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Durban's bid for the Commonwealth Games started in high spirits. 

By TAS MAVRIDIS

In what would be a Commonwealth Games first, Australia could potentially host consecutive events after Durban was sensationally stripped of the 2022 Games due to a lack of funding.

Sydney, Perth and Melbourne have all put their hands up as potential hosts, leaving organisers with a big decision to make very quickly, with just five years to go until the event.

Australia’s booming tourism industry and an abundance of sporting facilities makes it a leading candidate, despite Gold Coast hosting the 2018 Games.

The consideration of existing stadiums and facilities are likely to play a significant role in the decision.  

In what could be an Ashes battle for the games, English cities Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester are the other leading candidates. 

THE LEADING CANDIDATES

Liverpool, or Liverpool-Manchester

Located in England’s northeast, the main flaw to the cities' bid has been the lack of an oval-shaped stadium in the city, which could be used for athletic events.

Both main venues in the city – Anfield and Goodison Park – are rectangular, posing a potential hurdle. 

However, with plans successfully passed by local council for Everton to build a new stadium on the waterfront of Liverpool, there may be a solution. There is potential for the plans for this stadium to coincide with a successful Commonwealth Games bid.

An alternative solution suggested recently is the potential for a co-hosting bid with fellow northeastern city Manchester. With only an hour separating the two cities, and Manchester having a stadium that could be used for athletics, this could provide another solution.

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Manchester and Liverpool could combine to host the games, after they were last held in Manchester in 2002. 

Birmingham

The other  bid from England has been from the City of Birmingham. With a feasibility study in the works, it is not yet known what Birmingham would need.

However, with direct competition coming from another city, the ability of the Birmingham bid to win relies on it being chosen by English officials over the Liverpool or northeast bid.

Sydney

It had been known for 12 months that Durban was in trouble and could be dumped, and Sydney had already begun working on a backup plan. 

It has the advantage of not needing to pour significant amounts of money into the construction of venues, making it an ideal choice to host an event of this size at short notice.

However, Gold Coast hosting the 2018 Games makes an Australian follow-up four years later much less likely.

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Crowds turned out in force for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006.

Melbourne

Sixteen years after hosting the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne could provide the perfect step-in host. With ready-made facilities, good public transport and the experience of hosting such events, Melbourne would have no trouble running the Games at short notice.

However, the  desire to host the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 2032 means this event  may be left  or another city.  

Perth

Traditionally overlooked or hesitant to host major sporting events, the opening of the new Perth Stadium could see this change.

The new round stadium with state-of-the-art facilities will provide the perfect centrepiece for a major event such as the Commonwealth Games.