It was announced on 13 March that Durban would no longer host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
As reported by the BBC,
David Grevemberg, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said the city did not meet the criteria set by his organisation, and the search for a new host city had already begun.
It appears that the decision is due to financial constraints faced by the South African Government.
Last month, South Africa’s sports minister Fikile Mbalula indicated Durban may not be able to host the 2022 event because of financial constraints.
“We gave it our best shot but we can’t go beyond. If the country says we don’t have this money, we can’t,” he said.
It’s clear that the global economic downturn and austerity is continuing to bite deep, as both the Olympics and Commonwealth Games struggle for hosts.
A number of British cities – including Liverpool and Birmingham – have expressed an interest in hosting the 2022 Games. Recent reports indicate that a joint bid may be accepted.
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