The CGF claim that Lagardère Sports will help it deliver an "innovative new Games delivery model".

They promise that it "will transform the impact and value of hosting the Commonwealth Games".

Lagardère Sports are already involved in helping analyse the cities that have launched bids to replace Durban as hosts of the 2022 Commonwealth Games through its specialist agency Event Knowledge Services (EKS), led by Australian Craig McLatchey.

The CGF and Lagardère Sports have launched “CGF Partnerships”, a new partnership that will aim to improve support for host cities staging the Commonwealth Games.

This will include providing support to hosts through a new event delivery model, developing new long-term commercial strategies and further strengthening community relations in host cities, it is claimed.

The Partnership, launched to coincide with the start of the Commonwealth Youth Games here last night, will be headed by Lord Smith of Kelvin, the former chairman of Glasgow 2014.

CGF Partnerships has been contracted to support the delivery of the next three major Commonwealth Games cycles up to 2030, but with a view to the new partnership delivery model being the foundation behind all the CGF’s major events in the future.

"CGF Partnerships is a historic step-change in our organisation’s focus from oversight of quadrennial Games to a standout, values-driven movement striving to connect citizens and communities through sport," said CGF President Louise Martin.

"We passionately believe there is enormous untapped potential in the successful and sustainable delivery of our major sporting events – for athletes, for teams, for host cities, for organisers, for partners and for fans.

"This transformative new partnership builds on what makes us truly special: inspiring, impactful and inclusive sport with a purpose."

A key priority for CGF Partnerships is to reduce the cost and maximise the value of the Games for hosts, it is claimed.

This will include providing dedicated CGF Partnerships delivery teams fully integrated with host city teams, providing enhanced support, knowledge and expertise on the delivery of the Games.

Access to this embedded CGF Partnership resource will help improve efficiencies and event management throughout the entire life cycle of the Games - enabling Organising Committees to get off-the-ground faster and minimising set-up costs in areas such as technology and sales, it hoped.

It is planned the new organisation will ensure that know-how, intelligence and experience is carried forward after each Games.  

In addition, CGF Partnerships will develop new and long-term commercial revenue streams for host cities, Commonwealth Games Associations and the CGF through new sponsorship, broadcast and digital rights opportunities.

Another key area of focus for the partnership will be further strengthening the engagement between potential host cities and their communities to help expand the number and variety of bids across the Commonwealth, the CGF revealed.

Lagardère Sports, part of a multinational media conglomerate whose headquarters are in Paris, was formed by the merger of several brands under the group, including Sportfive, World Sport Group and IEC in Sports.

The Lagardère Group’s other interests include publishing, newspapers and advertising.

McLatchey and a team from EKS are part of a core group, along with senior officials from the CGF, currently scrutinising the bids to replace Durban for the 2022 Commonwealth Games after the South African city was stripped of the event after failing to meet a series of deadlines.

The cities bidding to take over include Birmingham and Liverpool in England, Victoria in Canada and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia have also expressed interest.

It is widely believed, however, that an Australian city will not be chosen as the Gold Coast is due to stage the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

An announcement on which city will replace Durban is due to be taken before the end of this year.

Whoever is chosen, will be the first real test for the new group. 

"In recent years the CGF has been ahead of the game in modernising its thinking and approach to delivering major events,” Andrew Georgiou, chief executive of Lagardère Sports and Entertainment, said. 

"Our partnership with the Federation, through CGF Partnerships, is a continuation of that work and a formalisation of our valued relationship with the CGF which goes back many years.

"Through CGF Partnerships we aim to set the template and tone for how major sporting events, across all sports and geographies, should be delivered in the future – namely in a cost-efficient, sustainable but engaging and entertaining way.

"It’s a hugely exciting time to be involved with the Commonwealth Games."