2024 Olympics: Kenya to bid for 2024 Olympics, says PM

[papalove]

2024 Olympics: Kenya to bid for 2024 Olympics, says PM

London, UK - Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said the capital city of Nairobi is preparing an ambitious bid to stage Africa’s first Olympic Games in 2024. Odinga, a retired footballer and sports lover, said he believed Kenya had what it took to host the event in 2024. Odinga was speaking in London where he is lending support to the Kenyan team to the 2012 Olympics. He is also in the British capital on a charm offensive, aimed at wooing international investors to Kenya.

“Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, speaking at the Kenya National House, announced that the Republic of Kenya will be starting the process of pitching to host the Games of the 33rd Olympiad in 2024. If successful, these Games will be the first ever held in Africa,” said a statement in London.

Asked if he was surprised by Odinga's announcement, Kenya's Sports Minister Paul Otuoma said it should be seen as part of Kenya's efforts to build modern sporting infrastructure.

He said he acknowledged Nairobi would need to make a significant effort to become a city capable of hosting the Olympics.

“As a nation we are very much alive to what it really takes to hold an event of this magnitude, but Kenya is heading towards that direction,” said Otuoma.

Kenya pulled out of hosting the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations finals at the last minute citing hiccups.

The African Football Confederation (CAF) stepped in and asked South Africa to host the event.

Africa’s most recent Olympic bids saw the Egyptian city of Cairo fail in its attempt to land the 2008 Games won by Beijing, while the South African city of Cape Town made a bid for the 2004 Games landed by Athens.

South Africa successfully hosted the 2010 Fifa World Cup and had been expected to bid for the 2020 Olympics before its government surprised many last year by announcing it would not support
such a move. It is believed their efforts will now focus on a possible 2024 bid.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is set to commence the official bid process for the 2024 Games in 2015, with a host city selected two years later.

Pana 12/08/2012

[B DIDDY]

[papalove]

:lol:

Sounds like a laughing thread
but I think they will do a better job of it than Ghana

[el Padrino]

I dont think its a bad idea. But does he know the amount of infrastructure and hospitality facilities required to host 200+ countries?

[the pope]

World Cup yes, Olympics Hmmmm......don't know. Unless by some miracle their GDP shoots up to 99 percent in the next couple of years and they have what the Asian economies experienced in the 80's and 90's a great leap forward. That said their infrastructure is better than Ghana's and painfully I would pick Kenya over my beloved Ghana anyday. The only African country that has a slim chance of hosting it is South Africa. The North African countries have somewhat decent infrastructure but security would be a major problem in the Middle East and North Africa even though any of these countries Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and others can build a posh Olympic village with all the modren and amenities and infrastructure in a year, no problem. Thats the kind of money those Sheiks have, unfortunately its still a hotbed for attracting Muslim extremism and security would be a nightmare.

[Paa Panyin]

I applaud the PM for his audaciousness.

We can sit here and know in our guts that in 12 years time Kenya will likely be very hard pressed to have the facilities, infrastructure, and organization to host the Olympic games, but he has set a marker, he uses this out-on-a-small-very-shaky-limb strategy to light a fire in his country to dream great things, and more importantly commit to doing great things.

Maybe all he acomplishes is getting Kenya to host a World Class Commonwealth games, but he is setting a goal for his people. We need more visionary leaders that put self interest aside and inspire and lead people with both words and deeds. Words matter, and even more so deeds!!