Edmonton Withdraws, Leaving Durban as Lone Bidder for 2022 Commonwealth Games

South African Olympic gold medalist and 100 meter breaststroke World Record holder Cameron van der Burgh has been named as the official ambassador for the Durban, South Africa bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Durban is currently the only country currently believed to formally be interested after Edmonton, Canada withdrew their bid two weeks ago, meaning that barring a shift from the organizers, they will be the hosts of the multi-sport event that celebrates the ties among nations with current or former ties to the British crown.

A price tag of somewhere just shy of £1 billion is believed to have scared many potential suitors off of hosting future Games. Bids were due in March of 2014, which left the Commonwealth Games committee in a position at the time where nobody had formally registered a bid just two months out from the deadline.

This event has never been hosted on the African continent, and now van der Burgh has been installed as one of the faces of the event – despite the fact that he will be 34-years old by the time the 2022 event rolls around, meaning his actual participation is unlikely.

Van der Burgh is the owner of three World Championships (2009 and 2013, 50 long course breast, plus 2010 100 short course breast); in addition to a 2012 Olympic gold medal. Further, he holds 6 career Commonwealth Games medals, including three golds.

 

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9 years ago

Braden, I have been following some of the recent news on 2017 World Championships. I would like the opertunity to write an article on the issue titled “Why It’s not Impossible for the US to Host World Championships”
with the approval of swim swam? I do not have any of the swim swam contact emails. Will you or someone from swim swam drop me an email so I can return the article to be approved and posted for USA Members and Suporters to read? [email protected]

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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