You're reading: South Africa Olympic committee head rules out 2020 bid

South Africa's Olympic committee president is ruling out a bid for the 2020 Summer Games after the government said it was not the right time.

South Africa’s cabinet said Thursday it had considered a request by the national Olympic committee to bid for 2020, but "has decided that it is better for the country to consolidate the gains of the 2010 FIFA World Cup for now."

Olympic committee president Gideon Sam tells The Associated Press his body would only bid if the government gave the go-ahead. Sam says the government statement means a bid is "off the radar for now."

South Africa’s Olympic committee had hoped to bid to bring the Olympics to Africa for the first time after the successful hosting of the World Cup.