Paris, France – Egypt has thrown its hat into the ring for the 2036 and 2040 Summer Olympics, according to the head of the African National Olympic Committees Association (ANOCA). The North African nation is banking on its burgeoning infrastructure and world-class sports facilities to bolster its bid for the prestigious sporting event.
Africa has yet to host the Olympics, with Cairo’s unsuccessful attempt for the 2008 Games marking the continent’s closest brush with the global sporting spectacle. In recent years, Egypt has embarked on an ambitious modernization drive, pouring billions of dollars into constructing state-of-the-art stadiums, sports complexes, and other infrastructure.
A centerpiece of this development is the Egypt International Olympic City, a colossal project underway in the country’s new administrative capital. This complex is slated to feature a mammoth 93,900-capacity national stadium and an array of other sporting venues.
“Egypt will bid for 2036 and 2040,” declared Mustapha Berraf, ANOCA chief, on Sunday, the final day of the Paris Olympics. The Algerian sports official also hinted at another potential African bid, with South Africa’s Cape Town exploring the possibility of hosting the Games.
Berraf expressed optimism about Africa’s chances of securing the Olympics, suggesting that the continent could potentially stage the event in 2040. He emphasized the importance of robust infrastructure, including transportation networks, for a successful bid.
While Los Angeles and Brisbane are set to host the 2028 and 2032 Games respectively, the race for 2036 is heating up. A growing list of countries, including Indonesia, India, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, have expressed interest in bidding. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has confirmed a double-digit number of cities vying for the 2036 Olympics.
