Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire has urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to limit the choice of host regions, stressing that Africa is prepared to take on the responsibility of hosting the Olympic Games.
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Remarks at SPIEF
She made the remarks at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia, held from June 3 to 6, 2026.
In her presentation on the future of the Olympic movement, its challenges, and principles of development, she emphasised inclusivity: “The future of the Olympic movement must truly reach all parts of the world, not just a few regions. Every continent and all people should be represented. Africa is ready to take on that responsibility.”
Rwanda’s Example and Africa’s Potential
Mukazayire highlighted that choosing Africa as a host does not diminish the value of the Games but rather expands their global future. She pointed to Rwanda’s experience, noting that when international federations select Africa, it strengthens—not weakens—the prestige of competitions.
Rwanda recently made history as the first African nation to host the UCI Road World Championships in September 2025.
Despite Africa’s strong athletes and talent across many sports, the continent has never hosted the Olympic or Paralympic Games, which have been held 33 times since 1896. However, history will be made from October 31 to November 13, 2026, when Dakar, Senegal, hosts the Youth Olympic Games, marking the first Olympic event on African soil.
Costs and Infrastructure Challenges
Figures show that hosting the full Olympic Games can cost around $10 billion (approx. 14.6 trillion Rwandan francs), nearly double Rwanda’s 2025/26 national budget, and requires state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure for all sports.
In contrast, hosting the Youth Olympic Games is estimated at $75–300 million (approx. 107.9–438.9 billion Rwandan francs), making it a more feasible entry point for Africa into the Olympic movement.
