Never before has Africa hosted the world's biggest sporting event. However, there is a chance that it will finally take place on the Mother Continent. The Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports has announced that it will submit its application to become the organiser of the 2036 Summer Olympics.

Africa has been overlooked for decades in the process of being given the rights to host major events. In 1995, South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup. However, many people maliciously claim that the impasse was only overcome in 2010, thus diminishing the importance of rugby as a global sport. It is, of course, about the fact that South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup that year. However, there are rumblings that it is time for the next step to be taken by Egypt on behalf of the continent. 

The land of the Pharaohs has confirmed that it will apply to host the 2036 Summer Olympics. Europe, Asia, South and North America and Australia have hosted the event so far. Commentators claim that it is time to debunk the myth of a dangerous and poor Africa by entrusting the right to host the event to a country from this part of the world.

Egypt has been ruled by longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak but since 2011, the military came to power. The country has become safer and terrorist attacks are much less frequent. This contributes to the fact that from year to year the profits derived from tourism are increasing. During this time Cairo has become one of the largest agglomerations in the world. The overcrowded capital, whose centre and outskirts are inhabited by more than 20 million people, will soon lose this status. 40 km East, a New Administrative Capital is being built, which is expected to take over this role no later than in 2030.

Sports City Stadium, which will have the rank of the national venue, is also being built in the city. It’s been under construction since 2015. We know that it will be part of a large sports complex being created to host the Olympic Games or the FIFA World Cup. The venue, which is supposed to have a capacity of more than 93,000, will be equipped with an athletics track. A national swimming pool, a hall, administrative buildings and cultural centres are also being built next to the arena. It was initially planned to be opened in 2022, but due to delays it will be inaugurated in 2023. You can read more about it here.

Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports, Ashraf Sobhy said that there is approval from President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to submit an application to host the 2036 Summer Olympics. This took place during a visit to Cairo by the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach. Reuters reported that a statement issued by the Egyptian government quoted the president of the world committee who said that the land of the Pharaohs will be ready to take on the challenge of hosting this event in 14 years.

The sports base which is currently under construction is so large that it will be necessary to design and build an Olympic Village only, once Egypt is possibly awarded the rights to host that event. The head of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, Sherif El-Erian, says there is no rush as the IOC will select the host of the 2036 Olympic Games in 2029 at the latest. With this kind of time reserve, there is no fear that the government there will not have time to build the missing infrastructure. As a reminder, we know the hosts for the 2024, 2028 and 2032 Summer Olympics, with Paris, Los Angeles and Brisbane being the next, respective organisers.

© رح الهندسة Sarh Elhndsa (YouTube)