CELEBRATIONS have erupted across Durban this morning following the news that the city will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Nomusa Dube-Ncube, congratulated the city of Durban on being named host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“We congratulate Durban on becoming the first African city to host the Commonwealth Games. The 2022 Commonwealth will be a great success and important for the city’s long-term development,” said Dube-Ncube.
“South Africa’s record in hosting the Soccer World Cup in 2010 and the Rugby World Cup in 1995 have demonstrated our organisational ability and we are now ready to go further and host a multi-sports event of the scale of the Commonwealth Games,” said Dube-Ncube.
The 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth Games Federation made the decision unanimously on Wednesday, 2 September after receiving Durban’s final candidate city briefing at the general assembly in Auckland, New Zealand. The general assembly also voted to increase the number of compulsory sports at the games from 10 to 16.
“The games will give us an opportunity to showcase what we have achieved as a country and province since the advent of democracy in 1994. The games are scheduled to open on 18 July, which marks the birthday of our first democratically-elected president, Nelson Mandela, who died in 2013,” said Dube-Ncube.
COGTA KZN has also welcomed the decision to use existing infrastructure to minimise costs. An athletics track is to be installed at Durban’s landmark Moses Mabhida Stadium and venues are already in place to host cycling, swimming and indoor events. An athletes’ village will be constructed.
“As the provincial government, we will forge ahead with development initiatives aimed at maximising sponsorships for the games and growing the event’s profit in the process. We see the 2022 Commonwealth Games as an opportunity to put Durban on the world’s sporting as well as investment maps,” added Dube-Ncube.
