Mandela: South Africa's most powerful advocate

Many argued that it is time to break the stranglehold countries in Europe have had on the World Cup.

Crucially for South Africa, Fifa president Sepp Blatter was voted in on a wave of African votes, promising to deliver the World Cup to the continent for the first time.

Stadiums

But some thought that South Africa's infrastructural development would not match that of Germany, even though it has a mixture of top class football and rugby grounds, ready to be upgraded into stadiums worthy of the World Cup showdown.

The country has already played host to the Rugby World Cup in 1995, and the African Nations Cup in 1996.

Cape Town made a bid - but failed - to host the 2004 Olympics.

But the cricket's governing body has already signalled that South Africa would be the suitable venue for the Cricket World Cup in 2003.

Crime

South Africa's biggest drawback was the high rate of crime on its city streets, especially the business capital, Johannesburg.

The World Cup would arouse huge excitement in South Africa

South Africa's campaign team had promised that 10% of its budget would be used to tackle the crime menace.

Transport was another problem to be tackled. Some of the proposed stadiums were a long way from tourist hotels, and the dangerous, crowded minibus taxis remain the backbone of public transport.

And few African soccer fans have the means to make the journey south, as witnessed by the overwhelmingly South African crowds at the 1996 Cup of Nations.

South Africa's location, a 12-hour flight away from the affluent soccer fans of Europe, could have deterred those supporters from making the journey.

Broadcasting

South Africa's time zone - the same as central Europe during the northern hemisphere summer - was seen as a factor in its advantage, making things simple for the lucrative European television broadcasts.

The South African winter weather ranges from cool to mild - and although Cape Town can be very wet at that time of year, the rest of the country enjoys clear skies.

As Nelson Mandela put it when he argued South Africa's case, "it's Africa's time".