Durban - Sporting heroes and celebrities have come out overwhelmingly in support of Durban’s bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which is expected to be approved unopposed after the only other city in the running, Edmonton, Canada, backed out.
At the start of the week, members of the Commonwealth Games Co-ordinating Task Team returned from London where they had lodged the city’s formal bid to host the Games.
The event is expected to come with a price tag of around R6 billion, with R1bn to come from the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee and some funding from the national government. An evaluation committee will visit in July and a final decision will be announced on September 2.
Speaking at a press launch for the city’s bid on Friday, deputy mayor Nomvuso Shabalala said: “We believe this is in the bag and the city is very much ready. We want to allay the fears of the prophets of doom. We understand that a lot of money will be spent, but we don’t believe it will be wasted. We have a big commitment from government.”
In the official bid document presented to the selection committee, chairman and chief of the Durban Commonwealth Games Bid Committee Mark Alexander said: “South Africans are passionate about their sport, which has played a leading role in building social cohesion and bringing to life the concept of a rainbow nation. Many a time it is sport that has not only reminded us of our common nationhood, but equally continues to revive our positive outlook on the country.”
”Golden Boy” Chad le Clos said no price tag could be put on the value that hosting the Games would confer on Durban and the rest of Africa. “This is something that local athletes have wanted for a long time. We have hosted a number of small events, but the Commonwealth Games are huge. And to be supported locally will definitely help athletes and add to the general feel-good factor.”
Le Clos said youngsters like his younger brother Jordan – also a swimmer – would benefit enormously. “They will work harder because the goal will be staring them right in the face,” he said.
“When I won my Olympic gold medal in 2012 I was just a kid with a dream but I beat the greatest (swimmer) in the world. I want to get aspiring athletes to that level; where they are competing at their best.”
He said other positive spin-offs were job creation and the upgrading of existing infrastructure.
Durban has the facilities to host all 16 sporting codes of the Games, and they will be extensively upgraded, with a new athletics track at Moses Mabhida Stadium and a revamp of the Rachel Finlayson Pool to seat 5 000 spectators.
The athletes village will be built at Cornubia, and the units later converted to subsidised housing for middle-income families. The Games will allow Durban to fast-track development in seven years that would otherwise have taken the city 17, said the organisers.
“Glasgow (host city of the 2014 Commonwealth Games) made a profit from hosting and hopefully we can do it here,” continued Le Clos. “It’s about time there was a national focus on sport. South Africans love rallying behind our teams and are euphoric when we win.”
Speaking via her mentor, Durban sports promoter Ray de Vries, Zola Budd, said: “I am totally and completely committed to the development of sport in South Africa on every level and for every sporting code. The biggest thing in my life has been athletics, but the quality of athletics has gone down and because it is the cornerstone of the Commonwealth Games, we have to get it right.”
De Vries said he was also “100 percent” behind Durban. “I am completely confident we can do an excellent job. But we must not just develop sport in the run-up to the Games as a publicity exercise. We need to get the nuts and bolts right so that we can start achieving the kind of success we did formerly.
“When Zola ran against Elana Meyer in Durban at King’s Park, the city had to erect seating for an extra 4 000 people. We need to get back that winning spirit, then there will be no stopping us.”
Running legend Elana Meyer also gave the Games the thumbs-up, and said: “It will be an unbelievable privilege to host the games. Sport is part of our DNA as South Africans. It uplifts the entire country.”
Alec Moemi, director general of the Department of Sport and Recreation, said the focus on identifying young athletes and grooming them for success in the games would be intense in the next seven years.
“You know how good 2010 tasted,” he said. “We are going to make sure South Africa gets the best deal out of this in terms of economic growth and job creation and we are going to help develop the very best athletes in South Africa. I want gold in 2022.”
Charles Preece, east coast manager of the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa, said if Durban’s bid was successful there would be an immediate cash injection into the city.
“I can’t see this bid not being successful but I hope we haven’t bitten off more than we can chew financially. The Games will be great for Durban; after the Olympics it is the second largest event in the sporting world. And unlike the 2010 World Cup Durban and its surrounds will really benefit economically.”
Preece said if Durban pulled it off, tourists would return and send others to Durban. “The key is making sure that we do this,” he added.
Durban Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dumile Cele said winning the bid would have a number of positive business spin-offs. She said there would be opportunities for joint ventures between businesses and the government in getting stadiums ready.
“There will also be opportunities for small businesses as suppliers. There will also be enormous tourism spin-offs. There will be visitors from all over the world. Large, small and medium businesses will all benefit.”
Cele said as the Durban Chamber they would be hosting a number of forums for businesses to interact with the government about various business opportunities.
East Coast Radio presenter Darren Maule said he was very excited at the thought of Durban hosting the Games and was confident seven years was enough time to prepare.
“We have had major sporting events in Durban before and we should learn from, and build on, those. The cash and status injection Durban will get will be phenomenal.
“Durban has been clawing its way out of the little village stigma and this is one way to do it.
“But the Sports Minister and Durban mayor need to inspire confidence at grass roots level that everything will be handled above board.
“People are most worried about white collar crime,” he said
KZN-based Olympic canoeist Bridgette Hartley was another celebrity who gave the bid her endorsement: “I hope that by then sprint canoe will be part of the Games and there will be a Bridgitte Hartley protégée taking part.”
Sports fanatic DJ Tira said:
“If we host the games we will be the first African country to do so and it is something to be extremely proud of. We need to show the world that Durban is the place to be.” – Additional reporting by Nabeelah Shaikh
Sunday Tribune