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| Commonwealth Games 2022: Durban 'may drop out as host' | Commonwealth Games 2022: Durban 'may drop out as host' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Durban may be unable to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games because of financial constraints, South Africa's sports minister has said. | Durban may be unable to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games because of financial constraints, South Africa's sports minister has said. |
| "We gave it our best shot but we can't go beyond. If the country says we don't have this money, we can't," Reuters quoted Fikile Mbalula as saying. | |
| He said a final decision would be made by the Commonwealth Games Federation. | He said a final decision would be made by the Commonwealth Games Federation. |
| Durban was awarded the Games in 2015 after being the only city to make a confirmed bid. | |
| In December, South African officials had said the country was "fully committed" to hosting the event. | In December, South African officials had said the country was "fully committed" to hosting the event. |
| The government had estimated the Games could generate up to 20 billion rand ($1.5 bn; £1.2bn) in economic benefit. | |
| But Mr Mbalula said the government had been forced to reconsider. | But Mr Mbalula said the government had been forced to reconsider. |
| "I don't want to raise your expectations and say everything looks good, it doesn't because we don't agree on the fundamentals and that is the operational budget," he told a media briefing. | "I don't want to raise your expectations and say everything looks good, it doesn't because we don't agree on the fundamentals and that is the operational budget," he told a media briefing. |
| The Games were first staged in 1930 and are held every four years. They feature athletes from more than 50 countries, mostly former British colonies. | The Games were first staged in 1930 and are held every four years. They feature athletes from more than 50 countries, mostly former British colonies. |
| The 2022 event is due to be the first time the Games are hosted in Africa. | The 2022 event is due to be the first time the Games are hosted in Africa. |