Durban to host 2022 Commonwealth Games
The east coastal city of South Africa was given the right to host the games after the team made their final presentation as the only remaining bidder.
JOHANNESBURG – Durban has been unveiled as the Commonwealth Games host for 2022, Eyewitness News (EWN) reported.
The announcement was made this morning in Auckland, New Zealand.
Eyewitness News (EWN) reported earlier, “South Africa’s east coast city was set to run against the Edmonton, although the Canadian city pulled out of the race in February citing the negative impact of the fall in oil prices worldwide.”
The iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium will play a major role in the hosting of the games, while the Rachel Finlayson Swimming Complex, just a few kilometres away on the promenade, will serve as the aquatics centre.
Speaking to SABC news from New Zealand, Sam Ramsamy, member of the organising committee said, “In terms of major international events, the Commonwealth games come third after the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, this is because the games involve fewer countries than the other two events.”
The host city contract for the XXII Commonwealth Games is signed pic.twitter.com/DEABmpqshL
— Commonwealth Sport (@thecgf) September 2, 2015
He stated that hosting the event will still be a great achievement for the country.
As the FIFA World Cup was in 2010, the 2022 Commonwealth Games will be yet another milestone as the African continent gets set to host its first games.
South Africa hosted the All Africa Games in 1999, but this will be the country’s first chance to host a global multi-coded sporting event.
Durban was the only city bidding to host the Games.
Earlier this year, Edmonton was a contender, but pulled out.
