PtG Article 09.07.2010

Blatter backs a potential South African 2020 Olympic bid

FIFA president Sepp Blatter throws his weight behind a South African bid for the 2020 Olympics.

"If a country is able to organize a FIFA World Cup it can also organize the Summer Olympic Games, because the Olympics are mostly confined only in one city," Blatter told a press conference in Johannesburg on wednesday."I would fully support such a candidature from one of the cities here in South Africa for the Olympics of 2020," he said.South African president Jacob Zuma has for some time given strong indications that Africa's first World Cup host is considering a bid for the Olympics.Leaders of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee will get the possibility to discuss a possible 2020 Olympic bid with IOC President Jacques Rogge as he arrives in Johannesburg on Saturday as a guest of FIFA to watch the World Cup final between the Netherlands and Spain on July 11. Rogge is expected to urge SASCOC and the South African government to pursue an Olympic bid in his address to representatives of 30 to 40 national federations during a gathering at Olympic House in Johannesburg on Monday.

SOURCE: Around the Rings