African Olympic Games still way out of sight, says Blatter

JOHANNESBURG, Jun 12: The prospect of the Olympic Games being brought to the African continent in the foreseeable future has been ruled out by Sepp Blatter.

The president of the world football federation FIFA was speaking ahead of Sunday’s kickoff to the Confederations Cup, a test event ahead of the World Cup in South Africa next year. Interest in bidding to host the Games has been promoted in Cape Town and also discussed in both Johannesburg and Durban. All three cities will be World Cup host venues.

Blatter, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee, conceded that even international football took its first step into the African unknown only through the expedient of political manoeuvring.

This had involved the temporary introduction of a system of hosting rotation among the continents. Thus 2010 had been Africa’s ‘turn’ and South Africa’s bid had been judged overwhelmingly superior to those of Morocco, Egypt and Libya/Tunisia.

Blatter added: “Unless the IOC decides to go for rotation I do not see, in the near future, how the Olympic Games can ever come to the African continent. This is my personal view as a sportsman and as a member of the IOC.”

The 2012 summer Games are being staged in London and a decision about 2016 will be taken by the IOC in October in Copenhagen. The shortlist of candidates features Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

The Olympic Games has never yet been staged in South America either – unlike the World Cup which was staged in Uruguay in 1930, in Brazil in 1950, in Chile in 1962 and in Argentina in 1978. It returns to Brazil in 2014.

it will come to africa...blatter is just talking shyt ....2010 world cup will be successful and it will turn alot of heads that the IOC will award it to africa...

Blatter's argument doesn't hold water. If it wasn't for a New Zealander, we would have beaten Germany for the 2006 WC - so the rotation expediency is a lot of nonsense. We definitely can host an Olympics - but not sure if it is as wise as the WC for boosting our image right now.

^^ totally agree!!! And remember our nomination for the 2004 olympics?? And CT has come a long way since then....

^^ That was way back in 1997 when we lost the Olympics to Athens, and we were very much in the running, coming third to Athens after Rome... Cape Town was much less of a "world city" back then. After all the WC2010 improvements and the full implementation of the IRT system, Cape Town could do it. Just think it would be one hell of an expense to the city, but would give us much prestige.

Joburg could do it after Soccer City, ReaVaya and Gautrain are complete, but the altitude could be a major issue.

Can't comment on Durban though... don't know enough about their city improvements.

If the Olympics were to ever come to Africa, it will almost definately be in a South African city.

Most of the continent is suffering from lack of economic development. Even for economically advanced countries, hosting the Olympics is very expensive.

Furthermore, the security threat posed by extremists in North Africa makes it difficult for countries like Egypt to host major international sports events. I think that is one of the major reason why Egypt was deemed unsuitable to host the soccer world cup for 2010.

South Africa is in a relatively good position with regards to its economic situation in comparison to the rest of the continent. While I hear that it does suffer alot from crime, I don't think that security issues are as major as Egypt.

My amateur opinion.

i agree whizz

He didn't give a good reason as to why not...lol.

As usual.

He didn't give a good reason as to why not...lol.

I did, but didn't make it clear enough.

The Olympics are an expensive event to host, even for high income countries. When making a bit to host the Olympics, funding for the event is one of the most important (if not the most important) things on the minds of the organisers.

As I understand, SA is classified a middle income country. As opposed to all the other countries which have previously hosted the Olympics, which are high income countries.

Also, it is a middle income country, which is as opposed to most of the continent, which is low income.

EDIT: Although China is not a high income country (per capita), the sheer size of the economy, and the ability of the central government to take extreme measures to overcome problems (such as shutting down all factories in Beijing), makes it easier for a country like China to host this event.

Also, while SA does not suffer from the same security problems posed in North Africa, it nevertheless has its own security issues to deal with. Having said that, the world cup in 2010 may prove that SA has the capability to overcome these challenges.

^^ No whizz, I think Lydon meant Sepp Blatter didn't give a reason. :)

^^ No whizz, I think Lydon meant Sepp Blatter didn't give a reason. :)

Correct :)

But if funding was such an issue, Cape Town wouldn't have gotten so close to getting it in the past.

^^ yeah but in sa it really depends on the private funding you can leverage (which i think was rather large in the 1997 bid)

^^ yeah but in sa it really depends on the private funding you can leverage (which i think was rather large in the 1997 bid)

It comes down to the basics. Which city do private backers want?
That was clear in 1997.

not clear enough

The large private funding behind the Cape Town 2004 bid made that very clear back then.

^^

Joburg could do it after Soccer City, ReaVaya and Gautrain are complete, but the altitude could be a major issue.

I don't know about that.The long jump world record was broken at the Mexico Olympics because altitude played a huge role.I don't know how it works but apparently it is a good thing

He didn't give a good reason as to why not...lol.

he was pissed off at Danny and his cronies for such a shit job to the build up for CC09, hence he thinks all of us are doft as them :bash:

before 2032 (long way i know) africa wouldve already hosted the olympics

The problem with the olympics is that it requires such massive investment for such a short time in such a concentrated area. At least for WC the investment is spread over an entire country.

Very, very few cities have benefited in the long term from hosting the Olympics. Generally the country generates massive debt and the city ends up with plenty of white elephant facilities that simply decay.

I think an African city can host the olympics ONLY if they do it real smart - temp facilities, sustainable infrastructure that benefits the community; i.e. don't try and be flash - be real. Don't spend trillions on opening ceremonies and huge, fancy facilities that cannot be justified in the long term.

Joburg's idea of building the athletes village for the 1999 All Africa Games as little houses in a township which were then given to the poor residents after the event is a good example of smart sustainable thinking. Problem is, most athletes don't want to stay in a township - and most government officials are too proaud to let the world see that side of the country. I say, this is our country, poverty, townships and all - let the world see it! Its the real us.

The problem with the olympics is that it requires such massive investment for such a short time in such a concentrated area. At least for WC the investment is spread over an entire country.

Very, very few cities have benefited in the long term from hosting the Olympics. Generally the country generates massive debt and the city ends up with plenty of white elephant facilities that simply decay.

I think an African city can host the olympics ONLY if they do it real smart - temp facilities, sustainable infrastructure that benefits the community; i.e. don't try and be flash - be real. Don't spend trillions on opening ceremonies and huge, fancy facilities that cannot be justified in the long term.

Joburg's idea of building the athletes village for the 1999 All Africa Games as little houses in a township which were then given to the poor residents after the event is a good example of smart sustainable thinking. Problem is, most athletes don't want to stay in a township - and most government officials are too proaud to let the world see that side of the country. I say, this is our country, poverty, townships and all - let the world see it! Its the real us.

Its about balance. Firstly understanding the requirements which MANY think they do but still dont grasp, and then secondly applying those requirements to your city in a smart away, as you've said above. Along with a good balance between private and public funding.