to bid for a Summer Olympics could end up spending no less than $33 1/3 billion dollars on all those infrastructure projects.

Jim856796

October 2nd, 2010, 10:06 PM

Posted twice. Delete this, please.

dysan1

October 3rd, 2010, 06:45 PM

I think that any city in the Africa wanting to bid for a Summer Olympics could end up spending no less than $33 1/3 billion dollars on all those infrastructure projects.

based on?? thumb suck?

dysan1

October 3rd, 2010, 08:32 PM

Gateway Gauntlet

Once again Gateway aims to break the barriers and has now launched Africa's first and only indoor MTB event. Great addition to the MTB calendar.

The Gateway Gauntlet is the next best thing since remote lock outs were invented and takes place on the 9th of October inside Expo Xplore at Gateway Theatre of Shopping. This amazing concept event will become the signature sporting event for Gateway Theatre of Shopping as well as being the only MTB event in AFRICA that rides through and finishes inside a shopping centre. There are 3 main events; the first and biggest race will be a 2 lap (20km) course, consisting of an exciting and unique 10km route. The route will consist of flat out tar sprints, coupled with grinding and sharp dirt track turns, sprinkled every now and again with some short technical sections. Natural obstacles will be used or concept obstacles built to give riders an intense sense of adventure with a technical accomplishment. However don’t despair, chicken runs will always be available for the faint hearted!

http://mallguide.co.za/uploadimages/mall_521/gauntley_1283509445.jpg

Visit the website for more info and to enter

http://www.thegauntlet.co.za/

dysan1

October 5th, 2010, 06:58 PM

Rehash of a similar article, but good to see the constant Financial Times coverage of this

Olympic bid: Durban vies for sporting accolade
By David Owen

Published: October 5 2010 16:22 | Last updated: October 5 2010 16:22

The world’s football fans were focused firmly on South Africa in June and July, as the nation played host to the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

With the other two leading team-sport world cups – rugby union and cricket – having already been staged in the country, only one milestone remains when it comes to putting on the cream of international sports events: the Olympic Games.

The next two editions of the Summer Games, in 2012 and 2016, have already been allocated – to London and Rio de Janeiro respectively – so a South African Olympics is, at best, nearly a decade away.

However, with the country having demonstrated it can make a success of the only other sports event that can remotely compete with the Olympics for global attention, a South African bid for the 2020 Games looks likely.

With the decision on where a Summer Games is held being taken seven years in advance, the race to stage the next Olympics but two should get under way next year.

One important distinction between a world cup and a Games is that, while a cup is nationwide, the Olympics takes place primarily in a single city.

It is the Indian Ocean port of Durban, rather than the better-known urban centres of Johannesburg and Cape Town, that appears the most likely focal-point of any bid for the 2020 Games. “As it stands now, it is Durban,” says Gideon Sam, president of Sascoc, South Africa’s Olympic governing body.

Like several other South African cities, Durban was able to take advantage of the World Cup to endow itself with a stunning new sports stadium. Moses Mabhida Stadium – named after a former leader of the South African Communist Party – has a Wembleyesque, 106-metre high arch as its signature feature.

Its World Cup capacity was just under 63,000 spectators. However, it has been designed in such a way that this could be expanded to the 80,000 or so necessary for a main Olympic stadium with little fuss. An Olympic-sized athletics track could also be accommodated.

The stadium is one reason why Michael Sutcliffe, Durban’s city manager, believes that a Durban Games “could be one of the most cost-effective Olympics ever”.

However, it is far from the only weapon that this city of 3.5m would have in its armoury if it does contend for the 2020 Games that could see it come up against established world cities such as Tokyo and Rome.

Local architect Ruben Reddy put his finger on another attribute likely to appeal to the International Olympic Committee, world sport’s most exclusive club, who will make the decision on the 2020 host.

In his firm’s offices on the 18th floor of a Durban tower block, he sketches out a rectangle. At one end is the city centre, at the other the Umgeni river.

Just about everything you would need to lay on for an Olympics, including water and equestrian events that are often a long way from the host city, could be accommodated within the rectangle. “It would be the tightest Olympics ever,” he says.

The city also has: a new airport, King Shaka International; a convention centre that hosted the International Aids Conference in 2000 and the preliminary World Cup draw in 2007; a varied stock of accommodation; and an integrated public transport system, including a station, next to the stadium, on the city’s mainline north-south rail link.

There seems little doubt that a Durban Olympic bid would also seek to highlight the city’s “green” credentials. “We became the first city ever at a Fifa World Cup to host a carbon-neutral event,” says Mr Sutcliffe, adding that the city is “looking at creating free cycle ranks”.

Under normal circumstances, the city’s relatively small size – Mr Sutcliffe puts its annual budget at R26bn ($4bn) – and low international profile, might count against it.

However, it will have an opportunity to address this next July, just before the race for the 2020 Olympics formally gets under way, when Durban is due to host the 123rd IOC Session, in effect the body’s annual meeting.

This means that nearly all 100-plus IOC members will visit the city, many of them accompanied by their spouses.

With all manner of restrictions applied to member visits to candidate cities once their names are officially in the frame, this could be an important moment for Durban’s prospects of becoming Africa’s first Olympic city.

One IOC member who knows the city well is Sam Ramsamy, who was born there. He sits on the 15-strong executive board that manages the IOC’s affairs.

Few people understand the Olympic Movement’s sometimes quirky ways better than Mr Ramsamy.

This too should prove a valuable asset should the city make a pitch for sport’s most glittering prize.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5893707c-cf3f-11df-9be2-00144feab49a.html

romanSA

October 6th, 2010, 12:26 AM

Interesting article. Seems to be a hybrid of previous articles, but also contains some new info and quotes too. For example, it seems Gideon Sam's quote is new (can't recall seeing that before). If so, seems to indicate that that SASCOC still considers Durbs its bid city, despite CT's appeal for more time.

romanSA

October 6th, 2010, 01:01 AM

This is a very thoughtful and insightful article and carries a lot of credibility (vs the average reporter) as it comes from someone actually involved in previous US Olympic bids....

--------------------

When can LA host the Olympics again?
Phil Wallace • October 4 2010 5:38 PM

Last week the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) met and unveiled some of the considerable progress they are making under new president Scott Blackmun. Naturally, one of the questions that came up was whether a U.S. city could bid for the 2020 Olympic Games. USOC chairman Larry Probst had some interesting comments about Chicago.

"I think it would be challenging for any other city to organize a bid in that time frame but not impossible," Probst told the Chicago Tribune in an article headlined "Chicago likely USOC's strongest candid for U.S. bid for 2020 Olympics."

The comments probably raised a few eyebrows here in Los Angeles where the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games is always ready for a bid. Despite Probst's comments, Los Angeles is the most Olympic-ready city in the United States.

I say this with some knowledge, as I worked for New York's 2012 Olympic bid and was a consultant for Chicago's 2016 bid. That's not to say that Chicago could not host an excellent Olympics, because it could. Their plan for 2016 was first-rate, and they deserved to go well past the first round in voting. But in order for Chicago to bid again, they would need to find political and community support, and the city still needs to build an Olympic Stadium, an Olympic Village, and several other venues.

Conversely, Los Angeles can host the Olympics using entirely existing venues. And unlike virtually every other bold proposal in this city, an Olympic bid is the one thing that has broad political and community support because of the great success of the 1984 Games.

I will get into how a Los Angeles Olympic Games would work later in this column, but this LA vs. Chicago argument may be moot because the United States is unlikely to host the Summer Olympics any time soon.

While the United States is obviously in a different continent from South America, many IOC members consider the Americas to be one region. After being in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, the IOC will not want to go back to the Western Hemisphere in 2020. Additionally, the USOC still has a long ways to go in order to rebuild its reputation in the international Olympic community. Scott Blackmun has made progress on a wide variety of issues, particularly distribution of marketing and television revenues, but the USOC still needs to work on building relationships with IOC members, and other "sports politicians" around the world.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley was particularly pessimistic about the US's chances.

"If it's a political decision, they have to go to India, they have to go to Africa, they have to go to the Middle East," Daley offered as advice to the next mayor. "You can't participate. So be careful how much money you spend.

"Whoever it is (serving as mayor) has to figure that out," he said. "You just can't bid for it and all of a sudden, say, 'Johannesburg or Cape Town's going to get it. They're going to get it. New Delhi, they're going to get it. Someplace in the Middle East, they should get it.' That's the same reason they give for Rio de Janeiro."

There's some truth to what Daley is saying, but he's not completely right. Early signs point to the 2020 Olympic bid contest shaping up to be a two-horse race between Rome and a South Africa city - most likely Durban. New Delhi was supposed to use the 2010 Commonwealth Games as a springboard to an Olympic bid, but those Games have been a disaster.

It will be a long time before India is able to prove to the IOC that it is capable of hosting an Olympic Games. And despite Daley's comments, many IOC members are still not comfortable with the idea of a Middle East Olympics. Most recently, Doha in Qatar bid for 2016 and failed to pass the technical stage. One of the main reasons cited was weather, as hot temperatures would have led Doha to stage the Games in October, later than the IOC would like. Doha's population is relatively small for an Olympic host city.

Dubai in U.A.E. has announced its intention to bid for 2020, but the city has the same weather concerns as Doha. Additionally, Dubai is facing significant problems with its debt, and when I went there last year, even local sports officials acknowledged they were years away from being able to mount a realistic Olympic bid.

Conversely, the relatively positive feedback on the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa has boosted that nation's hopes. The entire IOC will be in Durban next year to vote on the host for the 2018 Winter Olympics (where PyeongChang, South Korea is currently favored over Munich, Germany and Annecy, France). That's an incredible advantage for any bid city. Since the Salt Lake City scandal, there have been significant travel restrictions placed on IOC members during bid campaigns, so this is a real coup for Durban.

There are several Asian cities that could bid for 2020, but none of their prospects are bright. Busan, South Korea has shown interest, but if PyeongChang wins for 2018, then that would end Busan's chances. Tokyo and Hiroshima have expressed interest, but after Tokyo's second round exit for 2016, it's unclear if enough enthusiasm exists for a second straight Japanese bid.

In Europe, Istanbul has made it clear that it will bid for 2020, but it has bid multiple times and not come close to winning. Budapest, Bucharest, Lisbon, and St. Petersburg have made murmurs about bidding, but Rome is the continent's only city that seems truly organized to this point.

It's still extremely early, but the success of the 2010 World Cup, the sentiment that Africa should host its first Olympics, and the IOC session next year, all seem to make Durban the current favorite for 2020. Additionally, the IOC has never held three consecutive Olympics outside of Europe. Knowing this, European members who want the 2024 Games in their country will vote for Durban.

Whichever city loses between Durban and a European city will likely be the favorite in 2024. By that bidding cycle, it figures that Madrid could mount a viable campaign after strong bids for 2012 and 2016. Paris might also have a good chance, since it would be the 100th anniversary of the famed "Chariots of Fire" Games, which are considered one of the greatest ever. A U.S. city could bid for 2024, but they would be the underdogs against an African bid or a European bid.

All this means, that Los Angeles or any other U.S. city might have to wait until 2028 to host the Summer Olympics, a mere 32 years after Atlanta. Of course, that could be further delayed if Denver or Reno/Tahoe realize their dreams of hosting the Winter Olympics in either 2022 or 2026. It's not clear yet if the USOC wants to entertain Winter bids, or made a stronger effort at Summer bids.

2028 might sound ridiculously far away, but that would basically mean that Blackmun and Probst would have 11 years to repair the damage wrought by past USOC instability. Olympics are awarded seven years in advance. If Blackmun can stay in his current position for that long, then the U.S. would be primed to win by then.

As for which U.S. city could win, the real question on this site is whether it could be Los Angeles. The USOC has basically made it clear that only Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and possibly San Francisco have a realistic shot at being the official U.S. Candidate City. San Francisco is too spread out though, and there are too many political landmines at this time.

The IOC would love to be in New York for the first time, but there is no obvious site for an Olympic Stadium. A stadium proposal on the West Side of Manhattan died in 2005, and the Jets (who would have used the facility) now share a brand new stadium in New Jersey with the Giants. A second stadium proposal is now Citi Field, home of the Mets, and the team would have to agree to move out for a year or more while the venue is temporarily changed for the Olympics. Another stadium site has yet to emerge, and building any sports facility in New York is notoriously difficult.

That basically leaves Los Angeles and Chicago as the most likely future candidates to host the next Olympic Games in the United States. While Chicago doesn't have an Olympic Stadium or a Village, they at least have a blueprint for a bid. It's possible that later this decade the city could regenerate the political and community support that frayed close to the end of their bid.

On the other hand, Los Angeles's biggest challenge will be to form a compelling reason as to why the city should get to host the Olympics a third time, and not too long after the 1984 Games (in Olympic time). As Alan Abrahamson likes to say, every bid needs a "why." Arguing that Los Angeles saved the Olympic Movement in 1984 and therefore deserves the Games again, will not work with the IOC. Even though it's basically true, some IOC members look at that statement as arrogant and several other IOC members like to think they saved the Olympic Movement themselves.

Additionally, pointing out the low cost of a Los Angeles Olympic Games is not necessarily appealing to some IOC members. It may help win over the Finance Commission, but often times IOC members like to see the Games as a mechanism to build grandiose facilities for sports they love. They also want to see the Games as an opportunity to advance a particular cause or promote a certain sport in an area where it needs a boost.

Los Angeles could appeal to the IOC through celebrity. The ability to align Hollywood with certain IOC members' causes or favorite sports would win over some members. Additionally, Los Angeles' diversity is a strength, as many athletes from around the world could compete before a virtual "hometown crowd" here. The terrific weather here is also appealing, particularly to members of the Athletes Commission. Los Angeles is already a great place for athletes to workout and there is an excellent sports culture here.

So how would a Los Angeles Olympics work? Well, L.A. is already in the fortunate position where it would not need to build a single new venue. The city's official Bid Book for the 2016 Games outlines a bid that uses existing facilities. Very few of them were even used in 1984 because of the stadium construction done in LA by AEG and others over the past 25 years.

Effectively, there would be three Olympic clusters. The main cluster would extend from Downtown to the Coliseum with events taking place at the Convention Center, STAPLES Center, L.A. Live, and then on down to USC and Exposition Park. A second cluster would include all of the facilities in Carson at Home Depot Center. And a third major cluster would be in Long Beach where aquatics facilities exist and sailing and rowing could take place. The Honda Center in Anaheim would need to be used for either gymnastics or basketball, and other venues like the Forum, Pauley Pavilion, Santa Anita (for equestrian), the Pomona Fairplex (for shooting), and Raging Waters (for whitewater canoeing) would be used as well.

Golf and rugby sevens have been added to the Olympic program, but those would not be difficult to accommodate. LA has several world-class golf courses including Riviera and Trump National. The Home Depot Center seems like a natural fit for rugby sevens, but even Dodger or Angel Stadium could be used (since baseball and softball have been eliminated from the Olympic program).

Traffic was not problematic in 1984, and it would not be problematic again because of Olympic priority lanes and the addition of a real subway system.

There would still probably need to be additional slight modifications to the 2016 plan for Los Angeles to win. Originally, the LA bid team planned a $112 million renovation of the Coliseum that would have reinstalled a track and included the building of luxury suites. But having gone to several USC football games in recent years, I think the Coliseum will need a more thorough renovation to win over the IOC. That could be paid for using Games revenue. (Of course a new LA NFL stadium could change everything, but it doesn't look like the City of Industry site will have space for a track, and we don't know much yet about a proposed downtown stadium.)

Another issue is the Olympic Village. While USC and UCLA dorms worked in 1984, today's standard of Olympic Villages is so high-tech and luxurious that the LA bid team would need to find land to build a residential facility that could house over 12,000 athletes, and even more coaches. Since the IOC prefers a compact bid, the Village would have to be near Downtown.

All of this is fun to speculate about, but again, it may be a while before LA can host the Games again.

http://www.laobserved.com/intell/2010/10/when_can_la_host_the_olympics.php

dysan1

October 6th, 2010, 12:34 PM

Very interesting article that is. Has alot of critical thought. his view could be true, if Durban loses 2020, then 2024 would be even stronger than the 2020 momentum. I do not think that US wil bid. More than likely would come down to Durban, Rome and Istanbul if we all bid.

christian17

October 18th, 2010, 05:29 PM

F1 insider: Durban Grand Prix?
2010-10-08 08:15

Print article Email article Comment

DURBAN GP?: SA could return to the F1 calendar

Related Links
SA F1 GP rumours gain momentum
F1 insider: Former champions
Column: F1's title quintet
Author: Dieter Rencken

Is the time ripe for South Africa’s return to the F1 Grand Prix calendar?

That is the question that will be asked in Durban next week when a specially-constituted working group ponders a proposal by a South African company working in conjunction with Abu Dhabi-based investors to return F1 to South Africa at new custom facility to be built in kwaZulu-Natal.

According to documents in the possession of Wheels24, the investors intend building a full F1-specification circuit within a retail, lifestyle, tourism, commercial and technology centre.

A site near Durban’s recently built King Shaka International Airport has been earmarked for development, and a proposal recently presented to kZN’s provincial treasury department.

‘I have been asked by my MEC (MEC Ina Cronje) to investigate the matter and to write a report by the end of the month,’ Clive Coetzee, a treasury official, exclusively told Wheels24. ‘There is indeed a proposal on the table.’

The working group, consisting of various role players, including Abu Dhabi’s Royal Group, Nightbridge Investments (instigators of the quasi-government Gauteng Province Motorsport Company, which recently collapsed in a mountain of debt), the KZN Automotive Cluster, Motorsport SA, Tourism KZN, the Airport and Dube Trade Port will meet on 14 October at the airport to debate the matter.

TRACK LAYOUT: The proposed Durban Grand Prix track layout
Sources indicate there are serious concerns about the legitimacy of Nightsbridge, particularly after the collapse of GMSC, and Gauteng’s decision to the cancel certain contracts entered into by GMSC’s then-CEO Steven Watson – a close associate of Nightsbridge – plus the overall financial viability of the project.

Grand prix attendances across the world are dwindling on account of astronomical ticket prices.

The average Grand Prix ticket is currently priced at R4000, meaning a family of four faces a bill of R16 000 before costs of accommodation and travel.

In addition, the kZN treasury department requires that the national government commit financial support for the project. ‘However, if the national government is not willing or able to support the development then the proposal should not be considered. KZN Provincial and local government simply should not get involved without national government support’ concludes the document.

Proposed economic impact on South Africa:

Circuit - R1.8 to R2.5bn
Foreign tourism spend - R500m per annum
Domestic tourism spend - R100m per annum
Event hospitality - R300 – 350m per annum
Accumulative net direct spend per annum - R2-3 billion per annum
Job creation - 7000+ jobs sustained per annum

Jim856796

October 23rd, 2010, 08:38 PM

Would Durban's planned olympic infrastructure be a bit smaller than Rio's planned Olympic infrastructure?

romanSA

October 23rd, 2010, 08:45 PM

Not sure about smaller, but definitely more compact.

dysan1

December 6th, 2010, 11:04 AM

IOC heaps praise on SA
2010-12-06 10:27

Gary Lemke

Cape Town - The president of the International Olympic Committee, Dr Jacques Rogge, heaped praise on South Africa when he said that the country "has joined the top league of games organisers in the world".

Dr Rogge was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 7th World Conference, Sport, Education and Culture in Durban on Sunday night.

The conference continues on Monday and Tuesday.

Dr Rogge also spoke of the "special bond that exists between the IOC and South African sport". Visibly impressed by the country’s success in staging the 2010 FIFA World Cup - ‘I have to congratulate South Africa on the way they hosted the World Cup’ – Rogge’s compliments went down well with the room of international delegates.

Speakers at a vibrant and colourful opening ceremony also included South Africa’s minister of sport, Fikile Mbalula, the Mayor of the City of Durban, Obed Mlaba, the chairperson of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education, Lambis Nikolaou, the Unesco deputy director general, Getachew Engida, IOC executive board member Dr Sam Ramsamy, and the SASCOC president, Gideon Sam.

In opening the conference at the International Convention Centre in the heart of Durban, Sam spoke with passion and conviction.

"The 2010 FIFA World Cup gave some insight to those outside of our country what commitment we have here, what a unique country we have and what is possible when everyone shares the same dream. Young people love to dream and they deserve to dream. It is our responsibility to help them achieve their dreams and I believe that the 7th World Conference, Sport, Education and Culture will go some way to laying the platform,’ he said.’

‘Sport is about more than the results on the scoreboard. Of course, there has to be a winner and a loser but by competing at the highest possible level is winning in itself. It’s important to instill the core Olympic values of excellence, friendship and mutual respect.

‘This conference is about giving youth a chance. We saw in August what a powerful message the inaugural Youth Olympics created. The young athletes involved were not household names but they were being given the platform to aspire, dream and achieve.

‘South Africa’s best example was the swimmer, Chad le Clos. He won five medals in Singapore and then two months later went to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, and won four medals. We have big expectations of him at the London 2012 Olympics and beyond, but the Singapore Youth Olympics was his launchpad,’ Sam added.

Among those athletes speaking in different forums at the 7th World Conference, Sport, Education and Culture, will be Paralympic legend Natalie du Toit and Zimbabwe’s decorated Olympic medallist, Kirsty Coventry.

http://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/IOC-heaps-praise-on-SA-20101206

Mo Rush

December 6th, 2010, 12:03 PM

Durban ahead in Olympics bid

2010-12-05 16:18
Email | Print http://cdn.24.com/files/Cms/General/d/973/1aaa7e42d8074f9a8deaedaeadd27e78.jpg

Paddy Harper and Erna Van Wyk

Johannesburg - South Africa’s four-city race to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games appears to be going in favour of Durban, with a top government official even suggesting that it is the favourite.

Durban faces competition from Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, which, according to Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, have all indicated willingness to host the sporting mega-event.

Cape Town has said they would not enter the bidding race.

Durban’s hopes will be given a boost today with a visit to the city by International Olympic Committee (IOC) boss Jerome Rogge.

Rogge is addressing the World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture, and will, on the sidelines of this, have a joint programme with the city and will hold informal discussions with the Mayor Obed Mlaba.

City Press has learned that the political leadership of the province and the city, and Mbalula would also be at the meeting.

IOC spokesperson Sandrine Tonge said there would be no discussion of a Durban Olympic bid.

Durban appears to be in the driving seat, positioning itself strongly and developing the Kings’s Park sporting precinct.

The precinct runs from the Moses Mabhida Stadium to the Durban International Convention Centre and provides, among other things, a 76 000-seater stadium, several small stadiums including Absa Stadium, a cycling track and an arena suitable for indoor sports.

A senior city official said the city had already begun its lobbying process, with KwaZulu-Natal’s premier, Zweli Mkhize, notifying the South African bid committee of the province’s willingness to back the city’s bid.

In terms of process, cities make their pitches (which require the backing of their provincial government) and a national selection process takes place.

Mbalula yesterday played down any suggestion that it was a certainty that Durban would be the winning city.

He said the process was still wide open, with all four cities making representations to government.

“We understand that Durban is particularly enthusiastic, but the issue of the host city has not yet been finalised.

“Where we are at now is that while Cape Town had earlier said they were not interested, they have changed this position and the matter is wide open.

“We should be able to finalise the issue by the end of January or early in February, and we will then make an announcement as to which South African city will make the country’s bid,” said Mbalula.

He added: “The overall principle is that South Africa is prepared to host the Summer Olympics.

"The issue now is which city.’’

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (Port Elizabeth) yesterday confirmed that it would also be putting in a bid to host the 2020 Games.

Municipal spokesperson Roland Williams said they were awaiting details about the requirements from the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).

“We have many sporting facilities and infrastructure such as indoor sports fields and hotels to offer,” said Williams.

He said that the municipality had written to Sascoc asking for the specifications regarding the bid, but it had not received any feedback.

Various spokespeople for the City of Johannesburg yesterday could not provide any details about the city’s bid status.

City of Cape Town spokesperson Pieter Cronje yesterday said the Mother City would not bid to host the 2020 Olympics.

“We have informed Sascoc that we might in future bid for the Olympics held after 2020,” he said.

“After the 2010 World Cup we reconsidered all the costs of the infrastructure, such as public transport, that has to be put in place for the Oympics, and we decided to rather look at hosting other sports, entertainment, arts and culture events in the meantime.”

While the 2020 host will be announced in Buenos Aires only in mid-2013, the bidding process must take place next year.

Other cities expected to bid are Rabat (Morocco), Delhi (India), Rome (Italy), Brisbane (Australia) and Guadalajara (Mexico).

dysan1

December 6th, 2010, 05:36 PM

Olympics-South Africa capable of hosting Olympics says Rogge

Mon Dec 6, 2010 3:13pm GMT
By Jason Humphries

DURBAN Dec 6 (Reuters) - South Africa has the ability to host a summer Olympic Games following the success of this year's soccer World Cup, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge said on Monday in Durban.

Rogge, who is attending an international sports conference, said the World Cup showed the country's ability to host a major sporting event.

"I would like to emphasise that South Africa is capable of organising a very good Games. There is no doubt about that," Rogge told a news conference.

Rio de Janeiro will host South America's first Olympic Games in 2016 which will leave Africa as the only continent which has not hosted the world's largest sports event.

Rogge said he would be pleased to see Africa hold its first Olympics but also sounded a note of caution.

"The IOC would be delighted to award the Games to Africa because it is the only continent that has not organised a Games.

"But I want to be clear that we would only award the Games on quality not on location. The bottom line is, is that the athletes deserve good Games. That will be the defining factor.

"Rio got the Games mostly based on quality, not just because we wanted to award the Games to Brazil. It would be the same for any South African, or African, bid," he said.

In a separate interview with Reuters, Rogge added: "We would love to come to Africa as a continent or South Africa as a country. Africa is indeed the last continent not to have hosted the Games. We would welcome a candidate from South Africa or indeed an African candidate."

South African IOC executive board member Sam Ramsamy hinted that his country would bid for the 2020 Games.

"Everyone has talked how successful the World Cup was and they have seduced us into trying to put a bid forward," Ramsamy told the news conference.

"But we will have to discuss it with our African and our Olympic colleagues before making our decision. According to IOC regulations it's too premature (to announce a bid) at this stage. We are having discussions with the government on that particular point."

The IOC will hold its general assembly in Durban in July next year where the winner of the 2018 Winter Olympic bid will be announced.

The three cities in the running are Munich in Germany, Annecy in France and Pyeongchang in South Korea.

The bidding process for 2020 will begin after the announcement.

(Editing by John Mehaffey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/other-sports/0613401-rogge-encourages-south-african-bid-olympics-once-more

dysan1

December 9th, 2010, 10:39 AM

IOC president Rogge says South Africa capable of organizing 'very good' Olympics

LA Times
December 6, 2010, 1:40 p.m.

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — The trend of taking major sports events to uncharted territories could continue with Africa's first Olympics in 2020.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said on Monday a new region would be "favored" in a close race for hosting rights. Rogge also praised 2010 World Cup football host South Africa at a two-day conference in Durban — the South African city which is now expected to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The Olympics have been awarded to every continent except Africa.

South Africa was "capable of organizing a very good Games," Rogge said at the World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture in the east coast city. "You've proven many times you can stage big events.

"We would only award the Games on the quality of the bid, not on the location. If, however, there were two good bids, then the region that has not had them would be favored."

Russia and Qatar were given the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments by world football body FIFA on Dec. 2.

Both countries are first-time hosts, and Qatar's tournament will be the first World Cup in the Middle East — 12 years after the first in Africa.

The International Olympic Committee chief's positive comments were an added boost to South Africa's Olympic hopes following its own staging of the world's biggest football tournament in June and July this year.

The 2010 World Cup was a huge success and set a new benchmark for future tournaments, FIFA said in its post-event appraisal in September. Rogge also attended the final stages of the tournament.

It was the latest on a list of major South Africa-based sports events, with the Olympics — the world's biggest sports event — a possible addition.

"I believe that the organization of the cricket world championship (World Cup, in 2003), the Rugby World Cup (in 1995) and now the FIFA World Cup, with great success in the three events, has definitely put South Africa in the first league of nations that organize major sport events," Rogge told The Associated Press on Monday. "So, yes, Africa is on the surge and we are very glad about that."

South Africa announced soon after the World Cup that it would organize a bid for the 2020 Olympics, but it has not decided which city will represent it.

Durban is favored to get the formal endorsement of South Africa's Olympic committee and the crucial government backing ahead of two other coastal cities — Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Cape Town lost to Athens in the contest to host the 2004 Olympics.

A warm resort on the shores of the Indian Ocean, and the country's third largest city, Durban is then expected to announce its, and South Africa's, candidature at the 123rd IOC Session. It hosts the session in July 2011.

"You have hit some high notes," Rogge told organizers on Monday at Durban's International Conference Center — where next year's IOC meeting will also take place. "It bodes well for next July."

Then, the city and the country has a chance to impress Olympic officials who will gather to decide the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics at Africa's first IOC Session in 72 years.

"I have to thank the IOC for showering compliments on us here in Durban and we intend delivering an event next year of the highest quality," said South Africa's IOC executive member Sam Ramsamy. "But to talk about 2020 is premature. There are discussions with government.

"I feel certain the Olympics will come to Africa, but when is another issue altogether. (But) The president of the IOC has wanted the Olympics to be spread as universally as possible."

The Summer Olympics were hosted by Beijing, China in 2008. They will be held in Brazil by Rio de Janeiro in 2016 — the first Games in South America.

At Sunday's opening ceremony at the conference, Rogge said there was a "special bond" between the IOC and South African sport. South Africa's sports minister, Durban's mayor, Ramsamy and South Africa's Olympic committee president, Gideon Sam, all attended the ceremony.

The IOC's decision on the host for the 2020 Olympics will be made in 2013, but preliminary bids must be submitted next year.

Rome has formally announced it will bid for the 2020 Games, and Toronto, Istanbul, Lisbon, Dubai and Busan, South Korea, among others, could also compete.

http://www.latimes.com/sns-bc-oly--rogge-southafrica,0,5279766.story

dysan1

December 13th, 2010, 11:55 AM

Olympics conference gives Durban a chance to push 2020 bid
07 Dec 2010
Thobani Ngqulunga
The Witness

DURBAN’S hosting the seventh World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture has given it a head start in the bidding campaign to become the South African city of choice to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

The conference got under way on Sunday at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre with the theme “Giving a Voice to Youth”.

The eThekwini Municipality used the opportunity to showcase the city’s potential to host the 2020 Olympics to a high-profile delegation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) led by its president, Jerome Rogge.

The event, which is organised by the IOC in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), brings together representatives from the world of sport, academics, NGOs, governments and intergovernmental organisations.

Said Thabo Mofokeng, a spokesperson for eThekwini Municipality, “We are happy to welcome to our city an estimated 600 delegates, including approximately 150 IOC commission members. The conference is an important one for Durban as it is the first time that key executive committee members of the IOC are coming to … Africa.”

Mofokeng said this will also be seen as a “toe-dipping” exercise in preparation for the 123rd session of the IOC, to be held in Durban in July 2011. He said the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games will be announced at the session.

He said the session will offer Durban an invaluable opportunity to showcase itself as a world-class sporting and events destination.

The KZN Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize, speaking at the opening ceremony said, “We all know that the IOC is not any more a simple sports association. It is the most important sports organisation in the world, recognised by all governments and the United Nations as the umbrella organisation for all major sports.”

The Olympic Games has a global audience of billions.

Mkhize said the opportunity to host the conference is a vote of confidence in Durban’s ability to host major international conferences. “We are overwhelmed by the interest that has been shown by the international community to Africa since hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup.”

He said in its 116-year history it is the first time that such a major IOC conference is being held on this soil.

“More importantly, we appreciate the fact that in July next year we will host the 123rd IOC session, which will be held for the first time on the African continent.”

http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=51997

dysan1

December 14th, 2010, 01:56 PM

cool cartoon in the Xmas countdown, Durban's standout

http://jeremynell.com/images/2010/12/jerm-5th-day-of-christmas.jpg

romanSA

December 14th, 2010, 06:37 PM

Very clever ad! I love it!

Durbsboi

December 15th, 2010, 08:43 AM

Hahaha love it!

takz

December 15th, 2010, 08:17 PM

hehe cooooooooooooooooool

briker

December 16th, 2010, 06:31 PM

aai, you durban boys are full of it, but what the faaak, why not? thumbs ups and good luck!
if all else, a positive outcome starts within the mind.

Rob WP

January 3rd, 2011, 07:55 PM

How is being proud an example of "being full of it"? There's a good chance Durban will get it so why not? That is an ignoramous comment if I've heard one. Aren't you proud of Taipei 101? There's hope and blind hope and the indications are that Durban could very well get it. Very lame comment. Reserved for bar-talk.

dysan1

January 3rd, 2011, 09:06 PM

^^ he's the same guy that wants the Cape to be its own republic...go figure...

takz

January 4th, 2011, 05:43 PM

lmao! Cape a republic?

dysan1

January 6th, 2011, 08:52 AM

Guys sign up on the link below and get involved....

http://www.gamesbids.com/forums/topic/18743-2020-olympics-short-list/page__st__50

Diggerdog

January 6th, 2011, 10:55 AM

I really don't get ANY anti-Durban stuff when it comes to the Olympics - we should all be 100% behind Durbs for this - or any other city in SA that may have bid.

But Durban has a real chance, and kicking on after the world cup with its fantastic setting, sea level location, perfect weather - wow. It will be great for the country, and for Durban.
This message brought to you by a proud Capetonian.

takz

January 6th, 2011, 02:26 PM

dysan i saw u in some scout website!

romanSA

January 6th, 2011, 05:43 PM

Guys sign up on the link below and get involved....

http://www.gamesbids.com/forums/topic/18743-2020-olympics-short-list/page__st__50

Just seeing this. Wow! Some people are clueless! :nuts: Thanks for fighting a good fight! :cheers:

Perhaps you should also point our learned friends there, to this thread and the SA Olympics thread in the Shebeen section, which contains all the refutation they don't seem to want to hear.

dysan1

January 6th, 2011, 06:11 PM

i have many times...they have mostly been "Mo'd" He's been shouting the Cape Town mantra there for eons. Please sign up

dysan1

January 9th, 2011, 11:48 AM

There were two good articles on chats with Michael Sutcliffe in the Sunday Tribune today. Both where he clearly expressed his desired to lead a Durban Olympic bid if the city is put forward by the country. The issues and points he raised were very reassuring. Will try find to post

Mo Rush

January 11th, 2011, 10:23 AM

dysan1

January 11th, 2011, 10:43 AM

I can tell you now i would be 110% behind Cape Town too

Diggerdog

January 11th, 2011, 11:29 AM

Alright good - lets all have a love in and win this Olympics then!

dysan1

January 11th, 2011, 02:29 PM

:hug:

Durbsboi

January 13th, 2011, 08:30 AM

Shot for holding fort on that other forum Mike! Seems likes the WC all over again, "time to shut the naysayers up" we did it before, we'll do it again!

dysan1

January 13th, 2011, 09:24 AM

contribute :)

FlyOnTheWall

January 13th, 2011, 10:42 AM

Hi, I have been following this Forum and other platforms regarding the 2020 Olympics for a while now. It has been interesting to see the heat slowly cool down. Durban defiantly has one of the best possible Olympic 'Stages' in the country....if not the world. The worrying factor is that Government has gone extremely quiet.

Durban have made their intentions clear to Government, however require Governments approval and backing....this is yet to come.

Durban and South Africa will be competing against first class cities, If South Africa go into the bid process disorganised, the country will be made to look like children playing a man’s game!

romanSA

January 13th, 2011, 11:07 AM

I would like to contribute but I fear I will end up trying to convince people who are clueless and unwilling to be convinced, regardless of the arguments put forward. Seems like an enormous waste of time and energy. I sometimes feel like that on this site! Two sites may too much for me at this point! LOL!

Besides, you are doing a damn fine job on your own so far. I promise to contribute in future if you really think we're needed. :)

romanSA

January 13th, 2011, 11:35 AM

Here's the interview with Sutcliffe re: the possibility of him driving Durban's Olympic bid, if it gets national government support and approval. Not sure if he would be best choice given how much he has divided the city during his tenure. Locals may oppose the bid, not on merit, but just because he's driving it. He knows the city very well so can perhaps be a high-level consultant, but in my view, a new and high profile national figure (such as Danny Jordaan) would be better to drive a Durban bid.

-------------

HOPEFUL

MUNICIPAL manager Michael Sutcliffe has recently shed 15kg, started cycling twice a day and hitting the gym three times a week. It’s almost as if Durban’s most controversial man is getting into fighting shape for the six months ahead – possibly the most crucial of his career and the city’s future.

“It’s about your head. You have to think it,” said Sutcliffe on his noticeable physical transformation. “I’ve put my mind to losing weight. What I’m doing now is more to keep fit. I cycle in the morning and the evening (and) go to gym three times a week. I’ve lost about 15kg and I want to lose about 20kg. It’s nice.”

While shedding a few more kilograms would be a welcome distraction from his acrimonious divorce from his wife of long standing, Felicity, at the forefront of Sutcliffe’s mind will be finalising the city’s multibillion-rand budget, upcoming local government elections and two major international conferences.

And this while still being uncertain over whether his contract as city boss will be extended beyond July. Sutcliffe would not say whether negotiations had taken place over his future.

“This is an issue the ANC will discuss with me at an appropriate time. The ANC isn’t an employment agency, so Dr Sutcliffe has not got an appointment with the ANC to chat about his job. What would need to happen – and what is happening now – is that the ANC would have to look at the political and administrative transitions…over the next three, four or five years, and what the plan will be,” he said.

Asked if he wanted to continue in his job, Sutcliffe was emphatic.

“Absolutely. I love what I do and I think at the moment it’s important that all of our (government) institutions keep the institutional memory while bringing in enough new ideas.”

He added later in the interview that he would like to assist in governance at some level “for as long as possible”.

Speculation is rife over who will replace Sutcliffe when he does eventually step down, but he would not talk about any grooming within council, or who his successor might be.

“I don’t get involved in personal discussions around that. The media always says, ‘If Michael goes, who replaces Michael?’ It’s not about who the individuals are. It’s not a Michael Sutcliffe discussion. The media shouldn’t turn it into that.

“I’m not applying for a job. It’s not like I’m walking around with my CV in my hand. And equally there are not people in my management who are thinking like that,” he said.

Should Sutcliffe not stay on as municipal manager, there is widespread speculation that he would take up a key position in the city’s possible 2020 or 2024 Olympics bid.

While he would not provide specifics, he hinted he would like to be involved in some way. Sutcliffe said the bid would be divided into two parts, the first being led by the country’s president, Jacob Zuma, and by SA Olympic Committee boss Gideon Sam, who would have to convince voting International Olympic Committee members to bring the Games to Durban.

The second part was where he would come in.

“If we happen to bid, then our city would obviously be involved and I would be involved in that sense. I would have strengths in certain functions, but not in others. I’m probably not diplomatic enough, because I don’t like corruption (and) I don’t like some of those things, like having to wine and dine people. I’m not necessarily that type of person.

“There are other things I can do, like developing presentations and arguing our case and that type of stuff. You’re going to have to have pretty big teams. I’ve looked at other bid teams and they’re very diverse,” he said.

http://matthewsavides.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/