Commonwealth Games comes to Durban S.A.

With the withdrawal of the city of Edmonton in Canada, the City of Durban was the lone entry to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

It is a historic first Games to be hosted in Africa and reports state that 90% of infrastructure is already in place and the Games will be held in the Moses Mabhida Stadium and surrounds.

What do the people feel, is the cost of hosting the 12 day event going to further burden the ratepayers of the City with more unjustified rate increases to fund the event or will the City benefit from the tourism and influx of people expected to attend the event?

mg.co.za/article/2015-09-02-durban-first...t-commonwealth-games

Durban first African city to host Commonwealth Games

02 Sep 2015 08:19| AFP



The Commonwealth Games will be held in Africa for the first time in their 85-year history, with Durban's bid expected to boost jobs and tourism.


The Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban. (Reuters)



Durban was officially named as host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games on Wednesday, making it the first African city to stage the sporting spectacular.

South Africa’s third largest city was the only candidate for the 2022 hosting rights after Canada’s Edmonton withdrew in February, citing cost concerns.

But the vote still sparked huge celebrations in Durban, where television pictures showed large crowds waving the South African flag.

“I’m excited, the city is excited!” Durban 2022 bid chairperson Mark Alexander said from Auckland in New Zealand, where the official announcement was made at the 71-nation Commonwealth Games Federation’s (CGF) general assembly.

Newly elected CGF president Louise Martin, who led a commission that examined Durban’s bid in fine detail and gave it strong support, expressed delight the Games would finally be held in Africa after 85 years.

“A historic decision for all of us and one that my commission completely endorses,” she said.

Economic boost
Organisers, campaigning under the slogan “Ready to Inspire”, said 90% of the facilities were already in place, with most of them within 2km of the city centre.

They have described the event as a “game-changer” that is expected to boost tourism and jobs in the Indian Ocean city of more than three million people.

The four-yearly, multi-sport event was first staged in 1930, when it was known as the British Empire Games.

Britain has hosted six editions, Australia and Canada four apiece, New Zealand three, and Jamaica, Malaysia and India one each.

Financial constraints
Africa has always missed out but sports officials have been buoyed by South Africa’s successful hosting of the world’s three biggest single-sport events – the football, cricket and rugby union World Cups.

The South African government said last week that the Durban Games would use infrastructure from the 2010 football World Cup, including the 85 000-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium, to keep costs down.

The Durban Games will open on July 18 2022, a national holiday marking the birthday of South African icon Nelson Mandela, who died in 2013 aged 95. The Games will run for 12 days.
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Though I love big sporting events, I do think that planning a party when the larder is bare can only lead to famine in your own home. More attention should be given to make the country crime free, energy proficient and visa friendly, so that we can take advantage of the weak rand and encourage tourism all year round and not hope that a two-week-period can make up for years of downturn.

I agree Mr H , you hear horror stories about the cost of some of these events

What amazes me is that much has been made of how much of a tourism boost this will be for Durban and yet we have the current situation with the Minister of Home Affairs who has effectively strangled South Africa's tourism industry.

As some joked about the news that Mumford and Sons are coming to SA. "I hope Mumford has birth certificates for his sons"

On the plus side, not too much is set to be spent on building actual venues, Durban seems to have the required facilities and they only need minor improvements apparently.

At least it stops our deluded Minister of Sport from trying to spend billions to host the Olympic Games, this seems to soothe his ginormous ego.

Ticket costs for this were incredible in Glasgow this year

Manchester benefited from The Commonwealth Games. Apparently the whole city got behind them and the opportunity was taken to clean up alot of old city centre buildings. If there is buy in from the citizens of Durban they will be a big success.
On the downside immigration are still searching for African and Asian athletes in Manchester and Glasgow.

In a city with so many homeless people and informal settlements surely the money needed for these games can be better spent and....a few years ago we hosted a certain football tournament. We were told that our airport would welcome A380s and jumbo jets full of tourists but that never happened just like it won't happen this time and.....to the often rolled out line that this will put Durban on the map, there's no need for that. It's already on the map for xenophobia killings, grime and crime and....can anybody tell me which city hosted the games before Glascow....thought not.....just like nobody will remember Durban not long after the games have ended....anyway that's all for now....I'll be back for another rant after we become the first African city to host the Olympics because you know full well that's next on the radar....

@mickeyblue...the current government do not believe in "minor improvements" as that does not afford the opportunities for pilfering of the state coffers...the budgeted capital expenditure is $400 million now but will surely be 2,5 to 3 times that amount, in the final tally, with the lack of efficiency that the current government ALWAYS display...

I am not supportive of the bid and award as this is nothing more than an(other) exercise in ego stroking for those involved...

Will the lights still be on in SA come 2022... :woohoo:

What South Africa will be sacrificing www.timeslive.co.za/sport/2015/09/08/Wha...e-Commonwealth-Games

And we constantly reminded by the ''powers'' of our colonial slavery to the empire yet we grasp this sporting spectacle with open arms... Hmmm double standards me think... :whistle:

Every and any large scale event or project affords opportunity for pilfering of public funds...easier to hide theft of millions when billions involved than when millions involved...