R6.5bn budget for Commonwealth Games
SA has 7 years to ready itself to host 5 000 athletes who will compete in more than 260 events in 18 sporting codes.
|||Durban was today confirmed as host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games – a first for Africa.
The city’s bid was endorsed unopposed by the 71 nations of the Commonwealth Games Federation which met in New Zealand today.
South Africa was the only country in the running for the Games after Edmonton, Canada, dropped out earlier this year.
South Africa has seven years to ready itself to host 5 000 athletes who will compete in more than 260 events in 18 sporting codes over three weeks.
Durban mayor, James Nxumalo, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) president, Gideon Sam, and chairman for the South African bid, Mark Alexander, signed the host city contract in Auckland to wild applause while members of the South African delegation sang Shosholoza.
Outgoing Commonwealth Games Federation president, HRH Tunku Imran, said: “Over more than eight decades, many great commonwealth cities, nations and territories have hosted the Games to build peaceful, prosperous and sustainable communities, inspired by the actions and achievements of our commonwealth athletes and underpinned by our values of humanity, equality and destiny.
“Our friends from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and South Africa, are now primed to make the most of that responsibility and opportunity. As a movement, we stand together to welcome and support the very first Commonwealth Games on African soil.”
The opening ceremony for the 2022 games will take place on July 18 – the birth date of Nelson Mandela.
“The real work starts now,” bid boss, Alexander, said today.
“For Durban and the local organising committee, lots of work will have to be done. The upgrades of our facilities are in our current plans such as is the building of the Athletics Village, which is part of the 2030 housing requirements. We have budgeted R6.5 billion and that is what we will spend over the coming years,” he said.
Nxumalo said the Games would improve Durban’s infrastructure and unite South Africans.
“We will use the Games for social cohesion and to give young people the opportunity to show their talent. The Games will also address unemployment and skills,” he said.
Asked at a press conference how much of this the South African government would foot, Alec Moemi, the director-general for the Department of Sport and Recreation, said: “As much as is necessary to host the games.”
According to the eThekwini Municipality, the Games would deliver up to R20bn in output to the economy, translating into an estimated R11bn gross domestic product growth.
Moemi said he hoped the world would now recognise South Africa’s excellent infrastructure, climate and environment for hosting major sporting events.
“We look forward to these Games contributing to our economy, but equally to our quest for developing opportunities for our young people in our country.”
Vusi Mazibuko, general manager for the Moses Mabhida precinct, which will be the hub of the Games, said 90% of the facilities were ready.
“We don’t have to do much as preparation of facilities started a long time ago. Seven years may seem a long time, but the work starts today. Most of the events will take place in a 2.5km radius and Moses Mabhida will be the focal point. This bid is not about people that are here, this bid is about the people of South Africa and the continent and we want to embrace it.
“It is time for us to celebrate. This will be another moment where a sporting event will bring us together as a country,” he said.
International Olympic Committee member, Sam Ramsamy, agreed.
“Now the delivery starts. The city of Durban and Sascoc will have to get its operations in order with the central and provincial government. This is another inspiration for us not only to bring people together but to show them what sport can offer,” he said.
According to the eThekwini Municipality, preparations would fast-track development in the city.
The Athletes Village at Cornubia will be built as housing units and handed over to beneficiaries after the games.
“The eThekwini leadership is confident that our city has the expertise, capabilities and infrastructure to be able to handle about 200 000 visitors expected to come to Durban during the Games,” the city said.
The KZN MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube, today congratulated Durban.
“South Africa’s record in hosting the Soccer World Cup and Rugby World Cup has demonstrated our organisational ability and we are now ready to host a multi-sports event of the scale of the Commonwealth Games,” she said. - Daily News