Australia interested in hosting 2022 CWG stripped from S. Africa

Australia is one of four nations which is interested in taking over the responsibility to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, after the South African city of Durban was stripped of the event.

Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Saturday, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation David Grevemberg said along with Canada, the United Kingdom and Malaysia, Australia has expressed interest in hosting the 2022 games, reports Xinhua news agency.

"This is the first step in a collaborative process that will see a clear and detailed set of criteria applied to any Games hosting ambitions," Grevemberg was quoted as saying by the ABC.

"The process has been streamlined to be as agile as possible given the time available and to minimise costs for potential hosts, whilst maintaining the transformative ambitions of the Commonwealth sports movement.

"An expert CGF review team will work with each country in the evaluation of proposals of potential host cities. Based on the number of interested parties it is not expected that the process will finally conclude until early autumn."

Durban was stripped of the right to host the games after its organisers revealed that the city was in financial trouble and would not be able to deliver on its promises.

Australia will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next year, while a strong feeling has emerged over which regional Australian centre will put its hand up to host the 2030 edition of the Games.

On Friday, an intention to host the 2030 Games came from Western Sydney, less than a week after a conglomerate of cities from regional Victoria expressed interest in holding the Games.

Western Sydney, with its focal point Parramatta, made its pitch on Friday, while the regional Victorian city of Shepparton is spearheading a bid from 11 regional cities to host the 2030 Games.

--IANS

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