{
  "id": 17054093,
  "title": "South Africa's Durban joins race for 2036 or 2040 Olympics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/south-africas-durban-joins-race-for-2036-or-2040-olympics",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T11:33:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/south-africas-durban-joins-race-113335123.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a surprising move, South Africa has selected Durban as its primary candidate city to bid for the 2036 or 2040 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Africa, which has never hosted the prestigious event, has been home to International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe since 2013. South Africa last hosted a major international sports competition in 2010 when it hosted the first men's football World Cup on the continent.\n\nDurban will face off against Munich, India's Ahmedabad, Jeonbuk in South Korea, Istanbul in Turkey, Budapest in Hungary, and Qatar in the race for the 2036 Games. Bidders have until the end of October to submit their plans, with the International Olympic Committee expected to announce the host city for 2036 in mid-2029.\n\nSouth African Olympic Committee officials revealed at a press conference on Thursday that cities outside of Durban's central area could be incorporated into the bid concept. This decision came as a surprise to some Olympic observers. Los Angeles will host the Summer Games in 2028, with Brisbane following in 2032.",
  "summary": "South Africa has chosen Durban as its main candidate city to bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036 or 2040. Africa, home of International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, has never hosted sport's most prestigious event.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "BREAKING: Durban unveiled as host city for South Africa’s historic R500bn Olympic bid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/breaking-durban-unveiled-as-host-city-for-south-africas-historic",
        "published": "2026-10-29T09:34:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "South Africa unveils Durban as bid city for 2036 or 2040 Olympics",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/south-africa-unveils-durban-as-bid-city-for-2036-or-2040-olympics-17051088",
        "published": "2026-10-29T10:53:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Durban unveiled as host city for South Africa’s Olympic bids",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/durban-unveiled-as-host-city-for-south-africas-olympic-bids",
        "published": "2026-10-29T11:50:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}