Durban bids to host Commonwealth Games

DURBAN was abuzz with excitement at a press conference at Moses Mabhida on Friday, where Fikile Mbalula, Minister of Sport and Recreation, together with the Durban Commonwealth Games 2022 Bid Committee, shared the news of the country’s confidence in Durban hosting the international sport spectacle.

The bid by the City of Durban to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022 was officially lodged at the headquarters of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) last Monday.
The Bid team, headed by Mbalula, comprised the Mayor, James Nxumalo, CEO of the Bid Committee, Tubby Reddy and the KZN MEC for Sport and Recreation, Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha. Also included were SA’s High Commissioner to the UK, Obed Mlaba and athletes Khotso Mokoena, swimmer Cameron van der Burgh and paralympian, Dyan Buis.

“While Durban is the only city bidding to host the Games, CGF rules and regulations requires us to follow due process. This means that, as the Bid committee, we have to ensure that all procedures, processes and deadlines have to be complied with,” said chairman of the Bid Committee, Mark Alexander.
The first milestone, according to Alexander, was lodging the bid, which will now be followed by an incoming visit by assessment teams who will conduct due diligence analysis based on the submitted Bid documents. “The final decision and voting will be done on 2 September 2015,” he added.
Mbalula said, “Durban had the unique quality of having fully developed 80% of the games venue requirements within a five kilometre-sporting precinct, which will offer spectators a Games experience unlike any other. The compact nature of the competition adds to the celebratory mood as numerous spectators will be able to congregate along the Commonwealth Golden Mile daily, sharing experiences and looking ahead to the next event.”

He added that Durban’s well-developed walkways, public transport systems and interconnecting routes, will enable spectators to readily travel through the City and enjoy direct access to competition venues from various drop-off points.

“The effective use of funds means the effective selection of venues. According to Commonwealth Games Federation guidelines, a track and field stadium must accommodate 40,000 spectators— something Durban has. No new stadium has to be built,” he added.

The committee could not provide a ball park figure for the allocated budget for the Bid as it is still finalising the budget with the Treasury, however an additional R1-billion is expected to be spent on developing facilities although Mbablula was adamant that there would be cost sharing with the Commonwealth Games. Meanwhile, eThekwini’s deputy mayor, Nomvuzo Shabalala said Durban was ready and waiting to host the Games.

What the sport stars have to say:
Tyrone Pillay, local paralympic athlete said, “It’s a great moment for Durban. I totally support the bid. It’s great for the city because we already have enthusiastic fans, Durban is sport mad so having such a big sports spectacle on our doorstep is great news. I don’t know if I will participate in the 2022 games but I certainly would want to be there.”

Chad le Clos, local Olympic gold medalist said, “The 2022 Comonwealth Games is going to be a most amazing opportunity for athletes and bring with it great experiences. I want to have an opportunity to be part of the team. It is certainly something to look forward to and all the young guys excelling at primary school and going into high school, like my brothers, will definitely get a chance to shine.”