Durban Bid Chief Remains Confident of Commonwealth Games

Tubby Reddy, the chairman of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), has insisted that the city of Durban has “done enough” to retain hosting rights to the 2022 edition of the Commonwealth Games multi-sport event.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) awarded the Games to Durban after a unanimous vote in September 2015. The city had been the sole bidder since February of the same year, following the decision by Canadian city Edmonton to drop out of the race amid doubts over their financial position.

South Africa’s Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula, said this week that the city may have to forfeit its hosting rights due to the high cost of staging the event. The CGF is due to make a final decision at a meeting on March 10.

Liverpool have offered to host the Games in the event of a Durban withdrawal, while Birmingham are also said to be considering the opportunity should it arise.