By Duncan Mackay in DurbanJuly 10 - South Africa's Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula will this week take the first formal steps to the country launching a bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, he has revealed.

nbsp;"The international delegates have also expressed confidence in the city and the ability of South Africa

Among those backing a potential bid is the Coalition of Supporters Union of Africa (COSUA), a group formed

in 2006 dedicated to supporting sport in Africa, who are due to hold their conference here later this

Durban - "a mission we are still committed to despite the decision by the government of South Africa

may still bid for 2020 Olympics claims Sports MinisterJune 2011: South Africa to launch bid for 2022

By Duncan Mackay in DurbanJuly 8 - Football legend Franz Beckenbauer has hit out at the European members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after they voted to award the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics to Pyeongchang instead of Annecy or Munich.

Beckenbauer, who had flown to South Africa especially to support his home city, had earlier praised the

By Duncan Mackay in DurbanJuly 6 - Pyeongchang were today awarded the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics after beating rivals Annecy and Munich in the first round of voting at the International Olympic Committee Session here today.

move heaven"July 2011: Kim Yu-Na greeted in Durban by Pyeongchang Dream Programme graduateJune 2011: Africa

By David Owen in DurbanJuly 6 - While its rivals sought to portray old bids as ancient history, Pyeongchang placed its faith in the values of patience and perseverance as it appealed to International Olympic Committee (IOC) members here for the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

move heaven"July 2011: Kim Yu-Na greeted in Durban by Pyeongchang Dream Programme graduateJune 2011: Africa

South Africa is well aware of the need to continue hosting big events," Sam went on.

races.With powerful cards in its hand such as the IOC's failure to award a single Olympic Games to Africa

a century of existence, some will feel it a shame - and potentially a wasted opportunity - if South Africa

By Andrew Warshaw in DurbanJuly 5 - Eleven years to the day since securing the 2006 FIFA World Cup for Germany, Franz Beckenbauer hopes to play a crucial role in landing the 2018 winter Olympics and Paralympics for his home town of Munich tomorrow.

Beckenbauer, who masterminded Germany's World Cup bid that edged out South Africa by one vote before

By Tom DegunJuly 6 - The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games bid has received a major boost after senior members of the African Commonwealth delegation admitted they were highly impressed with the city after watching the marathon take place through the streets.

South Africa has a lot of team sports like bowls and that sort of thing, so you have to cater for everyone

With Africa you have to worry about all of them and they have a lot of their own African games, they're

By David Owen in DurbanJuly 5 - The outcome of tomorrow's potentially decisive first round of voting in the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics race here may be determined by fewer than 95 voters.

electorate in this high-stakes contest, it emerged that at least six of them would not be coming to South Africa

By Duncan Mackay in DurbanJuly 5 - If Pyeongchang wins its bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics then it will have the same effect on the country as when Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Games, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak promised here on the eve of the vote.

move heaven"July 2011: Kim Yu-Na greeted in Durban by Pyeongchang Dream Programme graduateJune 2011: Africa

By Duncan Mackay in DurbanJuly 5 - South Africa could still launch a bid for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics

"It is a dream of mine to see the Olympics come to South Africa or Africa in my lifetime."

South Africa was seen as a strong potential contender, especially after the success of the World Cup.

The IOC would welcome a strong African bid, of course," he said after arriving in South Africa."

may still bid for 2020 Olympics claims Sports MinisterJune 2011: South Africa to launch bid for 2022

2011: Exclusive - South Africa hope to make decision on 2020 Olympic bid this month

supplement the efforts of bid leader Katarina Witt, Annecy's big achievement since arriving in South Africa

By Duncan Mackay in DurbanJuly 4 - Munich's campaign to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics is to be bolstered by the presence of football legend Franz Beckenbauer, who is due to arrive here tomorrow to support their bid, chair Katarina Witt revealed today.

Beckenbauer left for South Africa full of optimism."

attracting more than 100 journalists, mostly from South Korea, who have travelled en-masse to South Africa

By Duncan Mackay in DurbanJuly 3 - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak today chaired a meeting here of the main officials involved in Pyeongchang's campaign to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics to ensure that they have the right strategy to beat rivals Annecy and Munich.

storiesJuly 2011: Kim Yu-Na greeted in Durban by Pyeongchang Dream Programme graduateJune 2011: Africa

By Duncan Mackay in DurbanJuly 2 - Kim Yu-Na was the first high-profile member of the delegations bidding for the Winter 2018 Olympics and Paralympics to arrive here ahead of the final vote when she was greeted by South African teenager, Tamarah Jacobs, a graduate of the "Dream Programme", a key part of Pyeongchang's campaign.

Africa.Contact the writer of this story at [email protected] storiesJune 2011: Africa