PRETORIA, South Africa – South Africa president Jacob Zuma again strongly hinted that Africa’s first World Cup host is considering a bid for the Olympics.
“I don’t see why we can’t bid to host the Olympics,” Zuma said in an interview Friday with football’s governing body, FIFA. “People are already talking about a possibility of bidding for (other) major events and we are supporting this.”
Zuma said South Africa has the resources and infrastructure and an Olympic bid is “important for Africa.”
IOC president Jacques Rogge has said he will discuss such a bid when he meets with Zuma at the July 11 World Cup final.
Zuma described Africa’s first World Cup as “undoubtedly a very successful tournament” and “proved not only South Africa, but Africa is capable of hosting any major event.”
Zuma said South Africa proved wrong critics who doubted its ability to build stadiums in time or deal with security issues.
“Today, a lot of people who are honest enough have come out and said ‘We confess, we were wrong about your country,’” Zuma added.
South Africa’s first-round exit made it the first World Cup host not to advance from the opening round, but Zuma said Bafana Bafana still played “good football.”
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