ALL doors are still open as regards a possible South African bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula said

After the successful hosting of the 2010 football World Cup it was widely expected that South Africa would enter the race to stage the 2020 Games.

But the South African government quashed the idea in May by announcing that it would not support an Olympic bid, preferring instead to concentrate on "the delivery of basic services to all South Africans".

But Mbalula said that growing support, both domestically and internationally, meant South Africa could still consider a bid for either the 2020 or 2024 Summer Games.

"We are not closing any doors, all doors are open," Mbalula told reporters in Durban where the International Olympic Committee is holding its 123rd session.

"The possibilities are there and from the sports ministry and the sports fraternity in South Africa, we have always said that we are quite keen to reopen talks on this matter noting that this is a decision of government," he said.

Mbalula did say that the government's original decision not to support an Olympic bid was "cogent and well considered" but that it was not necessarily "static".

"There is a will from some people who say that it would be good to have an African and South African bid for 2020. If that doesn't happen then 2024 is a possibility," Mbalula said.