South Africa names Durban preferred Olympic bid city

South Africa has named Durban its preferred city for a possible bid to host the 2036 or 2040 Olympic and Paralympic Games, an early step in a process that has not secured the country hosting rights. The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) announced the choice on October 29, saying Durban would lead a potential proposal. The government has approved Sascoc’s request to express interest in hosting, but feasibility work remains underway and officials have not provided a cost estimate. Sascoc’s plan would use several cities, with Cape Town and Johannesburg potentially hosting some events. Acting president Lwandile Simelane said the approach was intended to keep the Games compact while making use of venues across the country. Durban is envisaged as the location of the Olympic village and the opening and closing ceremonies. The proposal identifies Moses Mabhida Stadium, built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as a central venue. Sascoc said Durban could accommodate at least 65% of sports in a compact area, a figure attributed to its evaluation panel and describing potential capacity rather than a confirmed allocation of events. Facilities, transport...