Durban’s bid committee will have to field tough questions from ratepayers while coming up with a proposal that satisfies the Commonwealth Games Federation, writes Caroline Rowland
SA’s chance to win over people’s hearts and minds
AT THE submission of Durban’s Bid Proposal to the Commonwealth Games Federation at Mansion House in London on Monday, I couldn’t help but feel a huge sense of optimism – but also an acknowledgement of the challenges ahead for the Durban 2022 Bid Committee.
It’s become common for the citizens of bidding nations to be extremely vocal in their opposition to tax dollars being committed to hosting major sporting events. Predictably, the columnists and cartoonists took the submission of the bid as an opportunity to fuel the argument.
However, Durban 2022 has the chance to redefine how Games are staged and how sports events can genuinely facilitate the achievement of social and economic objectives.
Durban is in a unique position – it is not competing with another city but rather seeking to be appointed by the federation as the host. Other cities have declined to bid or withdrawn.
But to be appointed, Durban (and South Africa) finds itself under greater pressure to prove its suitability to be the custodian of the Commonwealth Games brand, during the seven years leading up to and including them.
The federation faces its own challenges and South Africa needs to prove that it is a worthy partner in helping it re-establish relevance, shifting its emphasis from colonialism to collaboration, from imperialism to inspiration.
The plan presented this week suggests that the Bid Committee has already begun that process of engagement. Only one new venue will need to be built and the athletes’ village is part of the existing infrastructure development budget, providing much-needed housing.
The submission of a bid book isn’t necessarily the moment to open the social and economic discussion, but the presentation didn’t quite get to presenting the scale of what that opportunity could represent for the country and its people. And the scale of opportunity here is considerable.
Apart from the opportunity to use the seven-year journey to the Games to evaluate and evolve social and economic policy, South Africa has a chance to influence policy across every one of the 53 members of the quirky collection of nations which constitute the global equivalent of a stuffy, but well-intentioned gentlemen’s club, The Commonwealth.
Durban’s tagline “Ready to Inspire” is a worthy attempt to express an understanding of that objective, but why Durban is the city to do that at a time when the citizens of South Africa are concerned with issues like loadshedding remained largely undisclosed at Mansion House. That is the work of the next few months, leading to the final bid presentation in Auckland in September.
There is no doubt that Durban offers a stunning natural environment for visitors and the venues will be of the highest standard. Hotels, restaurants and the entertainment experience are not in question. But for me, Durban will need to answer the fundamental question: Why should Durban want to host these games?
Once there is consensus on that, how will the city and the nation capitalise on this event to address some of the deep and dangerous threats to the continuing development of South Africa as a modern democracy?
Politics aside, the Durban 2022 team needs to turn its attention to building meaningful relationships with the people critical to achieving their ambitious objectives.
While the bid book makes a commitment to investing in South Africa’s athletes in preparation for the games, I would have liked to hear an athlete share his or her perspective on how Durban intends to enhance the athlete’s experience.
Two of the most significant Commonwealth Games achievers in recent years, Natalie du Toit and Chad le Clos, were featured incidentally in video montages (Le Clos’s clip featured his London 2012 victory rather than Commonwealth Games success) and yet both athletes inspire others across the globe. Yes, the delegation included athlete ambassadors, but they were simply assembled for the photo opportunity – none had a voice. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to give those young, ambitious sportsmen and women the opportunity to help express the vision of sport as a catalyst for change in their country and across the world?
And while on the subject of the speaker line-up, I remain perplexed that Ntombikayise Sibhidia Saphetha was given a seat on stage but was not afforded the opportunity to contribute to the presentation. As the MEC on Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation for KZN, she is not only an influential figure, but a woman who has initiated and leads programmes to encourage young women to participate in sport. I would have loved to have heard her views on how the Games can contribute to social engagement.
South Africa is a complex and challenging nation populated by pioneers, mavericks and visionaries. This bid has the opportunity to harness that talent. This is the beginning of a historic journey and the bid committee will need to be prepared to navigate the tough questions posed by South Africans, while developing a Gamestime proposition that satisfies the needs and objectives of the federation.
I believe that this can only be achieved by delivering a clear and single-minded narrative that shows a measurable connection between hosting an inspirational elite sports event and the achievement of effective positive social and economic change.
Durban has a chance to put itself at the heart of an important conversation. I truly hope that it will.
Caroline Rowland is a campaign adviser and film-maker credited as one of the 10 most influential people in securing the Olympic Games for London. She grew up in Welkom, studied at Rhodes, and lives in London.