I’m game for Durban to host the games

CHAD and I have something in common – we want Durban to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Initially I wanted the games in Durban for the sake of local athletes who would compete. I know how hard it is for me to travel a few blocks to get to gym. So I can only imagine how tough it must be to travel halfway around the world to compete.

Then I read the 60-page executive summary the bid committee put together. And I felt inspired.

Durban is a great place to live in. You can drink water from the tap and, unlike so many other cities, our air quality is defined as “generally good”.

Winters are warm with temperatures between 15°C and 22°C and we enjoy eight hours of sunlight even during our cold months.

All of this was in the bid document. But it was clearly put together by a person or people who were supporters of the ruling party.

Why? Well, they pointed out we would have general elections in 2019 and local government elections in 2021. Then they added: “The ANC has been the leading party, at local and national levels, since the first democratic elections. This scenario is unlikely to change.”

I wonder what the DA or EFF would say about that…

On page 18 we make a more serious argument for the games. Dennis Pather provides an alternative view on the same page.

On the facing page is our big issue – Israeli Apartheid Week. We’ve got two writers who give us different perspectives.

On the way to these pages, pause at page 15. There’s an interesting piece on Star Trek in the wake of the death of Leonard Nimoy. Most of us know him as Spock.

Finally, since winter seems to be approaching, SM picks up on the latest fashion trends. So if you see me in burnt orange, cerise pink or cerulean blue you will know why.

On the facing page is an interview with LeAnne Dlamini of Strictly Come Dancing fame. She has 120 pairs of shoes (but is no fan of buying them all the time) and 100 bottles of nail gel.