PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
South Africa: Durban not sure of hosting 2022 Commonwealth Games
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula on Tuesday warned that Durban may lose out on hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games due to financial constraints.
South Africa which successfully hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, was hoping to use the event as a trial run for a bid to host the Olympic Games.
The port city secured the rights to host the mega sporting event after Edmonton in Canada withdrew last month. The Commonwealth Games Federation is due to meet in London next week to discuss Durban's fate.
Addressing a media briefing in Cape Town, Mbulula said there are disagreements over the operational budget. "We gave it our best shot but we can't go further. If the government says we don't have this money, we can't do it," Mbalula said.
The Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, which were cancelled due to World War II, the games have taken place every four years since then.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 28Feb2017
South Africa which successfully hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, was hoping to use the event as a trial run for a bid to host the Olympic Games.
The port city secured the rights to host the mega sporting event after Edmonton in Canada withdrew last month. The Commonwealth Games Federation is due to meet in London next week to discuss Durban's fate.
Addressing a media briefing in Cape Town, Mbulula said there are disagreements over the operational budget. "We gave it our best shot but we can't go further. If the government says we don't have this money, we can't do it," Mbalula said.
The Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, which were cancelled due to World War II, the games have taken place every four years since then.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 28Feb2017
