It has been announced that the 2022 Commonwealth Games will no longer take place in South Africa due to severe financial constraints.
The host city, which was supposed to be Durban, did not meet the criteria set out by the Commonwealth Games Federation meaning they can no longer hold the games.
Durban, which is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, were awarded the Games in 2015 after successfully making a bid.
They were due to be the first African country to have ever hosted the games.was awarded the Games in 2015 as the only city to make a confirmed bid and it was to have been the first African host of the event.
A new host city has yet to be declared, and after the successful Glasgow Games in 2014, there will be no shortage of interest.
One city that has already expressed its interest in hosting the 2022 games is Liverpool.
Previously the European Capital of Culture, Liverpool is hoping to increase its international status even further by hosting the games.
A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council said: “We had heard rumours that Durban might be unable to deliver the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and have already indicated to the government that we are very willing to host them instead.”
The Commonwealth Games first took place in 1930. Like the Olympics, they are held every four years, with athletes from more than 50 different countries taking part.
The 2018 games will be held in the Gold Coast, Australia, with the countdown officially being set off today at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen launched the baton relay at the palace, where it began a 200,000-mile journey through 71 countries. In 388 days, the baton will reach the Gold Coast in Australia.
