Durban's bid proposal for Commonwealth Games assessed

The Africa and Asia members will be followed by the Europe and Oceania group on 22 July and finally the Americas and Caribbean countries will be arriving on 5 August.

The aim of the inbound visits is for these Commonwealth Games Associations (CGA), representing the 71 countries of the Commonwealth, to conduct personal assessments of Durban's bid proposal. In April the CGF's Evaluation Commission visited Durban to meet the government and city partners who will be essential to the successful delivery of the Games as well as visiting numerous competition and non-competition venues and facilities.

The Commission will present its detailed technical report to the CGF membership - representatives from all the CGA from every corner of the Commonwealth - who will consider Durban's proposal. The CGF membership will have the final decision, voting to award the 2022 Commonwealth Games at their General Assembly in New Zealand in September.

Critical for process

"These visits by the CGA are absolutely critical for the bid process as they would determine whether Durban is awarded the right to host the Games in 2022 or not," said Tubby Reddy, CEO of Durban Bid Committee.

"These member countries would make their own appraisal of our bid and then cast their vote in September. It is therefore imperative that what we lodged at the CGF in London in March meets the expectations of the CGA when they inspect the infrastructure and facilities in Durban," he added.

Bid Committee chairman, Mark Alexander, emphasised that the visit of the CGAs cannot be underestimated because these countries will be the final adjudicators of the bid process and whether Durban has been successful in its bid to host the Games in 2022.

"We believe that we have lodged a world class bid that meets all the stringent criteria set by the CGF and that when the CGA votes in September, the Games will be coming to Africa in 2022," said Alexander.

For more, go to www.durban-2022.com