Commonwealth Games: NZ to take on bigger role

Kereyn Smith. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand will take bigger role in running the Commonwealth Games Federation following the appointment of its Olympic Committee chief executive Kereyn Smith as vice president of the organisation.

Smith was elected to the position at the CGF general assembly, which finished in Auckland today.

"It's been some time since we've been actively involved in the leadership of the Commonwealth movement," Smith said of her appointment.

"I think we've probably been a little bit passive in relation to the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic committee reflected on that and felt it was time that we put our hands up and were part of the leadership."

Smith said it was about taking responsibility and putting energy into driving the games forward.

The main focus of the assembly was confirming Durban as host city for the 2022 games.

Smith said part of hosting the assembly was about showing New Zealand was a good host and partner for the games.

"It's a really good opportunity to show that we're a welcoming country, that we're respectful, that we understand forums like this are significant in world sport and provide the right environment and the right support."

She said the federation had aspirations to host similar events in future.

"The nature and the significance of the decisions that were made here, it puts New Zealand on the map and we're seen to be associated with that stepping forward of the movement and that can only be good for us," Smith said of the benefit for the country.

The future of the games has come into question recently and some have suggested they are losing relevance and failing to attract top athletes.

Further speculation followed a mere two bids for hosting the 2022 games, one of which was withdrawn by Edmonton, Canada earlier this year due to financial worries.

However federation CEO David Grevemberg said this was not a reflection the games were in trouble and there had been many times in the past when only one city had put forward a bid to host the games.