South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Peace Mabe, has spoken about the country’s potential bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
The possibility of a South African bid gained momentum in November 2024, when the currently suspended South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) president Barry Hendricks, CEO Nozipho Jafta and Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie met with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to discuss a potential bid. The campaign was expected to launch after February 2025.
However, in August 2025, the 2036 campaign was put on hold as South Africa prioritised hosting smaller international sporting events, with a possible bid for the 2040 Games also considered.
In November 2025, Cabinet approved the pursuit of a bid to host either the 2036 or 2040 Olympics. By March 2026, preparations were underway, with a proposed bid involving Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
If successful, the bid would give South African athletes, including Amaglug-glug, the national under-23 football team, the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games on home soil.
Mabe says South Africa believes it can make history by becoming the first African country to host the Olympics.
“In the history of the Olympics, there’s no African country that has hosted the Olympics,” said Mabe.
“We are definitely going to be it as South Africa. If it goes to Durban or any other city in South Africa, as the department, we definitely support that initiative.”