Durban Hosts Commonwealth Games 2022
Durban has been announced as the first African city to host the Commonwealth Games after it was confirmed as the venue for the 2022 edition of the event.
The city, situated on the east coast of South Africa, was the only remaining bidder after Edmonton’s bid team withdrew in February for financial reasons.
The 22nd staging of the Games will begin on 18th July – the birthday of former South African president Nelson Mandela – and finish on 30th July.
Much of the infrastructure is already in place, with an athletics track to be installed at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, which was built for the 2010 football World Cup.
The announcement was made at the Commonwealth Games Federation general assembly in Auckland.
It is thought awarding the Games to an African city for the first time could pave the way for South Africa to make another attempt to host the Olympics. Cape Town finished third in bidding for the 2004 event.
The Commonwealth Games was last held in 2014 in Glasgow, with Australia’s Gold Coast hosting the 2018 event.
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