PtG Article 29.07.2010

IOC member believes it is 20 years until Africa is ready for an Olympic host

The most senior African member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Nawal El Moutawakel, has claimed that it will be another 20 years before Africa is ready to host the Games.

South African cities hoping to launch a bid later this year for 2020 will be dealt a jolt by the claim that hosting the Olympics would be more than any African country could cope with at the moment, despite the success of the FIFA World Cup.

El Moutawakel has claimed that an Olympics poses far greater challenges than a World Cup, even though Johannesburg, along with Durban and Cape Town, have been mentioned as possible contenders to bid for the Games.

El Moutawakel was quoted as saying, "Let us face it. Africa has many unique problems and other priorities to handle at the moment".

Source: Inside the Games