Just one question: when? How long must Africa wait before hosting the Olympic Games? Since its resurrection in 1896 by Pierre de Coubertin, the most prestigious sporting event has never been staged in this vast part of the world. "We can't say it's sad or an anomaly. Given the scale of the Olympics, it's understandable. We have to be realistic," said Mohamed Diop, a former Senegalese swimmer who took part in the Seoul (1988) and Barcelona (1992) editions. "The explanation is simple and clear: The infrastructure is not up to scratch," said Mustapha Berraf, the Algerian president of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa.
That's why, until now, few countries on the continent have attempted to attract the Olympics. Over a century ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose Berlin for its 1916 edition – eventually canceled due to the First World War – rather than the legendary city of Alexandria (Egypt was then under British occupation). In 1997, Cape Town could well have been awarded the 2004 Olympics, but the South African seaside city was eliminated in the fourth round of voting in favor of Athens. "It's going to change," said Berraf, who is also an IOC member. "I've seen attitudes change over the last few decades."
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