The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) hosted a dinner for representatives of 16 African Commonwealth nations today in Gaborone, Botswana, as it looked to garner support in its attempt to host the 2022 Games.

The dinner coincides with the African Youth Games currently underway in Gaborone, in which around 2,500 athletes from 54 African countries are competing.

South Africa formally expressed its interest to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games on March 31, putting forward Durban as its candidate city.

The city is in a two-horse race with Edmonton in Canada after a late announcement revealed the interest of the two cities in hosting the major sporting event.

SASCOC chief executive, Tubby Reddy, was in attendance at the dinner and called on the support of the African Commonwealth nations to ensure Durban's bid becomes a success.

"After hosting a successful football World Cup in 2010, we continue focusing on the various aspects of society's development," he said.

"We are once again ready to invest in the hosting of a mega event of the world.

"To this end we have targeted the need to bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

"We do believe that with your support, our brothers and sisters of Africa, our bid will be successful, and to show the rest of the Commonwealth that it is indeed the African continent's turn."

South Africa is highly experienced when it comes to hosting major sporting events, having played host to events such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup ©Getty Images



South Africa is not shy of experience when it comes to hosting major events, with the country playing host to the 1995 Rugby World Cup, football's African Nations Cup in 1996, the All Africa Games in 1999, 2003′s Cricket World Cup and most recently the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Gideon Sam, President of SASCOC added: "We believe that we just need to carry on and if there is any honesty in the world it's Africa's time.

"It's been to Canada, it's been to Australia, it's been to England, it's been to Scotland, it's been to Asia but it's never been to Africa.

"And we believe that it is our time.

"We have the infrastructure."

"Hosting the World Cup gave the country vital experience and the necessary infrastructure which includes big stadiums, world class swimming pools, athletic tracks and cricket clubs to name but a few.

"We ask for your support as our fellow African counterparts so that we win this bid and host this prestigious event in South Africa."

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