The study has been on-going for a number of years but a successful London 2022 bid could fatally hurt them due to the close proximity to the English capital to Cardiff.

The UK is already set to host the Commonwealth Games next year with Glasgow 2014 while the Gold Coast in Australia will stage the 2018 edition of the event.

But Jenkins, who is also a member of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Executive Board, claimed plans have not yet been altered by London's interest in 2022.

"We are still in the middle of our feasibility study for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and I have instructed that to continue," Jenkins told insidethegames.

"The feasibility study looks closely at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and how much economic impact it has on the area because we would look to be hosting an event of similar size and scale.

"The results of that obviously won't be completed until the conclusion of Glasgow 2014 so we don't expect them until late 2014 or early 2015.

"Only after that can we make a real decision on the 2026 Commonwealth Games but it definitely remains a target for us.

"London is also at a very early stage as nothing is officially right now.

"It is still just speculation.

"London still needs to officially bid and then they need to win that bid for it to become a major factor.

"But even if London is successful, a Cardiff bid could still also be successful if it was strong enough.

"So we are continuing along unaffected."


The CGF have welcomed the initial interest from London but have also stated that the process still has some way to go, with the winner of the 2022 bid race not due to be announced until their General Assembly in 2015.

"The CGF welcomes interest from cities who aspire to hosting the Commonwealth Games, and London has great venues and experience," the CGF head of communications Peter Murphy told insidethegames.

"However a decision on the host city for 2022 will not be made until 2015."

Commonwealth Games England refused to comment on the bid when asked by insidethegames.

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