By Razia Mahomed, School of Law, UNISA, Pretoria, South Africa
Introduction
South Africa’s ambition to host the Olympic Games could mark a historic turning point for African sport.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed South Africa as one of seven countries expressing interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. If successful, the country would become the first African nation to host the world’s largest sporting event.
Yet, behind the promise of national pride and continental recognition lies a fundamental question: can South Africa deliver an Olympic Games that is both financially sustainable and socially beneficial?
An opportunity for South Africa and Africa
The prospect of hosting the Olympics extends beyond sporting achievement.
It presents an opportunity to showcase South Africa’s infrastructure, tourism, cultural diversity and organisational capabilities to a global audience. It could also challenge the historical dominance of Europe, North America and Asia as Olympic hosts, giving Africa a more prominent place in international sport.
South Africa is not without experience in hosting major sporting events. The 1995 Rugby World Cup became an important symbol of national reconciliation, whilst the 2010 FIFA World Cup demonstrated that an African country could stage a major global sporting spectacle. These experiences provide a foundation upon which an Olympic bid could build.
The potential benefits include increased tourism, investment, employment opportunities and improvements to transport and sporting facilities. The Olympic Games could also inspire young people across the continent to participate in sport and pursue careers in the sporting industry.
On 29 October 2026, South Africa identified Durban as its preferred candidate city for a possible bid to host either the 2036 or 2040 Games. The proposal may nevertheless involve a multi-city approach, drawing on facilities and infrastructure in other centres, including Johannesburg and Cape Town. This could allow the country to distribute the benefits and responsibilities of hosting rather than concentrating them in one city.
The financial realities cannot be ignored
Hosting the Olympics is an enormous undertaking.
It requires extensive planning, reliable infrastructure, effective security arrangements, efficient transport systems and substantial financial resources. Even countries with strong economies have experienced significant cost overruns and struggled to justify the long-term expense of hosting the Games.
For South Africa, these concerns are particularly important. The country continues to face pressing socioeconomic challenges, including unemployment, poverty, inequality and inadequate public services in some communities. Any commitment to hosting the Olympics must, therefore, be assessed against competing public priorities.
The central issue is not whether the Games would generate excitement or international attention, but whether the benefits would justify the expenditure. A successful bid must demonstrate credible financial planning, transparent procurement, effective oversight and a realistic assessment of the infrastructure required.
South Africa should also avoid constructing expensive facilities that become underused once the Games conclude. Wherever possible, existing venues should be refurbished and adapted, whilst new infrastructure should serve clearly identified community needs long after the closing ceremony.
Governance, accountability and legacy
The IOC evolving approach to selecting future hosts places emphasis on feasibility, sustainability and the effective use of existing infrastructure. These principles are particularly relevant to South Africa’s proposal.
A credible bid would require cooperation between national government, provincial and municipal authorities, sporting organisations and the private sector. Clear responsibilities and transparent decision-making would be essential to prevent duplication, waste and disputes over funding.
Equally important is public participation. Communities should understand the proposed costs, expected benefits and possible disruptions associated with hosting the Games. The public should not merely be asked to celebrate the Olympic dream; it should have a meaningful opportunity to assess whether that dream serves the country's broader interests.
The legacy of the Games must also be measured in practical terms. Will investment improve public transport? Will sporting facilities remain accessible to local communities? Will opportunities reach disadvantaged young people? Will the Games strengthen South Africa’s sporting development system?
These questions should be answered before the country makes an irreversible financial commitment.
A decision that demands careful consideration
South Africa’s Olympic ambition is undoubtedly exciting. It could provide a historic opportunity to place Africa at the centre of the Olympic movement and demonstrate the continent’s capacity to host an event of extraordinary global significance.
However, national pride should not replace rigorous economic analysis, and the attraction of international recognition should not overshadow the needs of ordinary citizens. A successful Olympic bid is not simply one that wins the right to host the Games; it is one that leaves the host country better equipped to meet its future challenges.
South Africa, therefore, should pursue this opportunity with ambition, but also with caution, transparency and accountability. If the Games can be delivered sustainably, with credible financial safeguards and a lasting public benefit, the Olympic dream could become a defining moment for South Africa and Africa.
The ultimate measure of success will not be the spectacle of the opening ceremony, but what remains when the Olympic flame has been extinguished.
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