S. Africa set to bid for 2024 OlympicsJune 8, 2012 - 11:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - South Africa will take its first steps toward bidding for the 2024 Olympics after the London Games, IOC executive board member Sam Ramsamy said, according to AP. The South African told The Associated Press that his national Olympic committee will begin a process that involves talking to the government, and ''hopefully that process will lead to us bidding for 2024.'' The east coast city of Durban is tipped to be South Africa's candidate for an Olympic bid. South Africa could face strong competition for 2024, with the increased possibility of an American bid after the U.S. Olympic Committee and the IOC reached agreement on a new revenue-sharing agreement last month. Paris also may launch a bid because 2024 is the 100th anniversary of the last Summer Olympics in the French capital. The IOC has said consistently since 2010 that it would welcome an Olympic bid from South Africa, but stressed it would be judged on merit. Boosted by the country's successful hosting of Africa's first soccer World Cup, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said in 2010 that it would bid for the 2020 Olympics. However, South Africa's government decided in 2011 that it wouldn't support a bid for 2020 because of pressing social issues. The government indicated that 2020 was too early and would instead be more receptive to a later bid. Despite the obvious desire to bid for 2024, Ramsamy said there wouldn't be any lobbying at the London Games in July and August because of the process currently under way in South Africa to choose a host city. The International Olympic Committee last month picked Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid as its candidates for 2020. A decision on the winning city will be made at the IOC Session in Argentina in September 2013. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. Aliyev travels to Turkey at Erdogan's invitation On June 10, Azerbaijani President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will leave for Turkey on a working visit. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. |