Canada and South Africa are the only bidders for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
They were the only countries who met today’s deadline for submissions set by the Commonwealth Games Federation.
South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) president Gideon Sam confirmed his country was bidding to Around the Rings.
Only Durban has expressed an interest in staging the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Sam said the process to find a candidate city would now get underway with a decision expected later this year. Johannesburg and Cape Town may also show an interest.
Canada, meanwhile, would plan to host in Edmonton.
Sam said the South African government and SASCOC was also considering a bid for the 2024 Olympics.
"We are looking at both options," he told ATR Monday, speaking of a bidding strategy of the government and sports movement through to 2030, which would assess bids for the Olympics in 2024 or 2028.
"If we get 2022, we might change our minds and go for 2028," he added.
South African sports leaders have previously put forward Durban as a possible Olympic bid city.
The Commonwealth Games Federation has a March 2015 deadline for bid files. The vote will take place in September next year at the organization’s general assembly in Auckland.
Soon after that vote, the IOC will invite expressions of interest from NOCs wishing to bid for the 2024 Olympics.
Bach in Qatar, Saudi Arabia
IOC president Thomas Bach was expected to be asked about a possible Qatar bid for the 2024 Olympics during a visit to Doha on Monday.
The Qatar World Cup is under intense scrutiny following reports of workers’ deaths and human rights abuses linked to 2022 construction projects.
FIFA has addressed the issue and forced World Cup organizers to improve workers’ conditions.
But Bach has not raised the issue or migrant workers’ conditions in relation to a potential Qatar Olympic bid.
After meeting the Emir of Kuwait, Qatar was the second stop of a three-country Persian Gulf visit. He will travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Mexican Congress Scraps Bid Inquiry
Mexico's congress ended its inquiry into a 2024 Olympic bid.
Congressman and former Mexican Olympic Committee president Felipe Munoz told Around the Ringsthe Pan Partido Nacional party wanted to find out what it would take to bid for Mexico. The congress then asked the Olympic committee to prepare a report.
Munoz, an Olympic champion as well, said the report established that "we are not in a position to accept the responsibility."
Among the resources Mexico lacks is a suitable host city with 60,000 Olympic beds. Only Cancun, a resort town, has enough hotels. Mexico City, the city most capable to stage the Games, doesn't even have 50,000, Munoz told ATR.
Written by Ed Hula III and Mark Bisson
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