South Africa appears unlikely to bid for the 2024 Olympics.
“In 2024 it will be quite unrealistic because we would have just staged the 2022 Commonwealth Games,” South Africa sports minister Fikile Mbalula said, according to insidethegames. “So I think the Olympics will come later.”
Mbalula’s comments follow a steady stream of reports the last three months casting doubt on South Africa’s hope to become the first African host nation for an Olympics in 2024.
Previously, on Dec. 1, International Olympic Committee member and former South African Olympic Committee president Sam Ramsamy said South Africa was “readying to bid for the 2024 Games.”
Since then, the South African city of Durban emerged as the favorite to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, especially with Edmonton withdrawing from that bid race on Feb. 11.
No other cities are thought to be vying against Durban, meaning it should be announced as the 2022 Commonwealth Games host last this year.
Mbalula said that hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games make a 2024 Olympic bid less likely.
The most recent African Olympic bid was by Cape Town for the 2004 Olympics, which were won by Athens in 1997. Cape Town was third in voting.
South Africa, the first African nation to host the World Cup in 2010, previously discussed bidding for the 2024 or 2028 Olympics.
Confirmed 2024 Olympic bids are coming from Boston, Rome and either Berlin or Hamburg. Paris and other cities may also bid. The 2024 Olympic host will be determined via an IOC vote in 2017.
