Alexjc

No Freddie = No Queen. But we are going to see a rock concert andand a samba dance.

Oh yeah, major geographical upheaval in a wave motion slumped both main stands and the Hadlee stand which is aready gone. They have plans to implode the stands...Most of the seating has been stripped (some of it's in London) reused at 'Christchurch Stadium' and stored for the 'new' Hagley Oval.

Well said Baron...Couldn't have put it better myself. Im sure he'll have a big smile on his face knowing his herculian effort to turn around a dying event into a major, and much love ultimate sports event is stronger than ever... He was an unforgiving Hardarse, but we are better for it...

I don't understand what you mean intoronto...The new Christchurch facilities are replacement structures, they are not a want, but a need. They are, technically, downsizing and centralising what were essentially low use structures...For all its iconic status, QEII Park's athletics track was mostly abandond up untill ten years ago. The Pools kept the place going...

A much larger 'Dunedin' permanent cover...They crunched numbers for a moving roof...Just too costly, also the stadium will be rectangle as Cricket is being moved to an enlarged Hagley Oval where plans are to 'drop in' an athletics track.

Are they trimming back?

Agree...It would still favour Auckland as a suitable city...What we ccould be look at is YOSGs. Rols' favorite, a full OWGs is still too far out of reach. But the Covered stadium does open up possibilities. One thing in Chc's favour is the fact it's still seen as the CWGs NZ home city. Auckland's 1990 hosting simply doesn't have the same aura about it. You always see the Chc symbol everywhere while Auckland's has all but vanished.

Dave Currie, Chief de Mission of the NZOC has said Christchurch should aim for the 2026 CWGs as a finishing event for the Rebuilding of the city. He said although the CWGs are larger due to team sports, there is no reason to defer and NZ is long overdue to host again. He also said it would need a strong Government baking for it as at least $3billion would be needed. Last year the Government did mention it was now looking at a future Major event for NZ after the successful hosting of the Rugby World Cup...Although they were criticized for not backing Auckland's 2018 bid proposal thus handing the Games to Gold Coast. Dave Currie also said there was probibly a slim chance of bidding for 2022 as they would likely go 'North' or to South Africa if that nation bidded. 2026 would fit in nicely and would be NZ's last chance untill the mid 2030's.

If it's learnings they are after...good choice. BUT gee wizz, technology just keeps moving so fast that the ticketing solutions at 2012 will be long obsolete in two years. At least these games have got me fired up for 2014 - the horrors of 2010 now fading away...and thanks to London for this, roll on Glasgow. Wish Kayaking was in the CWGs as part of the rowing. No worries to use the Leigh Valley course again.

A covered 35k seat Rugby Stadium and a brand new multi pool swimming complex is part of the Christchurch Rebuild plan released yesterday. The facilities are part of a major re-drawing of the CBD which includes a massive green space 'belt' and the Avon River turned into a waterfront area. The crown jewel in the rebuild is the Convention Centre which will be located next to the Cathedral Square. This will handle up to 3000 guests as new hotels will be built into it. This confirms the end of the popular 1974 CWG Stadium, QEII Park along with the mighty 45k seater AMI Stadium which were damaged beyond repair by last year's earthquake. Although very early days, there is a plan to allow Christchurch to bid for a future 'big' sports event in the 20's. This can only mean a Commonwealth Games.

In the last four, Manchester 02 opening was the best, IMO...As for cost to benefit ratio, CWG openings are too costly for the Games status...Like the ASEAN and Asian Games, pointless. An example of short, simple, and sweet...last year's RWC opening, effective and to the point.

"Donga" has a totally different meaning in NZ! But anyway the last time 're-locatable' housing was used in the CWGs was 1990. But the village was tastfully done as a neighbourhood. If done right there should be no real problem with 'Pre-Fabs' unless a traditional Queensland summer cyclone decides to roll on in!

So expensive!...Annoyingly Maglev has been around since viable electricity, and in primitive form befor that. It just needs to get cheaper. Perfect airport to downtown transport system, its just so complex a system to operate- for now anyway.

Me thinks China wants to bid for a future tournament...AND the idea of a Japanese flagged event on Chinese soil is still too much to stomach. Naturaly, NZ backs China's decision to withdrawal Hong Kong's hosting!

Well any major multi sporting international event on a regular basis would do...a NZ CWGs wont be around till 2034 if the way the future is tracking out here on GB.

Really? Only when NZ starts to tap into Oil reserves...Watching London's costs blow out is a little off putting!

At freinds and families, probibly a couple of cruise liners...Seriously though, I'd say they've got it sorted.

Surprisingly it has been met with a total lack of interest...a pfftt whateva. And the fact that it wasn't well known NZ was bidding. I dunno if it will have an influence on a future CWGs, BUT the announced proposed redevelopment of North Habour Stadium might...It would be too late to have an effect on the Masters though (no doubt be used in it's current form)

Well it IS those brown paper bags full of Yuan that keeps mining interests and the economy going so to allow such games to take place...

Nice artistic renderings of the Athlete's village...It sure beats high rise tower blocks.

Ever since I was a kid growing up, Gold Coast was always a region and I use to think Surfer's Paradise as the city, albeit a small one semi detached from Brisbane, more like that city's weekend beach getaway. Explosive growth from the late 1980's pretty much tied all the coastal settlements together. Coolangatta now provides this region's airport. Adding City pretty much seals any doubt about Gold Coast's identity now...it now really is.

It's a long road ahead Rols, but you'll do just fine...

Pretty cool if they did have the closing on the beach...But how do you get round the flag lowering ceremony?

This is the first time a non-capital Australian city will host the CWGs...A very big win for this 'city' is the fact it's a popular holiday destination, both for Australia and New Zealand...Thank god they didn't officially call it Surfers Paradise! But it is an unusual urban area to get your head around.

The Commonwealth Double! Both Mother and Daughter win today, congrats to London and Gold Coast. And great to see London maintaining a head lead in global sports.