Rogge: SA could host good Games

DURBAN, South Africa (AP):

IOC President Jacques Rogge says South Africa is capable of organising a "very good" Olympics and that a bid from the country could be helped by Africa's unique position as the only continent that has yet to host the games.

Rogge said South Africa has proved many times it can stage big events, "but we would only award the games on the quality of the bid, not on the location."

However, he added, if two bids were equally matched, the region which has not hosted the Olympics "would be favoured."

After holding a successful World Cup this year, South Africa has said it will bid to host Africa's first Olympics in 2020.

The east coast city of Durban, where Rogge was attending an IOC conference, is expected to be the country's candidate.