DURBAN will be put in the spotlight today when the International Olympic Committee names the city to host the 2018 Winter Olympics at South Africa's coastal hot spot.

The event will be attended by prominent sports leaders including Fifa president Sepp Blatter, CAF boss Issa Hayatou, IAAF president Lamine Diack and IOC supremo Jacque Rogge.

Representatives of various royal families across the world, including the newly-wed Prince Albert of Monaco and former South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock, are also attending the 123rd IOC gathering that is being held for the first time in Africa.

The three bidding cities are Munich (Germany), Annecy (France) and Pyeongchang (South Korea).

South African Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula said: "This is a massive marketing tool for our country, especially tourism. The gathering will be a resounding success and people from other countries are already impressed that we have been able to put up a great show."

Pyeongchang 2018 Games bid chief Cho Yang-ho is confident the popular South Korean city will win the bid to host the event.

"The national government, the Gangwon provincial government and the municipal government of Pyeongchang will all be contributing to the Winter Games budget and they fully pledge to honour all required IOC guarantees," Yang-ho said.

German President Christian Wulff, who will address the IOC gathering today as part of the final presentations by the bidding cities, said: "I think Munich has presented an excellent bid here."

The French are equally confident of winning.