South Africa: Durban bids for 2022 Commonwealth Games

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) - Fourteen years after Cape Town failed in its bid to host the 2000 Olympic Games, another South African city, Durban, has signaled its intention to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, PANA reported Tuesday.

Prince Tunku Imran, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said Durban and Edmonton have both formally indicated they plan to bid for the event and they have until next March to formalise their bid proposals.

The decision on the host city will be made in September 2015.

"This is an exciting development for the Games movement, one that reinforces the Games position on the world's sporting stage," Imran said in a statement.

The multi-sports event which is held every four years features athletes from over 50 countries.

Meanwhile, Gideon Sam, President of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, Tuesday hailed Durban’s initiative, calling it a milestone for South Africa and the rest of the continent.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, while the next edition, in 2018, will be staged in Brisbane, Australia.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 1April2014