The Commonwealth Sports Movement is assured of a strong and impactful future as key decisions were taken today, 2 September 2015, at the Commonwealth Games Federations General Assembly in Auckland, New Zealand. Decisions included the unanimous approval of Transformation 2022, the Commonwealth Games Federations ambitious new strategic plan, the election of a new President for 2015-2019 and the appointment of the South African City of Durban as host of the XXII Commonwealth Games, heralding the first ever international multi-sport Games to take place on African soil.
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President HRH Tunku Imran said:
We are assured of an inspiring and sustainable future for the Commonwealth Sports Movement, as athletes and sports are empowered to deliver a clear and positive impact on the citizens of 71 Commonwealth nations and territories.
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Chief Executive, David Grevemberg continued: Id like to thank the Federations membership for their contributions, commitment and vision in unanimously supporting the new strategic plan for the Commonwealth Sports Movement.
Transformation 2022 is a seven-year strategic plan that aspires to broaden the Federations focus from the four-year operational cycle of hosting Commonwealth Games to a more far-reaching role as a global movement focused on partnerships, engagement and value generation - that unites athletes, citizens and communities. It includes proposals for a new sports programme of compulsory and optional sports, which now sees the number of compulsory sports at a Commonwealth Games increased from 10 to 16 - and the implementation of a sports quota system for 2022.
Delegates received a final Candidate City Briefing from Durban, South Africa including contributions from Alec Moemi, Director General for Sport and Recreation for the South African Government and Durbans Mayor James Nxumalo - before the Federations 71 members voted to unanimously award the hosting rights to the XXII Commonwealth Games.
Welcoming the awarding of the XXII Commonwealth Games to the South African City of Durban, CGF President HRH Tunku Imran said:
Over more than eight decades, many great Commonwealth cities, nations and territories have hosted the Games in order to build peaceful, prosperous and sustainable communities, inspired by the actions and achievements of our Commonwealth athletes, and underpinned by our values of Humanity, Equality and Destiny.
Our friends from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa are now primed to make the most of that responsibility and opportunity, and it gives me very great pleasure to welcome the South African City of Durban as proud host of the XXII Commonwealth Games. As a movement, we stand together to welcome and support the very first Commonwealth Games on African soil.
Louise Martin CBE was elected to the post of President, the first female leader of the Commonwealth Games Federation. Elections were overseen by Honorary Legal Advisor Sharad Rao.
The location of the Federations next gathering was also announced with the Canadian City of Edmonton selected as host city of the 2016 General Assembly.
Joining the newly-elected President will be Vice-Presidents Bruce Robertson (Canada) and Gideon Sam (South Africa) who were re-elected and Kereyn Smith (New Zealand) who joins them for the first time on the Executive Board for the 2015-2019 cycle. The first meeting of the new Executive Board takes place in Auckland tomorrow, Thursday 4 September.
In addition, the Assembly received updates from the Executive Board and organisers of forthcoming Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, including the decision by the Government of St Lucia to withdraw its support for the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, due to infrastructural and economic challenges facing their small island nation.
The Assembly closes this evening with a Gala Farewell at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, attended by the Hon Jonathan Coleman, Minister for Sport and His Worship James Nxumalo Mayor of Durban, CEO of Sport New Zealand Pete Miskimmin along with representatives of the 71 Commonwealth nations, featuring a traditional Maori welcome and entertainment by the Royal New Zealand Navy Band and Tareikuras sensational modern Poi performance.
New Zealand Commonwealth Games Association Chairman Mike Stanley, said:
This has been a transformative General Assembly and it is significant it was hosted here in Auckland. As a nation we are committed to the power of sport and this sentiment has been underscored here at this session.
I would also like to acknowledge the election of New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Kereyn Smith to position of vice-president. She will use this opportunity to both strengthen the position of the Commonwealth Games Movement in the international world of sport. Thank you to Sport NZ and ATEED in their assistance in showcasing Auckland and New Zealand as a credible sporting, event and tourism destination at this successful session.
Many participants now depart New Zealand for Apia, Samoa for the Vth Commonwealth Youth Games taking place from 5 September 2015.
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