(ATR) David Grevemberg, the CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, says there will not be a "rash decision" on who will take Durban’s place as host of the 2022 Games.
Grevemberg was speaking to reporters at a press briefing for the 2018 event in Gold Coast at the Australia High Commission in London on Tuesday, just 24 hours after the news that the CGF had stripped Durban of the hosting rights for 2022.
Economic constraints in South Africa meant that the country’s government could not provide enough guarantees to prepare for the event, despite being awarded hosting rights back in September 2015.
South Africa’s sports minister, Fikile Mbalula, released a statement on Monday saying: "At this juncture, our country is regrettably not in a position to make huge financial commitments given the current competing socio-economic needs and global economic down turn.
"In the interests of fiscal discipline and financial prudency, our government has considered all options and remains confident that we have acted in the best interest of South Africa."
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), in a brief statement to ATR, said "As SASCOC we are disappointed at the loss of the rights to host the Games. However, we respect the decision of the CGF which they arrived at after their own evaluation."
Grevemberg confirmed to Around the Ringsthat there had been an "enormous outpouring of interest" in replacing Durban as hosts for 2022, and cities such as Liverpool and Manchester (2002 hosts) have publicly confirmed their interest.
But the American added that the CGF would not rush the decision, despite being just five years away from the event.
"I don’t want to speculate [on possible 2022 hosts]," he said. "I think what has been reinforced to me over the past few weeks as there’s been quite a bit of speculation around the Games and what our decision would be, there’s been an enormous outpouring of interest, whether it’s for 2022 or beyond, people have really shown ambition which reinforces the value and potential but also the responsibility that we have to do this right.
"I’m very, very confident that the expressions of interest will manifest in some way to some sporting events whether it’s our youth Games or our main Games in the future and I think now it’s about taking all of these propositions and energy and pointing it in the right direction."
He added: "We’d like to make a decision as soon as possible but we’re not going to be rash, it needs to be the right fit with the right plan and for the right reasons."
Durban was awarded hosting rights in September 2015, having run unopposed due to Canadian rival candidate Edmonton pulling out of the race earlier on.
But Grevemberg said "lessons had been learned" from the latest developments and that changes would be made to the bidding process in the future.
"There are lessons learned through this process," he said, "and we’ll continue to refine our requirements but also more importantly our support and partnership approach to working with cities and their people to realize these ambitions."
The media turnout for the press briefing was less than 20, with only two news cameras, despite the Durban developments on Monday.
But Grevemberg insisted to ATR that the Commonwealth Games are still relevant and able to attract interest from around the world.
He said: "The Games are resilient, they are relevant and I think you saw that through the work in Glasgow, certainly the work that has been done by Gold Coast, the success we had with our Youth Games in Samoa and the ones in Belfast in 2021.
"Certainly the interest that has been derived for 2022 and 2026, the Games are, I really feel, relevant and we’ll continue to reinforce that and strengthen that."
Written and reported by Christian Radnedgein London.
Follow him on Twitter @ChristianRad
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