Photo: Prensa Latina

Havana, July 18 (RHC)-- Egyptian Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhy today ratified his country's interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games, thus becoming the first African territory to host these competitions.

In an interview with Sports al-Ahram magazine, the official stressed that in recent years this North African nation held several top-level international sporting events.

As an example, he cited the 2019 African Cup of Nations in soccer and the 2021 World Handball Championship.

In September last year, the country was visited by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who toured several of Egypt's major sports facilities.

Bach praised the newly built Olympic City, located in the New Administrative Capital, some 45 kilometers east of Cairo.

Egypt participated in 23 editions of these competitions since its debut in Stockholm 1912, winning eight gold, 11 silver and 19 bronze medals.

Paris will host the next Olympic Games in 2024, followed by Los Angeles, USA, in 2028, and Brisbane, Australia, in 2032.