Commonwealth Games Federation

Urgency needed in finding a city to host 2022 Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games Federation has stripped Durban has been stripped of the event, after it failed to meet financial and other key commitments.

Commonwealth Games: Durban stripped of right to hold 2022 Games

Durban was stripped of the right to stage the 2022 Commonwealth Games on Monday after a trail of missed deadlines and financial problems that highlights the daunting burdens facing host cities for major sporting events.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said the South African coastal city had failed to meet the promises contained in its bid, and the search for a replacement host was now on.

"The CGF is fully confident and committed to delivering a successful Commonwealth Games for athletes and fans in 2022," its president Louise Martin said.

Rowing thrown Commonwealth Games lifeline

Under a new proposal adopted by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) at its General Assembly here yesterday, host cities must in future include 16 core sports as part of the programme and then can choose as many as they want from a list of optional sports and disciplines as long as it does not exceed a further 500 athletes.

Rowing had been on the previous list of optional sports but has now been dropped, leading to Annamarie Phelps, the chairman of British Rowing, to launch a campaign to save it.

CISNOC President appointment flags new era

Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) president Hugh Graham has been elected as the Commonwealth Games Federation’s Oceania regional vice-president.

His election as one of six regional vice-presidents was made at this week’s Commonwealth Games Federation general assembly in Auckland, New Zealand.

Graham is one of the six regional vice-presidents responsible for the associations in the six regions of the Commonwealth Games Federation: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Caribbean, Europe and Oceania.

Commonwealth Youth Games to open in Samoa

Preparations for the week-long event have been praised by organisers, who also backed the Samoan government's decision to deny entry for athletes from Sierra Leone.

The delegation from Sierra Leone was denied entry visas over Ebola virus fears.

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, says it's the responsibility of his government to put safety first for the up to 2,000 athletes participating in the Youth Games.

Commonwealth Games Federation CEO David Grevemberg is confident Samoa will host a memorable Games with a lasting legacy.

Samoa PM says athletes safety from Ebola a priority

The Commonwealth Games Federation rejected a proposal by Ghana to issue sanctions against Samoa, for denying Sierra Leone entry, at this weeks General Assembly in Auckland.

Tuila'epa says it's the responsibility of his government to put safety first for the up to 2,000 athletes participating in the fifth Commonwealth Youth games.

He says he supports the decision because his country was the worst affected by the Spanish flu, which had killed 25 percent of Samoa's population back in 1918.

Samoa defended for denying athletes entry over ebola fears

The Samoan government rejected the Sierra Leone team's attempts to enter the country for the Commonwealth Youth Games, which begin in Apia this weekend.

The Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, David Grevemberg, says they asked Samoa to consider all options but ultimately the government is free to make it's own judgements.