The first group of delegates representing 21 countries which form part of the Commonwealth Games Federation arrived in Durban today, 15 July 2015, to assess the City’s state of readiness to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
The four-day visit by members of the nations and territories of the Commonwealth Games Federation indicates that Durban’s bid to stage the Games for the first time on African soil has reached an advanced stage.
The high-powered delegation will focus on analysing the detailed technical aspects of Durban’s impressive bid to stage the Commonwealth Games which was submitted in London on 2 March 2015.
Durban’s fate will be decided in September this year, when the Commonwealth Games Federation members cast their vote at their General Assembly in New Zealand.
The delegation will visit numerous competition and non-competition venues and facilities this week, including the world-class iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium, the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, the proposed site of the Athletes’ Village and Mountain Bike Park Facility in Pietermaritzburg.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu and Mayor James Nxumalo have extended a warm welcome to the delegates and hope that they will be inspired by Durban’s ambitious dream to host the Games in the African continent.
Premier Mchunu said the life story of the late former President Nelson Mandela is a lesson to the whole world of the resilience of the human spirit and hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2022 will assist in ensuring the promotion of the values of Madiba.
“Plans are already in place to ensure that we welcome the international community during the Commonwealth Games in 2022. We have more than top-ten international golfers, more than ten Olympics Gold-medalists, Para-Olympics Gold medallists, World Boxing Champions, Swimming Champions and sports enthusiasts who have climbed Mountain Everest on both sides and succeeded. Again, we salute Madiba for being an inspiration,” said the Premier.
Mayor Nxumalo said Durban’s credentials attest to the City’s ability to provide memorable experiences and these include the City’s role in hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup, African Cup of Nations Tournament, Tourism Indaba, COP 17 Climate Change Conference and the Fifth BRICS Conference among other world class events.
“Hosting an event of this magnitude will leave a lasting social legacy for the people of South Africa as it requires community engagement and development. Moreover, the organisation of 17 sporting codes in one City over 11 days requires synergy across all sectors both public and private,” said Mayor Nxumalo.
Durban is the gateway to Africa and has also over the years created hugely attractive tourism products which have increased the City’s appeal for not only planning and staging mega sporting events but also as a top tourism destination, earning it a spot at number seven in New York Times’ travel list of the world’s top 52 destinations in 2015.
The Games will elevate the eThekwini Municipality’s Long Term 2030 Development Plan vision, which aims to make Durban Africa’s most caring and liveable City.
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