Rogge plans to discuss possible South African Olympic bid with President Zuma next month

Rogge to discuss possible Olympic bid with Zuma

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — IOC president Jacques Rogge will discuss the possibility of a South African bid for the Olympics when he meets with the country’s president next month.

Rogge said Wednesday he will raise the issue when he holds talks with Jacob Zuma in Johannesburg on the weekend of the July 11 World Cup final.

South Africa is the first African country to host the soccer showcase. Based on the success of the tournament, South Africa could try to become the first nation on the continent to stage the Olympics.

“It’s always good news to see that a country like South Africa wants to bid,” Rogge said after a two-day IOC executive board meeting. “Cape Town had a very credible bid in 1997 when they finished third behind Athens and Rome (for the 2004 Games).”

South Africa hasn’t bid for the Olympics since then, focusing instead on securing the World Cup. But the country could now be in line for a shot at the 2020 Games.

“I think it’s absolutely normal that they think about the future after the FIFA World Cup,” Rogge said. “We’re glad they’re thinking about the Olympic Games. I will definitely take this up with him (Zuma) when I meet with him at the World Cup final.”

Preliminary bids must be submitted by the summer of 2011, with the IOC selecting the host city in 2013.

Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg are potential bid cities. Durban will stage the 123rd IOC session in July 2011, where the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics will be announced.

So far, Rome has formally declared its intention to bid for the 2020 Games. Other potentials bids could come from Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Tokyo or Hiroshima, Japan; Istanbul; and Budapest, Hungary.

On other issues, Rogge defended the decision to keep the French bid from Annecy as a finalist in the race for the 2018 Winter Games. On Tuesday, the IOC elevated all three contenders — Annecy, Munich, and Pyeongchang, South Korea — to official bid city status, a year before the final vote on July 6.

While Munich and Pyeongchang were accepted with high marks and no reservations, Annecy was sharply criticized in the IOC report for its spread-out venues and told to review the entire project.

“We’re absolutely sure that, according to the experts’ report, Annecy has all the possibilities to stage good games should they adapt their concept,” Rogge said. “They have the time to do that.”

He noted that the IOC had been critical of London’s “obsolete” public transport system when the city was bidding for the 2012 Olympics.

“London could reassure the IOC in subsequent months that new investments would be made with the support of the government and ultimately London won,” Rogge said. “An applicant city has to pass the first hurdle, and then during almost one year you are able to refine your concept.”

Rogge also expressed continued confidence in London’s preparations for the games despite the heavy government spending cuts in Britain aimed at trimming the country’s massive deficit.

Last month, the Olympic Delivery Authority, the body responsible for building the venues for the games, had its funding cut by $39.5 million. It’s unclear how the new emergency budget announced Tuesday will affect the games.

Leaders of the London organizing committee, LOCOG, gave an update on the situation to the IOC board on Tuesday.

“We have heard reassuring news they have a good grip and good control on the budget,” Rogge said.

The IOC leader also downplayed any concerns about BP’s Olympic sponsorships in the wake of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. BP is a sponsor of the London Games and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

“This is something to be decided by LOCOG and the USOC. It’s not the issue of the IOC,” Rogge said. “I would say BP is a very strong company that has been very supportive of the sports movement for a very long time.

“I’m quite sure both LOCOG and USOC have ongoing discussions and relations with them. … There is no problem today between BP and USOC and there is no problem today between BP and LOCOG.”