Why has South America or Africa never hosted an Olympic game?

Visitors like paved roads and hotels?

Too hot in some of those

There are several reasons; 1) the Summer Olympics are held - in the summer! And, during the Summer months it can be very hot in South America and in most of Africa. South Africa is a possibility.

2) The IOC chooses a city that is within a country that is not in the midst of war or any type of turmoil. Right now, S. Africa is still experiencing some racial battles and most of Africa is somewhat unstable financially.

3) The city chosen must be able to afford the gigantic costs of building all the required facilities , such as an outdoor stadium, awards area, Olympic village for all the athletes, nearby hotels, mass transit, paved roads, new plumbing, sewers, new restaurants, etc.. etc..

Many cities in the countries you spoke of would not meet these requirements from the IOC. Some are angry at other countries and would not allow athletes from that country to attend, or guarentee their safety, on and on..

Indoor plumbing.

Capetown, South Africa came close to getting the Games awhile back. Rio de Janeiro is always in the running now. It'll happen soon enough.

rombus wrote:

1) the Summer Olympics are held - in the summer! And, during the Summer months it can be very hot in South America and in most of Africa. South Africa is a possibility.

You do realize that the Summer Olympics are held during the WINTER of the southern hemishpere, don't you?

Weather Mann wrote:

You do realize that the Summer Olympics are held during the WINTER of the southern hemishpere, don't you?

You do realize that the Summer Olympics have been held in Sydney, Australia, don't you?

....and in Melbourne in '56

Weather Mann wrote:

You do realize that the Summer Olympics are held during the WINTER of the southern hemishpere, don't you?

the jerk wrote:

You do realize that the Summer Olympics have been held in Sydney, Australia, don't you?

You totally missed the point. Try reading the post he was responding to.

Reading is Fundamental wrote:

Weather Mann wrote:

You do realize that the Summer Olympics are held during the WINTER of the southern hemishpere, don't you?

the jerk wrote:

You do realize that the Summer Olympics have been held in Sydney, Australia, don't you?

You totally missed the point. Try reading the post he was responding to.

Huh?

Buenos Aires was a candidate for the Olympics around 1968-1976, can't exactly remember when.

Running Bear wrote:

Reading is Fundamental wrote:

You totally missed the point. Try reading the post he was responding to.

Huh?

The Poster to which he was responding had argued that it would be too hot to hold the games during the summer months in the Southern Hemisphere. Weather Mann response was intended to point out that because it is acutally Winter in the Southern Hemisphere during the time that the games are held, it won't actually be that hot.

One of the major cities in South America - Rio or Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires - could host an Olympics and have emerging economies with an infrastructure able to do so. It would not surprise me to see the Olympics come to South America in 2020 - particularly in Brazil.

Africa is a different story. I don't see any nation being able to host an Olympics properly - it is a huge business enterprise above all else - any time soon.

cheers and uh oh wrote:

One of the major cities in South America - Rio or Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires - could host an Olympics and have emerging economies with an infrastructure able to do so. It would not surprise me to see the Olympics come to South America in 2020 - particularly in Brazil.

Africa is a different story. I don't see any nation being able to host an Olympics properly - it is a huge business enterprise above all else - any time soon.

Rio hosted the Pan Am Games and the athlete comments were far less than positive. South America has hosted several Pan Am Games to various degrees of success.

sub tropical climate year round. hot and humid; not conducive to holding a big athletic event outdoors.

That's an interesting point (by the way, Mexico City did host 1968 Olympics). I would say economic reason would be a huge factor though some countries, not all, could use such an opportunity to build economy.

When Samaranch retired, I was so sure he would award the Olympic Games (I think it was 2000) to Cape Town which I believe was running as a prospective city so he would be forever remembered as the man who "completed the 5 circles (or continents)" but id didn't.

Nobby wrote:

That's an interesting point (by the way, Mexico City did host 1968 Olympics). I would say economic reason would be a huge factor though some countries, not all, could use such an opportunity to build economy.

The games may provide a short term boost in spending through construction jobs, but unfortunately it saddles the host city or country with tons of debt--something that these governments cannot afford. I think the facilities probably only have a small boost to economic growth--and that only in places where they can be converted to other uses (think Atlanta Braves baseball stadium).

Nobby wrote:

Mexico City did host 1968 Olympics

That would be NORTH America.

The 2010 World Cup will be in South Africa. Its a logical step to build yourself up to the Olympics.