JAMAICA OLYMPIC Association (JOA) chief Mike Fennell has been confirmed as the sole nominee for the new post of president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
"I am very honoured to be nominated, not only by the small countries but also bigger countries in the Commonwealth like Australia and Canada," Fennell said yesterday. "I feel very proud of that," he said.
The post of presidency will replace the existing one of chairman held by Fennell in an attempt to revamp the old English system.
The CGF's general assembly will be held at Half Moon in Montego Bay, St. James from November 13 and all 72 member Commonwealth countries are expected to send representatives.
Important things on the agenda are a final report from Manchester, England, which held the Games last year and, looking forward to 2006 and the Games to be hosted by Melbourne, Australia.
Fennell said Melbourne was well ahead of its timetable for the 2006 Games. The opening ceremony and closing ceremony will be held at one of Test cricket's favourite venues, the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The revamped stadium will hold more than 110,000 people.
However, the key item on the CGF's agenda will be the selection of a city to host the 2010 Games.
"We are very fortunate to have two excellent bids," said Fennell, who is also the vice president and technical director of the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO).
Hamilton, Canada, which hosted the first Games (then British Empire Games) in 1930 and New Delhi in India, which has never held the Games, are the only cities to send in bids. The two bidding cities will be bringing large delegations to Jamaica.
Claudio Valle, the Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, said Hamilton had the support "of not only the city, community and volunteers, but full support by the provincial government and the federal government."
Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica, Ider Chopra, said his country had made important contributions in creating the Commonwealth as it is today.
"We will be very happy to have the Games in India for the first time. Canada has been luckier than us and this will be the third time, if they get the chance to host these Games."
