JOHANNESBURG, May 28 (Xinhua) -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made donations to Namibia and Lesotho to help the two southern African countries in sports development for youth, local media reported on Monday.

    IOC President Jacques Rogge announced a donation of 350,000 Namibian dollars (50,000 U.S. dollars) during his one-day visit to the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) on Monday.

    Rogge said the donation would go towards youth development in the country, the Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA) reported from Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

    Other projects include the appointment of a physiotherapist fo rthe NNOC as well as scholarships to athletes and coaches and talent identification and training for athletes, the NAMPA said.

    Rogge said last week in South Africa, the first stop of his Southern Africa tour, that Africa is priority number one regarding his organization's sport development programs.

    Asked what the IOC is doing to help African countries host the Olympic Games in future, Rogge said that he will be delighted if that could happen, the NAMPA reported.

    He said there is good potential for Africa to host the event, citing South Africa's winning bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

    Rogge also expressed his hope that South Africa and other African countries would submit their bids to host the prestigious event in future, the NAMPA reported.

    In 1997, Cape Town in South Africa lost the bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games.

    Rogge on Saturday paid a one-day visit to Lesotho, the poor mountain kingdom entirely surrounded by South Africa, donating 50,000 U.S. dollars to the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC), the Lesotho News Agency (LENA) reported on Monday.

    The cheque was received by Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili at the State House.

    Rogge also pledged to donate the same amount for youth development in the country, following his official opening of the Olymp Africa Youth Center at Lepereng and touring of two local sports centers, LENA reported.

    The IOC president will continue his visit to Zambia.