Durban all at sea

Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula this week gave the biggest indication yet that Durban will probably not host the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Durban was awarded the right to host the Commonwealth Games in September 2015 after Canadian city and previous hosts Edmonton withdrew earlier that year. The South African coastal city became the first African city to earn the right to host the Games.

Fast forward to 2017 and it hasn’t been a rosy road since. The host city has missed key deadlines and failed to submit documentation on time, despite reportedly spending R120 million on the bid. They only just managed to meet a deadline in November to remain hosts but this week Mbalula’s comments cast huge doubt over South Africa’s role as host nation.

“I don’t want to raise your expectations and say everything looks good; it doesn’t. We are unable to agree on the fundamentals,” he said.

“If both parties fail to find common ground on the cost cutting measures, the South African government will not host the Games.”

At the centre of the confusion is the R6.4 billion budget government and the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) reportedly can’t agree upon. The projected GDP benefit sits at about R11 billion.

Liverpool has already expressed interest in hosting the 2022 Games if Durban doesn’t. The Commonwealth Games Federation will meet in London next week to make a final decision.

At this stage, it doesn’t look good for Durban.