The IOC must hold an Olympics in Africa
Roar Pro
By Jason Cave, 13 Oct 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- IOC, Olympic Games, South Africa
The awarding of the 2016 Olympic Games to Rio de Janiero means that there is one final link in the chain to pull into line. Or to use the words of Steve Waugh when talking about a tour of India, “the final frontier.” And that final frontier is Africa. Or to be more precise, South Africa.
South Africa is the African continents’ best chance of hosting an Olympic Games, due to its wealth and also the infastructure they have in place to host a major sporting event.
With the US probably thinking twice about hosting a Olympic Games now after Chicago’s embarrassing performance in the 2016 Olympic Games vote, and as Europe have the Olympic Games because of London doing the 2012 Games, there is a window of opportunity for the South Africans to put forward a bid for the 2020 or 2024 Games.
The only problems for a South African bid is, will the all-powerful US delegation vote in favour of a Springbok bid, especially with the US TV networks in mind like NBC and ABC?
And also, can they get the vote from the Europe bloc?
If the IOC wants to be taken seriously as a major sports body, awarding South Africa an Olympic Games could be another step in the right direction, especially after a brave call to give the Games to Brazil for 2016.
But if the IOC doesn’t give South Africa the rights to host an Olympic Games, then a major opportunity will go begging.
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Chris said | October 13th 2009 @ 1:37am | Report comment
Yeah – giving a corrupt government another propaganda tool is a great idea. Just about everyone in FIFA is regretting giving them the World Cup (which is way behind schedule).
AB said | December 10th 2009 @ 11:35pm | Report comment
What are you talking about…all the stadiums are complete. Aus doen’t want the World Cup if you listen to the way the cry baby AFL is acting
therealalekid said | October 13th 2009 @ 2:54am | Report comment
“If the IOC wants to be taken seriously as a major sports body, awarding South Africa an Olympic Games could be another step in the right direction, especially after a brave call to give the Games to Brazil for 2016.”
They’re taken very seriously especially by politicians who spend millions lobbying their members.
The issue is that Olympic games don’t come cheap as we are finding out here in Blighty, can the South Africans afford such an investment.
Chris said | October 13th 2009 @ 6:42am | Report comment
Good point – as a sporting body they are one of the most powerful in the world (in fact FIFA is probably to only bigger one). The IOC has been taken seriously for as long as it has existed.
True Tah said | October 13th 2009 @ 7:27am | Report comment
South Africa will not be awarded the 2020 Olympics, there is bugger all infrastructure in South Africa, and there would be nowhere near enough venues for all of the sports. You would want to see how 2010 goes first.
Look at public transports, the South African government is trying to implement a proper system, but they are facing much resistance from taxi drivers.
AB said | December 10th 2009 @ 11:37pm | Report comment
“there is bugger all infrastructure in South Africa”. And when were you there? Stadiums in SA make the Aus ovals look ridiculous
Vented Relief said | October 13th 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment
I reckon it should be in Cairo. That way you tick both the Africa box and the Middle East Box. Two for the price of one. And Cairo is the most interesting city in Africa.
macavity said | October 13th 2009 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
great idea – until the marathon runners get mugged during their event.
steve said | October 13th 2009 @ 4:49pm | Report comment
Hmmm, corrupt governments, bugger all infrastructure these are all interesting arguments from people that either don’t live here, have never been here or left because ultimately they couldn’t handle black people ruling the country.
Tru tah talks about how the taxi’s resisted changes in the public transport system, true but obviously hasn’t read then entire story and just for arguments sack isn’t taxis public transport? The system in question is the BRT (bus rapid transport) in joburg and bar the one incident and couple of protests from certain taxi organisations (Because they were left out of the deal) the new public transport system is so successful that it can hardly be implemented fast enough through out the greater Johannesburg area and other cities through South Africa. Now to say we have bugger all infrastructure just stinks of ignorance and a subjective dislike for present day South Africa, (widening of all highways, high speed trains connecting joburg and Pretoria, new international airport in Durban, huge investments in upgrading existing and expanding the rail routes, BRT in the following cities, joburg, Pretoria, P.E, cape town…..Durban has it own unique transport system it is developing.)
To say Cairo is the most interesting city in Africa is opinion; Cape Town was recently voted the best destination to travel to by British tourists. South Africa has strong links with the Middle East so I hardly think the Middle East vote would be an issue.
On the crime issue, yeah its a huge problem over here not something to take lightly but you have to understand why and where most crimes in South Africa and obviously for a spectacle like this there would be certain measures taken to ensure everyone’s safety cause in true S.A government style they are more worried about tourist than they are about their own people.
This brings me to the final and most important point raised in this opinion poll, does South Africa have enough money to afford an Olympics and the simple answer is yes. But at what expense to the average man on the street. That is why I as a white South African Male say no it is not a good idea for South Africa to host an Olympics. We have certain issue to deal within our own society and our most immediate African neighbours, that will need all the resources we can muster. We can’t afford to use those resources on yanks, Europeans and aussies(no offence) to have a few weeks of fun in the South African sun.
Chris said | October 13th 2009 @ 6:02pm | Report comment
Nice stereotyping. Despite your attempts to pigeonhole anyone with genuine concerns as being racist I stand by my comments that South Africa has a corrupt government – I suggest anyone disputing that should take a quick look at the facts (with particular reference to their response to the AIDs epidemic). South Africa – as showcased by their shambolic World Cup preparations – is in no way a country fit to host the Olympics.
True Tah said | October 14th 2009 @ 6:47am | Report comment
Steve
Im not South African, and prefer South Africa as a holiday destination to Europe, and have been multiple times.
I was there in January, and the BRT was not in place back then, so I take your word for it that it is “so successful”. However relative to Australia, South African public transport is in the dark ages, and I doubt that has changed much since then. Do you catch public transport to work or do you drive?
I do agree with you that South Africa would be better placed sorting out its massive crime/AIDS issues than spending a bucketload of money on a 2 week sporting event.
steve said | October 13th 2009 @ 6:36pm | Report comment
Corrupt government? Show me a government that is not corrupt, but as any country. The AIDS epidemic that Thabo Mbheki’s handle with absolutely shambolic results was voted out ( as tends to happen in a democracies) and has been replaced by a socially minded government who won’t let their people die through idiotic policy anymore. Those genuine concerns in themselves were stereotypical and therefore required a stereotypical answer, the truth is one should have the facts before making a comment on a country they don’t understand.
The question was should and can Africa (particular reference to South Africa) host the Olympics (this was from an IOC point of view) and the simple answer is yes. The real question the article and your ranting of a corrupt government fails to touch on is, is it socially responsible to let S.A and any developing nation host the Olympics.
If you start to deal with that in the light of environmental and socio-economic concerns one can see that Olympics as a spectacle requires far to much resources for countries like China, Brazil or S.A to even begin to think of hosting. That was what was so sad about the Beijing Olympics was that the government displaced and completely ignored thousands of its own people to host and project a certain image to the rest of the world. The cost of the Olympics out weighs its rewards and I just hope what happened to so many Chinese people doesn’t happen in Brazil. The truth is I can’t speak for those countries I can only speak for my own so I say thanks for the consideration but no thanks we don’t need the Olympics.
Outswinger said | October 14th 2009 @ 6:08am | Report comment
Well said Steve. Its a shame many politicians and Governing bodies of powerful organisations don’t think like this. The real winners of 2016 is the rest of South America, who will receive many overflow tourists at the cost of nothing. Sydney has stumbled along since 2000. The Olympics are a very expensive three week party that is accompanied by a long dry heavy hangover. So much money spent on sports infrastructure that are only of importance every four years. Don’t get me wrong i love the Olympics but many countries should be spending money on their real problems rather than a big global sports party.
Chris said | October 14th 2009 @ 2:38pm | Report comment
Steve – Voted out and replaced by the same party. What a democracy!
However I do agree with you that South Africa spending money on a sporting event, when it clearly has much bigger issues to focus on, is wrong.