Fresh from its successful hosting of Africa’s first FIFA World Cup, South Africa seeks a bright and captivating challenge. The mouth-watering prospect of hosting the 2020 Olympic Games will be next on the agenda for our Rainbow Nation, but which of our respectable cities will earn the right to submit a bid for the influential event?

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has announced its plans to bring the Olympics to Africa for the first time in 2020, stating that the hunt for a suitable host city will continue over the upcoming months. Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban are each considered possible bid cities.

While all three cities’ bids are strengthened by improving infrastructure and service, Durban seems to be the strongest contender in the Olympic race. The area is home to world-class sporting facilities and already successfully meets specific Olympic infrastructure requirements.

The east coast city was one of nine World Cup host cities in 2010 and recently built the multi-purpose Moses Mabhida Stadium for the tournament. The ocean-side facility has a capacity of 72 000 as well as space for a large athletics track. Unoccupied land surrounding the structure also offers adequate building space for an adjoining indoor Olympic arena.

The majority of Olympic events would take place within close proximity of each other in the city with the Kwa-Zulu Natal aquatic centre, which is already home to an Olympic-approved swimming pool, a stones-throw away from the Moses Mabhida complex. The ABSA Stadium, home to the Kwa-Zulu Natal Rugby Union, as well as Kingsmead cricket ground are also located nearby.

Durban, currently South Africa’s third-largest city, is also home to a new international airport.

Cape Town was able to beat off other South African host cities for the 2004 Olympic bid and while they will look to achieve the same feat for the 2020 competition, the Western Cape metropolis will need to do an extensive amount of work to combat the many hurdles stifling their Olympic chances.

The city has insufficient space for the building of new sports complexes and existing event arenas are currently located too far apart with archery and athletics arenas located as far as Stellenbosch.

The new Cape Town Stadium is not multi-functional and hence cannot be used as an athletics track – meaning a new stadium would have to be built in the city or major alterations would need to take place on the pre-existing structure.

Johannesburg, like Durban, has a multi-purpose stadium in the new 94 000-capacity National Stadium (previously known as Soccer City). The region’s biggest challenge, however, is the large distance visitors would need to travel between different events.

The city has given its public transport facilities a major upgrade, though, and the new high-speed Gautrain would assist in transporting thousands of visitors effectively.

While a lot of work will be needed in any city before it is fully able to host the Games, South Africa has nonetheless proven that it is more than ready to host an event of Olympic scale. After being home to over 500 000 foreign visitors for the recent World Cup and efficiently playing host to 64 matches in 30 days without any major security or infrastructure issues, one can only agree with a positive President Zuma in saying that the event will be a "gift" for our country and will "strengthen nation building, bringing our colourful nation together, once more".