If South Africa is selected to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, the significance would extend far beyond the medals won or the ceremonies staged. It would be the first time an African country hosts the Summer Olympic Games, placing the continent at the centre of the world’s largest sporting event.
But the bigger question is what would remain after the athletes leave.
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Could an Olympic Games accelerate transport, tourism, sporting access and urban development without creating an unsustainable public burden? For South Africa, that question may ultimately matter more than the spectacle itself.
South Africa is currently one of seven parties in Continuous Dialogue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the 2036 Games, alongside Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, South Korea and Türkiye.
The South African concept has proposed a multi-city model involving Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. Such an approach could distribute tourism and economic activity across three major urban centres, but it would also create a demanding logistical challenge. Transport, accommodation, venues, security and public services would have to operate as one system across considerable distances.
That makes the bid about more than Olympic ambition. It is a test of whether a major global event can be designed around long-term development.
A FIRST FOR AFRICA
No African country has hosted a Summer Olympic Games since the modern Olympics began in 1896. Cape Town previously bid for the 2004 Games but was not selected.
A South African Games would therefore represent a historic first for the continent. Africa has produced generations of elite athletes and has made significant contributions to Olympic competition, yet the continent has remained absent from the Summer Games host map.
The opportunity is therefore symbolic. But symbolism alone cannot justify the cost of hosting.
The IOC’s current approach gives potential hosts greater flexibility than earlier bidding processes. Its reforms encourage the use of existing and temporary venues, adaptation to local conditions and stronger attention to long-term legacy. The IOC has also used the “New Norm” reforms to reduce costs and make hosting more sustainable.
For South Africa, that approach could be critical.
THE LESSON OF 2010
South Africa already has experience of hosting a global sporting event of enormous scale.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup demonstrated the country’s ability to deliver major infrastructure and welcome the world. Government reported spending more than R33 billion on preparations, including close to R12 billion on stadium infrastructure, R11 billion on transport and R1.5 billion on broadcast and telecommunications.
The broader infrastructure programme also included substantial investment in roads, airports, rail and ports of entry.
The lesson for 2036 is not simply that South Africa can host.
It is that every rand committed should leave something useful behind.
An Olympic plan should therefore prioritise infrastructure that addresses needs that would exist even without the Games: public transport, digital connectivity, sporting facilities, water and sanitation, and urban infrastructure.
Where a permanent venue would have limited use after 2036, temporary facilities or existing sites should be considered instead.
THREE CITIES, ONE SYSTEM
A Cape Town–Johannesburg–Durban model could spread the economic benefits of the Games beyond one city. Tourism businesses, hotels, restaurants, transport operators and local enterprises across three major economies could participate.
But the model would also require extraordinary coordination.
Athletes, officials, spectators and workers would need to move efficiently between venues. Airports, rail networks and roads would need to absorb additional demand without undermining ordinary mobility. Accommodation would have to be sufficient and affordable, while security and emergency services would need to operate across multiple jurisdictions.
A distributed Games therefore cannot simply be three cities hosting separate events.
It would have to function as one Olympic system.
That makes transport planning one of the most important tests of the proposal.
TOURISM: BEYOND THE OLYMPIC MOMENT
South Africa entered 2026 from a position of strong tourism growth. The country recorded 10.48 million international arrivals in 2025, the highest number on record, according to the Department of Tourism.
In July 2026, South Africa had already welcomed approximately 6.5 million international visitors, according to the Department of Tourism.
An Olympic Games could increase the country’s global visibility and create opportunities for tourism, hospitality, aviation, retail and small businesses. But the real test would be whether visitors return after the Games.
The objective should not be a temporary tourism spike in 2036. It should be to turn Olympic visibility into sustained international demand for South African destinations and, potentially, wider African travel.
THE LEGACY MUST REACH THE GRASSROOTS
The strongest Olympic legacy would not be measured only by stadiums.
It would be measured by how many children gain access to sport, how many communities receive usable facilities and how many young athletes receive coaching and development opportunities.
Cricket South Africa’s KFC Mini-Cricket programme, for example, engages more than 123,000 children annually across all nine provinces. Such grassroots programmes illustrate the scale of participation that a major sporting event could help expand.
An Olympic legacy could include upgraded school facilities, community sports centres, coach development, accessible public spaces and pathways for talented young athletes.
The Games should not simply create places where elite athletes compete.
They should create places where the next generation discovers sport.
THE COST QUESTION
The most important safeguard is financial discipline.
Large sporting events can create infrastructure, tourism and international visibility, but they can also expose governments to cost overruns, guarantees and underused facilities. A credible South African proposal would therefore need independent cost and risk assessments before major commitments are made.
Contracts and public guarantees should be disclosed. Responsibility for overruns should be clearly defined. Communities affected by major infrastructure projects should have a voice. Independent auditing should continue throughout preparation and after the Games.
A detailed legacy plan—with named agencies, budgets and measurable outcomes—would strengthen rather than weaken the case for hosting.
A MOMENT FOR AFRICA
South Africa’s 2036 Olympic ambition is ultimately larger than a bid for a sporting event.
It is an opportunity to demonstrate what a major global event could mean when designed around development rather than spectacle alone.
The strongest proposal would rely heavily on existing and temporary facilities, connect Olympic spending to infrastructure residents already need, strengthen grassroots sport and ensure that public finances remain protected.
If South Africa is selected, the most important question will not be how spectacular the Games look in 2036.
It will be what Africa can point to in 2037.
Better-connected cities. Stronger sporting systems. More accessible facilities. More competitive tourism. Greater opportunities for young athletes. Infrastructure that continues serving communities long after the Olympic flame is extinguished.
The Games would last a few weeks.
The legacy could last generations.
