Cape Town is already a popular global and local events city – think Design Indaba, Cycle Tour, Jazz Festival, CT Carnival, World Economic Forum, Mining Indaba, etc - and we have strengthened our reputation by helping to host a successful Football World Cup. We need now to be planning how to bid for more sporting and cultural events in the future as part of promoting economic growth and job creation. However, from the vantage point of someone who was involved in Cape Town’s bid for the 2004 Games in 1997, we must think very carefully before taking on something like the Olympic Games.
That the Summer Olympics should be held at some stage in Africa is without question. Have a look at the following map:
By 2016, the Summer Olympics will have been by 44 cities in 23 countries, but by cities outside Europe and North America on only eight occasions, and never in Africa (source Wikipedia)
The task of organising the Football World Cup was shared between nine South African cities, while the burden of hosting the Olympics falls to one city. The World Cup in Cape Town required football facilities and related infrastructure for eight matches, the Olympics needs facilities for 10 500 athletes taking part in 300 events and 28 different sports, hugely increasing the possibility of redundant facilities after the event. We have a great new stadium, but it would need to substantially modified, at considerable cost, as it does not have an athletics track, the main requirement to host the Olympics.
Most importantly, an Olympic Bid/ Host City only really succeeds with 100% backing from other spheres of government. One of the weaknesses of Cape Town’s bid in 1997 was lukewarm support, and in many cases, direct interference, from national government. Things have improved since then, with examples of good inter-governmental cooperation around the Football World Cup demonstrated over the past three years.
However, I suspect that Durban/ eThekwini is far more likely to get the national nod (Johannesburg is unlikely to ever be a serious candidate because of the high altitude), and maybe that’s not such a bad thing. There’s no reason why Cape Town would not be able to capitalise on large numbers of visitors and country branding and marketing, even if the Olympics were to be hosted elsewhere in South Africa in 2020.
A well thought-out bid could do wonders for Cape Town. Linking e.g. the media village to the Intersite Urban regeneration project would be great.
The focus on good transport links between venues could accelerate rail and IRT developments, with 2020 as a much needed deadline.
Opening sites like Culemborg, Wingfield, Athlone Power station to accommodation for athletes, officials, media etc. will accelerate the development of these sites.
In the near future i.e. 2010/2011, we can look forward to
1. The international aquatic centre planned in Newlands, to be developed with Swimming South Africa
2. The upgraded velodrome and bellville stadium, as part of a multi-billion rand velodrome precinct
3. The roof being replaced at the Hockey Stadium
4. More news with regards to the CTICC expansion onto the Naspers site.
I still do not know why we have a very aggressive team bidding for conferences, but we do not have the same team to bid for sports events.
Melbourne is a major sports city because its has a dedicated team bidding for major sports and cultural events.
Where is Cape Town’s bidding body? World Sport Cape Town? Cape of Great Events? Events Western Cape?
We can apply our success with bidding for international conferences and congresses to other events as well.
We can no longer sit back and wait till events are handed to us. Its time to be proactive.