Moses Mabhida

The crowed Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban is seen during the Twenty20 match between India and South Africa on January 9, 2011. AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER JOE (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images)

Durban Commonwealth Games will boost SA’s economy by R20 billion

As Durban moves closer and closer to hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games, we take a look at some of the benefits the Games could bring to our country. Could the cost of hosting the Games actually be worth it?

Moses Mabhida

The crowed Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban is seen during the Twenty20 match between India and South Africa on January 9, 2011. AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER JOE (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images)

Durban is the only contender to stage the Commonwealth Games in 2022, after Edmonton in Canada withdrew their bid owing to financial constraints. However, Durban will not automatically win the Commonwealth Games federation general assembly’s vote on 2 September, and the city still has to produce a quality bid.

The 600-page bid book will be handed to Commonwealth Games Federation officials on 2 March at the official residence of the London Lord Mayor.

According to AFP, no African country has ever hosted the 71-nation multisport event.

An economic impact study part of the Duban 2022 bid book estimates that the Games would generate a total spend of R20 billion. This will translate into gross domestic product growth of R11 billion reported BD Live.

According to Times Live, other benefits include:

Job creation

The study predicts that 11,650 jobs will be created by the Games. These will include 4,400 paid positions directly linked to the showpiece, including 1,000 full-time employees of the organising committee.

Volunteer training

10,000 senior citizen and student volunteers will be trained, many of whom will be youth from rural and previously disadvantaged backgrounds. According to the report, this training will equip them with a sustainable level of skill which will increase their future employment prospects.

Fast-tracking government projects

The Games will see the building of athletes’ village in Cornubia, which will consist of 1,750 housing units able to accommodate 7,000 people.

Another legacy of the Games will be a public transport system: Durban’s Integrated Rapid Transport Network. The plans for the system have already been approved.

According to the report, “The implementation of these plans coupled with significant planned capital investment will significantly enhance the public transport system in and around the city prior to 2022”.

Crime reduction

An additional benefit to hosting the Games will be a reduction in crime.

“Significant investment in enhancing safety and security as well as implementing proactive policing mechanisms would have a positive impact in reducing the level of violence and crime across the country,” the report says.

Enhancing South Africa’s brand

The report argues that the Games will create a “feel-good” carnival atmosphere like that of past Games, as well as a “feel-good” atmosphere for the general population. The Games will build upon the 2010 Fifa World Cup, enhancing South Africa’s brand as a major events destination.

But what about the costs involved?

South African Olympic body boss Gideon Sam told the media that 2022 Games will be affordable as about 95% of the infrastructure is already in place.

However, the cost of hosting the Games is a sensitive issue and many believe that money used to fund the Games should rather be spent on basic services, reported The Citizen.

Officials argue that Durban will focus on upgrading existing facilities, with only the athletes’ village and a shooting range being built from scratch.

“If you look at Durban, the main stadium is in place, the swimming pool is in place, the athletics track is in place,” said Sam.

Furthermore, most of the venues will be within 2.5 kilometres of the main Moses Mabhida Stadium, a venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“We will follow the 2012 London Olympics lead and use exhibition centres for the indoor sports,” said Sam.

National government, local government and sports officials have not yet revealed the costs involved.

“The time has come for Africa to host these Games. We have the infrastructure,” said Sam.

Speculation about an Olympics bid

Bidding for the Commonwealth Games is considered as a possible dress rehearsal for a 2024 or 2028 Olympics bid.

South Africa has hosted the football, rugby union and cricket World Cup tournaments, and there has been media speculation about an Olympics bid, reported AFP.

Durban bid committee chief executive Tubby Reddy said that the Olympics is a “totally different ball game” in terms of costs.

“To give one example: a Commonwealth Games gymnastics venue requires 5,000 seats, but you need 15,000 for an Olympics,” said Reddy.

Photo by ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images