August 24 - Durban is confident that it will be given the go-ahead by South Africa's Government to bid for the 2020 Olympics as it seeks to bring the Games to Africa for the first time.

AUGUST 7 - DOHA today said that it is to bid for the 2020 Olympics, despite its anger at being overlooked for the 2016 Games, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) have announced.

July 28 - South Africa is considering following up staging the 2010 World Cup by launching a bid to host the 2020 Olympics, with Durban the favourite to be put forward.

July 6 - Giselle Davies (pictured), the former communications director of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is to head a new company overseeing a study to decide whether Dubai should bid for the 2020 Olympics.

June 28 - Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum (pictured) has set up a new initiative to investigate the possibility of hosting the 2020 Olympics, it was announced today.

By Duncan Mackay

October 22 - A successful World Cup in South Africa next year will provide the impetus for the continent to host the Olympics for the first time, the chief executive of next year's tournament has claimed.