South Africa is bidding for the Olympics with the city of Durban

Competition for Munich South Africa is applying for the Olympics with Durban As of: October 29, 2026 • 5:52 p.m

No African country has ever hosted the Olympic or Paralympic Games. South Africa is now sending Durban into the applicant race for 2036 and 2040 - one of Munich's current six competitors.

Not Johannesburg, not Cape Town, but Durban: The National Olympic Committee has chosen South Africa's third largest city to host the 2036 or 2040 Summer Games, should the country win the contract.

With almost four million inhabitants, Durban and its metropolitan region are more than twice as large as Munich in Bavaria, which is also applying. The port city is located on the east coast of the Indian Ocean, is known for its surfing scene and is a popular holiday destination. During the games it would be winter in South Africa. The temperatures during the day would be a mild 20 degrees - it would mostly be sunny and dry.

Durban is ready for this challenge and will not be intimidated by the competition, the Olympic Committee said. Hosting the Games could create jobs in the region and open up economic opportunities for South Africa.

Critics warn of significant financial risks. It was only in 2017 that Durban was withdrawn from hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games after funding failed. In order not to let the expected costs get out of hand, South Africa wants to use as many existing sports facilities as possible. The football arena, which was built for the 2010 World Cup, is intended as the Olympic stadium. There, Germany lost 0-1 against Spain in the semi-finals. For some sports, other cities can also be considered as venues.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation has chosen Munich as the German Olympic candidate. more

At the end of September, the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) chose Munich as the German candidate city for 2036, 2040 and 2044. Hamburg had previously fallen out of the race following a referendum. In Berlin, those responsible withdrew their application two days before the DOSB decision. In the final vote, Munich narrowly prevailed against the Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr region.

After 1936 (Berlin) and 1972 (Munich), it would be the third time that the Olympic Games would take place in Germany.

All interested parties for 2036 must have submitted their application to the International Olympic Committee by the end of the month. The IOC would like to make an initial preselection by the end of March 2027. The final decision should be made in mid-2029.

One thing is already certain: the next Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games will take place in Los Angeles in the USA in 2028, followed by Brisbane, Australia.

With information from Stephan Ueberbach, ARD-Johannesburg.

This topic in the program: tagesschau.de | Competition for Munich: South Africa wants the Olympics in Durban | Oct 29, 2026 | 4:03 p.m