Commonwealth Games headed for Durban

IT’S official. Durban will be the first African city to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

South Africa is ready to inspire the world by staging an outstanding, athletecentred and sport-focused Games of world-class standards.

More than 80 percent of the facilities already exist. The City of Durban is well on track with preparations to host the major sporting event. The journey begins now. This is the time for all South Africans to show national pride and rally behind Durban.

Following the host city announcement in Auckland, New Zealand, eThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo thanked the Commonwealth Games Federation and all its members for giving Durban the opportunity to host the Games.

“We will be hosting these Games on behalf of the African continent which is about one billion people. It is history in the making as these Games will be coming to the African continent for the first time. South Africa is under reconstruction and development as we are building this new country which is non-racial, nonsexist and democratic,” he said.

After signing the host city contract, an elated Nxumalo said: “The Games will be used to promote social cohesion and build our nation. Hosting the Games will give our young people an opportunity to showcase their talent on the world stage in 2022. We want them to be the champions of tomorrow.”

Investment in infrastructure for the Games is expected to contribute to lasting benefits of the city. The added exposure to global markets will also provide opportunities to attract and enhance tourism and foreign direct investment.

What this means, according to Nxumalo, is that the Games will help the country address unemployment and contribute to skills development. In support of building a legacy, a number of volunteers will be recruited and trained to equip them with a sustainable level of skill. This will increase their future employment opportunities.

Hosting the Games will also make use of the infrastructure legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Upgrades will be implemented in some existing facilities to enhance the city’s modern infrastructure to suit the needs of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Kings Park Athletics Stadium is not one of the proposed venues but will be used as a warm-up venue for the athletes.

Together with the Moses Mabhida Stadium, both these

From left, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) President Gideon Sam, eThekwini Mayor Cllr James Nxumalo and Director General for Sports and Recreation Alec Moemi.

The annual Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in Auckland, New Zealand.

facilities will enjoy new competition tracks as part of the planned R40 million upgrade.

The Kingsmead Hockey Stadium will receive an upgrade of R100m for two new artificial hockey fields.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal squash courts will be refurbished and the Cascade Mountain Bike Park will get new spectator facilities as well as athletes’ facilities that will include change rooms.

Preparations for the 2022 Commonwealth Games have also assisted in fast-tracking major developments. The Cornubia housing project has been identified as a costsaving

measure that will ensure that the units continue being used long after the Games. The Athletes Village will be built as housing units and handed over to beneficiaries after the Games.

The City has the expertise, capabilities and infrastructure to be able to handle about 200 000 visitors expected to travel to Durban during the Games.

The Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network is on track and promises to offer a world-class, 21stcentury road network by 2022. It will provide a faster and more efficient public transport network to the City

of Durban during the Games and beyond.

To keep the legacy of the late former president Nelson Mandela alive, the opening ceremony will take place on Mandela Day, Monday July 18, 2022.

After making the successful Candidate City announcement, Commonwealth Games Federation president Prince Tunku Imran said the Commonwealth Games was in great hands in Durban and in South Africa.

“We, in the federation are very, very confident that they (Durban) will deliver something very special,” said Imran. It was the moment they were waiting for ... pupils from schools across Durban were at George Campbell School of Technology yesterday to hear the announcement that their city will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Chairman of the Durban 2022 Commonwealth Games Bid Committee Mark Alexander said: “The real work starts now and there is a lot of work to be done over the next seven years. The upgrades of facilities are in our current plans, such as the building of the Athletics Village which is part of the 2030 housing requirements. We have budgeted R6.5 billion and that is what we will spend over the coming years.”

Alexander said the plans for the Games fit into the country’s 2030 development plans.

“The Commonwealth Games will contribute to

improving infrastructure, accelerating the rate of development and bringing about higher economic growth and investment,” he said.

The City of Durban is contributing about R500m for the seven-year period before the Games begin.

Government believes that the Games provide great prospects for economic growth. The financial support of the Games will not be a burden to ratepayers as the

benefits will outweigh the financial contribution made by the City. • Up to R20bn in output to the economy, this translates to an estimated R11bn Gross Domestic Product growth. International visitors are expected to contribute up to R12bn in direct expenditure. • Positive revenue impact across all sectors will be derived as a result of increased economic activity prior to, during and after the Games. This includes construction, hospitality and entertainment, accommodation, food and beverage, safety and security, transportation services, tourism as well other commercial and public sectors either directly or indirectly. • The delivery of 2022 Games will require the hiring of an estimated 1 000 full-time staff members at its peak, who will work to ensure the successful delivery of the Games as part of the organising committee. • There will be 3 400 additional employees directly linked to the Games. • The Volunteer Programme is one of the Games’ legacies in the area of human capital development. It involves thousands of people, mostly students, but also a significant number of senior citizens, who would support the fans, especially foreign tourists. About 10 000 volunteers will receive training. • The infrastructure investments will also require a number of employees to implement infrastructure upgrades as well as fast-track new construction, for example the Athlete’s Village. These may be in the form of fulltime, part-time or contractor work in the construction industry.

The Games will position Durban as a global tourism destination and attract potential investors. This is an opportunity to showcase to the world what the City of Durban has to offer and stage a world-class Commonwealth Games to be remembered by generations to come.