Durban to host 2022 Comm Games

Durban's bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games is formally presented. Photo / Getty

Durban has today been confirmed as host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

It will be the first time the quadrennial Games have been hosted on the African continent.

Edmonton, Canada had initially planned a bid, but withdrew in February on financial grounds, allied to a global fall in oil prices. It has said it will bid again for the 2026 Games.

South Africa successfully hosted the 1995 rugby World Cup - the first time the nation appeared at the event - the 2003 cricket World Cup and most recently, the 2010 football World Cup.

Durban, South Africa's third largest city, had its bid put through a full assessment during this week's Commonwealth Games Federation general assembly in Auckland.

"It is the turn of South Africa to hold this great event," South African Olympic chief Gideon Sam said.

"We believe our time has come and that South Africa can put on a show that will do the Commonwealth Games proud."

Britain has hosted six Commonwealth Games, Australia and Canada four apiece, New Zealand three, and Jamaica, Malaysia and India one each.

The South African government said last week that the Durban Games would use infrastructure from the football World Cup, including the 85,000-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium, to keep costs down.

The Games are expected to deliver about 20 billion rand to the economy. The Games are set to open on July 18, 2022, marking the birthday of Nelson Mandela, who died in 2013, aged 95.