Fantasy or reality? The saga of an African candidacy for the Olympic Games is experiencing a new episode. It takes place, as often, in South Africa. With, in the main role, the very influential Sam Ramsamy.
A member of the IOC since 1995, the former athlete from Durban demonstrated, once again, his conviction of the need for the African continent to apply for the organization of the Summer Games. He set a goal, 2024, and cited the country best suited to bring the project to fruition, South Africa. “We South Africans are ready for a bid for the 2024 Games,” said Sam Ramsamy. With the measures that the IOC is preparing to put in place (as part of Agenda 2020) to simplify the application process, we will have a good opportunity to succeed, in South Africa in particular and even in Africa more generally. »
Sam Ramsamy is not his first declaration in favor of a South African candidacy. The former chef de mission at the 1992 Barcelona Games has been campaigning for this cause for several months. He has never hidden his desire to include this national project in the process of memory and legacy of Nelson Mandela, to whom he has always been very close. Sam Ramsamy likes to say that he heard “Madiba”, who died on December 5, 2013, whisper in his ear his dream of seeing South Africa one day host the Olympic fortnight.
Last month, several leaders of the Gauteng province assured of preparing a candidacy for the 2024 Games, in the event that the IOC General Assembly validates, on December 8 and 9, the proposals of the executive board to reform the application process. The province of Gauteng includes the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
At this stage of the project, Sam Ramsamy is careful not to take a position for one city or another. Cape Town, an unsuccessful candidate for the 2004 Games, and Durban, have often been mentioned as the most serious tracks. But the options are numerous.
The fact remains that the South African project will have to attract plenty of votes in Africa if it wants to have a chance of winning. A task that will not necessarily be easy. Several African Olympic leaders, interviewed by FrancsJeux in recent months on the possibility of a candidacy from the continent, have expressed reservations about its feasibility. Many encourage it and say they are ready to support it, but consider the idea still premature. Many people think that South Africa's chances would be stronger for 2028, or even 2032.
