The Olympic rings mounted on the Eiffel Tower. Image accompanying BBC Sport Athletics’ report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
South Africa has expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics, aiming to become the first African nation to do so. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed this interest among seven countries. Other contenders include Hungary, India, Qatar, Turkey, Germany, and South Korea.
The IOC has set a deadline of October 31 for submissions of interest. Virtual presentations will be made in November, with feasibility assessments by March 2027. South Africa plans to use Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg as host cities. Durban previously withdrew from hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Read more racing coverage.
India's bid includes Ahmedabad, which will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Hungary and Qatar are considering Budapest and Doha, respectively. Turkey's bid is for Istanbul, which has previously bid for the Olympics. Germany and South Korea are revisiting past hosting experiences with Munich and Seoul. Related: Osaka Team Barred from Junior Olympics Due to Entry Deadline Miss.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from BBC Sport Athletics. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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What should runners know about South Africa Aims to Host First African Olympics in 2036?
South Africa joins six other countries in expressing interest to host the 2036 Summer Olympics. South Africa has expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics, aiming to become the first African nation to do so. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed this interest among seven countries. Other contenders include Hungary, India, Qatar, Turkey, Germany, and South Korea.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on October 6, 2026. The underlying BBC Sport Athletics report was dated October 6, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from BBC Sport Athletics. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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