Dakar 2026: Senegal Prepares to Host African Youth Olympic Games

The city of Durban will lead South Africa's bid for the right to host the Olympic Games, becoming the first African host nation. If the country's ambitious plans for 2036 or 2040 are realized, the coastal city will host the main part of the events.

The South African Sports Confederation and the Olympic Committee (SASCOC) announced on Thursday that Durban has been selected as the preferred city for hosting the competitions. The Moses Mabhida Stadium, built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, will be the central element of the proposed Games.

However, South Africa's Olympic dream will be realized as a national initiative. The cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg may host events that do not fit in Durban, as SASCOC aims to organize compact Games in a multi-city format.

SASCOC Executive President Lwandile Simelane noted that 'about 60% to 70% of everything can be implemented in Durban.' He added that Durban, as the host city, will be the location of the Olympic Village, as well as the venues for the opening and closing ceremonies, emphasizing that the entire country will be involved in the process.

Cape Town and Johannesburg had previously also put forward their bids. Simelane reported that discussions with the three cities confirmed their readiness to contribute if necessary.

Some sports inherently require hosting in other locations; for example, surfing and sailing are not suitable for Games based in Johannesburg, demonstrating the need for a multi-city approach.

Nevertheless, Simelane stressed that distributing events across the country does not mean compromising the compactness of the Games. Organizers are focusing on limiting the movement of athletes and spectators.

This announcement marks an important stage in South Africa's aspirations, but there is still a long way to go before the country can seriously consider hosting the world's largest sporting event. The government has approved the SASCOC bid, but serious issues regarding costs, existing sports facilities, and public transport infrastructure remain unresolved.

SASCOC Chief Executive Officer Nozifo Jaftha confirmed that South Africa is among seven countries interested in hosting the 2036 Games. These countries are Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, South Korea, and Turkey. All seven were invited to present their arguments to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the end of November, where they will present their achievements and explain why they should move to the next stage of the process.

Jaftha stated: 'That is when we will all present our regions and share our stories to say why we are countries that should move to the next stage of the process.' Interest in the 2040 Games is also beginning to form, with Germany, Poland, Egypt, and the United Kingdom named among other countries expressing potential interest.

The South African team is preparing to improve upon last year's results at the upcoming MMA World Championship, which will take place in Georgia next week. This prestigious international amateur mixed martial arts competition starts in Tbilisi on November 1 and runs until November 7.

More than 820 athletes from over 60 countries will participate in the tournament, competing in junior and senior divisions.

MMA

Mixed Martial Arts South Africa (MMA SA) has registered ten athletes from Mzansi. The team hopes to continue the success of the previous year, when Mohammed Motala won bronze in the junior heavyweight division, and Charmaine Rabbolini won gold in the senior lightweight women's division.

In the junior men's division, Mogamat Sali will compete in the flyweight category, while Xavier Cornelius will take the bantamweight division. Jeremy Griffin will represent South Africa in the semi-heavyweight category.

MMA

All three of these athletes won gold medals at the National Championships this year, with Sali also holding the title of undisputed bantamweight champion.

MMA

In the senior men's division, Sanele Shabala and Agmad Keran will compete in bantamweight, while Giancarlo Torino and Jason Damons will also represent South Africa in the superlight and middleweight divisions, respectively, facing some of the world's strongest amateur opponents.

In the senior women's division, Nicole Alves (2026 national champion) will compete in the strawweight category, while Vinuska van Straaten (2026 national champion) and Sherize Verster will represent South Africa in bantamweight.

A Dream Realized on the World Stage

Part of the South African delegation has already arrived in Tbilisi, and the rest of the team plans to land in the coming days. Coach and Western Cape MMA board member Irfan Gool, along with Sali and Keran, are currently acclimatizing to the environment and getting acquainted with the Georgian experience before the competition begins. Cornelius and his mother are expected to arrive tomorrow, and the MMA SA president and coach, William Oberholzer, and the rest of the group will complete their journey by flying out on Friday.

Registration and draws are scheduled for November 1, with the official start of the competition on November 2.

For many athletes, these championships are a dream come true, providing an opportunity to showcase their abilities on the world stage, gain valuable international experience, and open doors for further opportunities in sports.

This event is particularly significant for Keran, who only started his MMA journey last year. The athlete, born in Lotus River, has made remarkable progress in a relatively short time.

Discussing the situation with Coach Gool at a hotel in Georgia, Keran struggled to contain his excitement about the opportunity. He stated: 'Coach, this isn't real. I'm a guy from Lotus River. Things like this don't happen. I'm competing in the World Championship and I'm part of the South African team... it still feels unreal.'

Gool, who has worked with Keran since the beginning of his MMA journey, expressed pride in the young athlete's progress. He noted: 'This was a truly big achievement for Agmad Keran, and I am proud to have been with him from the very beginning. He is a phenomenal student, and we grow as one unit.'

Building the Next Generation of South African MMA

Oberholzer believes that championships provide an important opportunity for South Africa's rising talents to gain experience while maintaining the country's proud record on the international stage. He emphasized: 'We have a relatively young team representing South Africa at these MMA World Championships, with several athletes debuting on the international stage.'

He added that 'South Africa has produced medalists and world champions in each of the three previous MMA World Championships, demonstrating that we constantly influence the global arena.'

According to Oberholzer, while they always strive to bring home medals, they also recognize the importance of gaining international experience and developing the next generation of South African MMA talent. He concluded: 'The MMA World Championships represent the pinnacle of amateur mixed martial arts, bringing together the best amateur athletes from around the world to compete at the highest international level. We are confident that our athletes will represent South Africa with pride and continue to build our international success.'