体坛英语新闻：After World Cup, South African eyes Olympic bid

JOHANNESBURG, July 12 (Xinhua) -- South Africa is seriously considering a bid for the Olympic Games, either in 2020 or 2024, following the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup tournament, a top South African official said on Monday.

Gideon Sam, president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), confirmed that South Africa would consider putting in a bid.

Sam told the South African Press Association (SAPA) that his Olympic governing body would consult the South African government and South Africa's national federations with the possibility of hosting the games on the continent.

"It is the dream of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that developing countries are given an opportunity to host the Olympics," Sam said.

He added that it is now up to the South African government, the South African national Olympic committee and the South African sporting community to decide whether to bid for the Olympics.

"I can't say that we will be going for 2020 or 2024, but we will be guided by the sporting movement in this country as to what we are going to do."

Sam was speaking in Johannesburg after receiving a minibus vehicle on behalf of SASCOC from IOC president Jacques Rogge.