Durban soon to know fate

Durban should know within the next couple of weeks whether it has been stripped of the rights to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with the embarrassing scenario remaining a real possibility as the coastal city’s status hangs on the brink of collapse.

Government and the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), reportedly at loggerheads over the R6.4 billion budget, had apparently met the deadline in November to submit documents in an attempt to prove they had resolved various outstanding matters.

Among the early deadlines they had missed, in line with standard Games processes, included a payment to the CGF and the formation of an organising committee.

While the CGF had hoped the decision would be finalised last month, the process had taken longer than expected.

A CGF spokesman said this week the committee was in the “final stages” of evaluating the information submitted by local stakeholders.

It would refer its final recommendation to the CGF executive board after deliberating whether Durban’s latest proposals were consistent with its original bid commitments.

“Given the variety and significance of the outstanding matters under consideration, it is anticipated that the review process will not be completed, and a recommendation made to the CGF executive board before the end of February,” the spokesman said.

Durban became the first African city to win the rights, having won an uncontested bid in 2015 after Edmonton withdrew for financial reasons.

Reports suggested Australia, already hosting the quadrennial spectacle for the fifth time next year at Gold Coast, had shown interest in taking over the 2022 Games if Durban lost the rights.