Durban’s Commonwealth bid continues
Durban was on show as delegates checked to see if sporting facilitates around the city are up to scratch.
DELEGATES from the Commonwealth Games Federation were treated to the beauty of the Durban promenade as the second stage of delegate tours kicked off last Thursday morning.
The 2022 Bid Committee members gave the delegates a tour through several of the city’s facilities that would be used to host the prestigious event, including Rachel Finlayson Swimming Pool and the Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and the Exhibition Centre (ICC).
Paul Bush, one of the delegates and Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Scotland, said the only challenges he could foresee for the coastal hub hosting the games was the ‘refinement and fine-tuning’ of the facilities.
“Most of the facilities are already in place and Durban simply needs to model the improvements onto the excising facilitates,” he said.
Bid committee member, Vusi Mazibuko, said he felt excited and confident about Durban hosting the games. “I can say this knowing that we can compete as a sole candidate. Eighty per cent of the infrastructure is already in place.
“Our focus now is on ensuring that we meet all of the requirements to earn the right to host the event,” he said.
According to Mazibuko, the fact that the majority of the sports facilities were within a 2.5 kilometre radius from each other along the beachfront was a unique feature of the city’s bid.
As the second-largest multi-code sporting event in the world, the games will feature some truly unique sporting events, including long bow, squash, netball, judo and wrestling tournaments.
