COLUMN: Should we be excited about CG bid?

By Trevor Cramer

 

 

Is it not funny how the SA Commonwealth Games 2022 Bid Committee, headed up by the same select few within our Olympic Controlling Body, SASCOC who seemingly treat the organisation as their own private business, are "confident" of winning the 2022 bid when the successful bidder is announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly in Auckland, New Zealand on 2 September?

 

The thing is this – they are UNOPPOSED and there are no other sensible cash-strapped nations who were prepared to squander billions in tax-payers' and sponsors' money, as well as public funds, on a bid they clearly cannot afford – except South Africa and the City of Durban of course.

 

The cities of Hambantota, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Christchurch, New Zeraland, Cardiff, Wales and Birmingham, Bristol and London in England had all considered bidding, but chiefly due to financial considerations, decided against bidding.

 

Edmonton, Canada, withdrew its bid in February 2015, leaving Durban as the only bid to be considered by the CGF General Assembly next week in Auckland. 

 

Clearly South Africa is flush, our Rand is in great shape against other world currencies and we are NOT on skid row economically.

 

Clearly we also have hard-working, accountable sports administrators who all believe firmly in upholding the Constitution and it's democratic values and no thought whatsoever of personal financial gain.

 

All is well in Mzansi it seems, people, and that's the positive front that the Commonwealth Games Local Organising Committee will no doubt present to the world in Auckland on September 2.

 

No problem – over and above tax payers' money,  we'll no doubt have to take additional funding from the National Lottery, which would also appear to have a healthy representation of 'strategic allies' to dispense of such.

 

The call is for the moment to be celebrated as a city (Durban), country and continent under the slogan "Ready to Inspire".

 

Unfortunately, I only sense the excitement among the stakeholders who stand to gain the most at present, and the excitement that characterised the FIFA World Cup 2010 bid and the days leading up to the announcement by Sepp Blatter, is sorely lacking.

 

Are the majority of our nations citizens not too pre-occupied with the game of survival and putting food on the table, rather than getting excited about another money-sapping mega sports event in our own backyard where the returns on our investment are unlikely to filter down to the average Joe Citizen on the ground ?

 

The spin will predictably intensify as the big day mounts and as the 'select few' stakeholders make up the nation's minds for them with limited input or consultation having been applied..

 

Yes, we are always looking for positives from within that quagmire of negatives that plague our troubled nation across political and economic platforms, but I'm NOT convinced that the 2022 Commonwealth Games will have quite the impact on the people as the FIFA World Cup did in 2010.

 

Maybe if you live in Durban, yes, but my heart is certainly not pumping furiously with nervous tension as the big day approaches to announce the "unopposed" winner of the bid.

 

Sorry my fellow South Africans, I just cannot see a silver lining here and am struggling desperately as a cash-strapped, honest, tax-paying citizen, not a sports journalist, to put on my positive face.

 

The announcement is timed for approximately 7am (SA time) on 2 September.

 

Trevor Cramer is the Senior Sports Desk Editor at Jacaranda FM.

 

This column does not necessarily reflect the view of Kagiso Media (Pty) Ltd or Jacaranda FM.