South African officials have promised to host a world-class Commonwealth Games at Durban in 2022, despite local officials admitting the money to fund the event is not in their budget and they have had to approach the Government for help.
GAMES
Denise Lewis appointed President of Commonwealth Games England
Denise Lewis has replaced fellow Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes as President of Commonwealth Games England (CGE), it has been announced.
CGF President urges Commonwealth leaders to support young athletes at Heads of Government Meeting
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Louise Martin has urged officials to boost their support for sport as it will help "engage and inspire" the next generation.
Exclusive: CGF director of operations to join Manchester United Foundation
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) director of operations John Eades is to leave his position to take up a role with the Manchester United Foundation, insidethegames has been told.
Edmonton to host 2016 Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly
Edmonton was today selected to host next year's Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly, which could act as a platform for a renewed bid to host the Games themselves in 2026 following its withdrawal from the contest for 2022.
The Canadian city pulled out of the campaign in February due to the impact of the global decline in oil prices.
They claimed they hoped to bid instead for the 2026 Games.
They had last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1978.
"This is an exciting opportunity for us to reinforce our commitment to being active partners in advancing the vision for the Commonwealth Games and to showcase the city of Edmonton and Canada," said the city's Mayor Don Iveson.
"Our city is a great host and I am confident that together with our partners - Commonwealth Games Canada, Edmonton Tourism and Edmonton International Airports - we will provide everyone with many memorable experiences and a worry-free Assembly."
More than 300 delegates are expected to attend the event.
Dates still have to be confirmed.
"We appreciate the confidence the Commonwealth Games Federation has put in us by awarding Canada and Edmonton the right to host next year's General Assembly," Rick Powers, chairman of Commonwealth Games Canada, said.
David Grevemberg, chief executive of the CGA, acknowledged that by awarding the event to Edmonton ahead of its only rival, Gibraltar, they were hoping to encourage them to bid.
"We're delighted to support the ambitions of Edmonton and to be returning to Canada - where the Commonwealth Games first began - for the 2016 CGF General Assembly as part of our continued commitment to engage with CGAs (Commonwealth Games Associations), communities and potential bid cities from across the Commonwealth," he said.
Exclusive: CGF hail Stockwell's contribution to Gold Coast 2018 after controversial sacking
May 8 - Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive Mike Hooper has praised the contribution of Mark Stockwell in helping the Gold Coast win the right to stage the 2018 Commonwealth Games but said that the hugely controversial decision to fire him is fully down to the relevant bodies in Australia.
Stockwell (pictured above, left), a former swimmer who won three medals at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, played a huge role in helping the Queensland city secure the international, multisport event as chairman of the bid team that defeated sole rivals Hambantota of Sri Lanka by 43 votes to 27 at the CGF General Assembly in St Kitts and Nevis.
The 48-year-old was unsurprisingly confirmed as chairman of Gold Coast 2018 by former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), who was known to be close to Stockwell.
But Bligh was ousted from office in March after she was crushed in the State elections by Campbell Newman, the new Queensland Premier, of the Liberal National Party (LNP).
Newman appointed Jann Stuckey as the Commonwealth Games Minister and it was left to Stuckey to confirm that Stockwell had been sacked as she claimed that it was time to "transition to a Board that has the confidence of the Government, the [Australia] Commonwealth Games Association, and the public".
It is widely believed that Stockwell had been sacked due to the fact that he was appointed by Bligh (pictured below, second left) but while the CGF chief executive refused to comment on the speculation, he praised Stockwell and admitted that the organisation respects the decision that has been made.
"The decision to appoint a board for the 2018 Commonwealth Games is a matter for the Queensland Government and the Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) and we respect that," Hooper (pictured top, right with Stockwell) told insidethegames.
"Mark obviously made a great contribution to the Gold Coast, to Queensland and to Australia in leading their successful bid team and he deserves full credit for that.
"We wish Mark well for the future and we look forward to meeting with the new Government and the new Board when the CGF President [Prince Tunku Imran] and I visit the Gold Coast for an update on preparations in June."
The new board will be set up this week with Nigel Chamier, a Brisbane businessman who, like Stockwell, is a property developer, set to be named as the new chairman after backing from the ACGA.
ACGA chairman Sam Coffa (pictured above, first left), who helped appoint Stockwell as chairman, has publically denied that his organisation wanted to see Stockwell go, while Premier Newman refused to shed any light on the issue, simply saying that it was "now time to go to the second stage of this, which is to deliver the Games".
Stockwell reportedly clashed with the new Government over where to build the Athletes' Village for the Games.
He wanted to locate it in Parklands, an area of the city that includes pavilions, showgrounds and function areas but there was opposition to the plan from the Gold Coast Harness Racing Club, the Gold Coast Show Society and Big Day Out organisers, who wanted the village relocated.
Source: www.insidethegames.biz
By Tom Degun