CGF President Fennell to retire

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell will retire from his role after 17 years and is set to be replaced by Malaysia’s Prince Tunku Imran.

76-year-old Fennell has overseen the last four Commonwealth Games but he will not seek re-election at the CGF general assembly in St Kitts in November, the CGF said in a statement.

The statement added that Imran, 63, who has served 11 years on the CGF board as the vice-president, was the only nominee for the top post.

Last year’s Delhi Games was probably the toughest assignment for Jamaican Fennell with chaotic preparations and a series of well-publicised organisational blunders in the lead-up to the event.

Indian federal agencies are still investigating the 2010 Games local organisers for corruption allegations which have transformed into major political wranglings.

The elections for the CGF executive board will be held on November 11 later this year, when the 71 member nations will also vote to decide between Australia’s Gold Coast or Sri Lanka’s Hambantota as to who should host the 2018 Games.

The 2014 Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.