Durban 2022.

[Alexjc]

Commwealth Stadium is quite striking in it's design, totally blew everyone away in 1978 after the wonderful QEII stadium in 1974 set a new benchmark.... but yes Durban does have it's iconic facility as well...Just that SA isn't getting it's A in to G yet...

[Sir Rols]

That said. all they have to do is get a document in for a bid by next year. the fact that the courting of the world is not happening now in the big picture means nothing. we all know that long campaigning means ziltch in getting awarded events. yes to people to get off by chatting on forums like this, it means something, but to the commonwealth committee it wont mean much if the bid does in the end come.

I don't think it's as unimportant as all that. I do think it was a sadly missed opportunity, for example, that Durban was AWOL in Glasgow and left the running there to a well organised and highly visible Edmonton lobbying effort. Opportunities to be in front of your main voting constituency are too valuable to pass up, particularly for the Commies IMO.

I do wonder, assuming the national government gives the backing this month (or even by the end of the year), if Durban can make up the ground. Do you have any info about how advanced they are with their technical and bid documents? Do they have branding ready? Are these all ready to roll as soon as the bid gets the real go ahead? If so, they still might be able to ride the natural sympathy it would get and win through. I'd be worried, though, if the backing cones and then we still don't see much action or info.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Sir Rols

[Alexjc]

And i do not believe the hogwash for a second that Durban throwing in its name scared anyone off. no one was bidding anyway

It wasn't Durban that scared anyone away...It was the CGF and the caviet of giving "Africa" preferred status if any city put up a bid from that continent. Edmonton simply wasn't phased and is bidding (though it would've been nice to see Winnipeg try). BUT as we have seen, there seems to be a pffftt attitude out there, yet talks of 2026 are getting more chittychat...

Both here on talk boards as well as the real world.

I would like Durban to host, but hey if it's Edmonton...so be it, at least there will be a games somewhere.

[Sir Rols]

Well, the SA cabinet were supposed to have made a decision by the end of November. Now December, and the only mention I can scrounge up from SA is:

SASCOC want 10 medals in Rio

Johannesburg - South Africa will be targeting at least 10 medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) president Gideon Sam said in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"I will stick my neck out and say we are going to Rio where the minimum number of medals will be 10," Sam said at Olympic House in Johannesburg.

The lofty target is four more than the haul from the London Olympics where the South African team returned with three gold, two silver and a bronze medal to end off their most successful post-apartheid Games campaign.

Sam was speaking at the announcement of the new list of athletes to benefit from Operation Excellence (Opex), the premier funding programme for prospective Olympic and Paralympic medallists.

The list had been whittled down from 85 athletes to 58 but Sam said some of the athletes who had dropped off the programme would be supported through the National Academy System.

Opex identifies and supports prospective Olympic and Paralympic medallists by means of financial assistance, and through the payment of medical and training expenses.

Evaluation of the Opex squad was done every six months where SASCOC accessed the beneficiaries' key performances and determined which athletes would continue to be supported.

Sam reiterated that SASCOC would not be taking any passengers to the Olympic Games and it was up to athletes to earn the right to go to the global showpiece.

"We've said it many times that we cannot have a team of 300 and come back with four medals," Sam said.

"It is fine to say 'I am an Olympian' but you must earn that title. Go there and really perform with a top three or top five then you can say 'I am an Olympian'."

Sam said SASCOC was in the process of strengthening the support base for South African athletes by involving universities and state institutions such as the SA National Defence Force.

"I will present them with a list of what we have going forward and ask them how can they help us," he said.

The latest Opex list only included two swimmers, with Olympic gold medallists Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh making the cut.

Six track and field athletes were included in the programme with Cornel Fredericks (400m hurdles), Khotso Mokoena (triple jump/long jump), Sunette Viljoen (javelin throw), Wayde van Niekerk (400m), Zarck Visser (long jump) and Anaso Jobodwana (100m/200m) receiving support.

"We continue to focus on our federations to deliver the best athletes for all our competitions," Sam said.

"We do this through Opex, support for our coaches and also ensuring that our federations are active in the nine political provinces."

The South African rowing team were among the big winners following an unprecedented year where James Thompson and John Smith claimed the country's first world title in the lightweight double sculls.

Shaun Keeling and Vincent Breet won bronze in the men's heavyweight pair at the World Rowing Championships in the Netherlands.

These four were among nine rowers that made it onto Opex thanks to five boats making it into A finals at the world championships.

Meanwhile, Sam said South Africa's bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games was on track but SASCOC was awaiting cabinet approval.

"Only when government gives the go-ahead, can we can jump up and down but so far so good."

The City of Durban is competing with Canadian city Edmonton for the hosting rights and the vote on the 2022 bid will be conducted in Auckland on September 2 next year.

Sport24

I still hope we hear something in the next week or two.

[arwebb]

Commwealth Stadium is quite striking in it's design, totally blew everyone away in 1978 after the wonderful QEII stadium in 1974 set a new benchmark.... but yes Durban does have it's iconic facility as well...Just that SA isn't getting it's A in to G yet...

Have to say I thought it looked pretty horrible when Edmonton hosted the World Athletics Championships in 2001, but at least they're showing they actually want these Games. Spoilt petulance doesn't win bid races in my experience.

[Sir Rols]

It wasn't Durban that scared anyone away...It was the CGF and the caviet of giving "Africa" preferred status if any city put up a bid from that continent.

That was never stated by the CGF. Just Gideon Sam and Sam Ramsamy running around Africa during the Glasgow baton relay thinking that if they say it often enough, it'll be de-facto true. But the CGF never officially owned their remarks.

Edited December 3, 2014 by Sir Rols

[runningrings]

The CGF has a tough decision, and this a far more compelling competition than Winter 2022,that im looking to seeing unfold next year.

Should they go for Edmonton for Canada's fifth Games, they risk losing the attention of Africa, and should they go for a blase Durban over Edmonton, then Canada probably wont bid for another decade or more.

I love a new frontier, but Id probably vote Edmonton at this stage. I think if Canada has its own new era CwG it might spark interest in other cities in the same way Melbourne did for Gold Coast

[Sir Rols]

Ramsamy to assume key role in Durban 2022 Commonwealth bid

Senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Sam Ramsamy is soon to be given a leadership role on the Durban 2022 Commonwealth Games bid team, in a signal that the bid is finally poised to crank up into higher gear, insidethegamesunderstands.

Ramsamy's experience and extensive list of international sporting and political contacts would be of great value to the bid in its contest against Edmonton in Canada, which has been far more active in the early stages of the race.

This is scheduled to culminate next September in Auckland at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly.

The Durban Commonwealth Games bid is seen in some influential circles in South Africa as a possible prelude to a bid from the city for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics.

If it proceeds with this ambition, Durban may very well face a domestic rival for the right to be South African candidate-city, or region: it emerged last month that Gauteng, the province containing Pretoria and Johannesburg, may aspire to be a candidate if more flexible Olympic bidding rules are approved this week under the Agenda 2020 process.

Ramsamy, 76, was until this year a member of the IOC's ruling Executive Board; he also served on the IOC's Coordination Commission for London 2012.

Insidethegames

Sigh. The wheels of bureaucracy seem to turn so slowly in South Africa.

It'd be nice to see a logo before Christmas.

[dysan1]

To be honest with the comments coming out of SA it seems they never really wanted this event. With the 2024 Olympic news now out I will not in the least bit be surprised if they skip this altogether

The commies is too small to get the SA public behind it. People hardly watch it. Yes it would have been for a build towards Olympics but I feel they know they couldore easily get the public behind a 2024. Also with the current energy issues back in the government has zero public sympathy. They know this. This bid would not go down well now and frankly that is probably the reason they have been so hard to commit. I will honestly be surprised to see them go through with a proper bid

[MissEurasia]

To be honest with the comments coming out of SA it seems they never really wanted this event. With the 2024 Olympic news now out I will not in the least bit be surprised if they skip this altogetherThe commies is too small to get the SA public behind it. People hardly watch it. Yes it would have been for a build towards Olympics but I feel they know they couldore easily get the public behind a 2024. Also with the current energy issues back in the government has zero public sympathy. They know this. This bid would not go down well now and frankly that is probably the reason they have been so hard to commit. I will honestly be surprised to see them go through with a proper bid

I agree, Durban is showing 0 interest in their bid for the 2022 CG, Edmonton seems miles ahead of them with jusr a website and logo. Durban only released a Promotional Video.... I think they're getting carried away with 2022 SOGs too.

[Alexjc]

I'm just wondering now that Boston has been chosen as USA Bid candidate (not LA, considered best), South Africa may feel more pressure to front for 2024 with Rome and Paris, both previous hosts, the others in the ring?

I think this is what SA was waiting for? If so, they may just go off the boil for the 22 CWGs and not even bother showing up in Auckland later this year for the decider.

[Sir Rols]

I posted this up in the general news section, but also though this was relevant here:

Sascoc focused on Commonwealth bid

Sascoc says it will only consider a bid for the 2024 Olympic Games once the IOC has opened the process.

“The board has not received any notification or correspondence from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with regard to the bidding process for the 2024 Olympic Games,” SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) chief executive Tubby Reddy said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Therefore, the issue of South Africa bidding for the 2024 Olympic Games does not arise.

“Once this communiqué is received, the Sascoc board will engage with Honourable Minister Fikile Mbalula and national government on whether one is going to consider an Olympic Games bid in 2024.”

Reddy said Sascoc’s priority was to deliver a successful bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) to the City of Durban.

Sascoc said bidding process for the CWG required enormous time, dedication and resources.

“The board of Sascoc is at this time fully committed to bidding for the Commonwealth Games in 2022,” Reddy said.

“The first step is to win the bid and then to deliver a successful Games.”

Reddy said South Africa’s Olympic body would not be deterred from delivering the Commonwealth Games.

“Winning the bid for the CWG will be very significant for the City of Durban, especially as the other city is Edmonton, Canada,” he said.

“Canada has already hosted the Games four times. We are seriously focused on the prize of winning the bid and we will not be distracted by other issues that have not been sanctioned by the Sascoc board.”

The vote on the 2022 Commonwealth Games bid city will take place in Auckland on September 2.

The Citizen

Make of it what you will - I don't have a lot of confidence when it comes to announcements by SACOC or the SA Government. They tend to forget them or turn around and do the opposite within days.

Anyway, I'm really thinking now it's too late for Durban to close the gap, even if they did go all gung-ho right now. I'd love to be wrong, though.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Sir Rols

[ktoles]

Durban 2022 had better get it's act together and get it together right now. Alberta is heading towards recession before the end of the year. The last thing that this city should be on the hook for is a massive multi-sports event that we simply can not afford. Our provincial government loses $200 MILLION in revenue every time the price of oil goes down a single dollar. Bottom line is that will have a massive hole in our government budget and the province simply wouldn't be in a place to help pay for it. Not when it comes to critical infrastructure projects that we have on the go. We don't need it and we can't afford it.

[dysan1]

I agree, Durban is showing 0 interest in their bid for the 2022 CG, Edmonton seems miles ahead of them with jusr a website and logo. Durban only released a Promotional Video.... I think they're getting carried away with 2022 SOGs too.

To clarify.don't blame Durban. This is not in the cities hands at all. They are at the mercy of national government. They have been feverishly preparing behind the scenes.This I know for a fact. They are as frustrated by the central governments ridiculously slow maneuvering.

[Tony E Loves Architecture]

Don't blame Durban, but they should have had this sorted a long time before the bidding process began for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. This is the problem. Just like the 4 bidders that withdrew from the 2022 Winter Olympics bidding, they should have sorted out the referendums before they bid.

[Alexjc]

Don't blame Durban, but they should have had this sorted a long time before the bidding process began for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. This is the problem. Just like the 4 bidders that withdrew from the 2022 Winter Olympics bidding, they should have sorted out the referendums before they bid.

You need to research a bit more on the Durban bid...Dysan1 has already said what the problem is here. I don't know where you got the idea of a referendum beforehand from.

[Tony E Loves Architecture]

You need to research a bit more on the Durban bid...Dysan1 has already said what the problem is here. I don't know where you got the idea of a referendum beforehand from.

I have researched. I'm just saying, before bidding starts, Cities should hold referendums first.

[zekekelso]

I have researched. I'm just saying, before bidding starts, Cities should hold referendums first.

But if there is no specifc bid, it's impossible to have a meaningful referendum.

[Tony E Loves Architecture]

But if there is no specifc bid, it's impossible to have a meaningful referendum.

It's simple. Hold a referendum, with do you want the Olympics held here, yes or no.

Or Commonwealth Games.

[Alexjc]

Durban have been handed the 2022 CWGs on a plate...

Edmonton has just pulled out!

Now....can they deliver?

[Sir Rols]

Well, I'd be far from unhappy at Durban getting it, by default or not, but wait first till SASCOC and the SA Sports Ministry check their voicemails in the morning... and then see if they can get onto someone in the federal government who may actually approve it finally.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Sir Rols

[Alexjc]

What fall back is available? London?

Still having to not spend a few million on buttering up fellow and equally dodgy CGF members will be a relief. No need for a final vote in Auckland.

Its all up to South Africa now...AND this is their long awaited chance.

[dysan1]

So the SA cabinet has officially now sanctioned the bid.

Durban city EXCO approves R18m for Commonwealth Games Bid

The Executive Committee has approved the allocation of R18m as part of the shared costs towards the bidding process for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

A report on the progress of the bidding process for Durban to host the 2022 Games was tabled at the EXCO meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, 10/02/15, by Deputy City Manager for Community and Emergency Services, Musa Gumede. In October last year Council resolved to support the Citys bid pending the final decision by National Cabinet.

Cabinet has finally taken the decision to support the bid. A number of meetings have been held between the three spheres of government and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) to kick-start the process. It was agreed that SASCOC will lead the process including the appointment of consultants who will put together the bid document and lobby internationally for our bid, said Gumede.

The total cost of the bidding process is estimated at R98-million, of which R35m will be shared between the City and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government for costs associated with preparing the Bid Document, which will include the plans for all the stadiums to be used. Each party will contribute R17.5 and the City has set aside an additional R 500 000 for inbound and outbound travelling, including the hosting of delegations, travelling and lobbying.

[baron-pierreIV]

WHich means that 2024 will be either Paris or Rome; and 2028 will most probably be Durban.

Bye bye, Boston. Stupid move by the USOC!!

[LatinXTC]

WHich means that 2024 will be either Paris or Rome; and 2028 will most probably be Durban.

Bye bye, Boston. Stupid move by the USOC!!

I wouldn't bet on Durban being the host for the 2028 games, especially since the games will be awarded in 2021, a year before the CGs even happen. The IOC will want to see the games run smoothly on top of construction for the CGs to go smoothly as well. And if it somehow came down to Rome and Boston in the final, my money is on Boston because the city, as well as the country, is more financially stable than Rome and Italy.