Commonwealth Games will benefit smaller sports: Polly

He spoke to Newswatch following this morning's historic announcement that Durban will play host to the event in seven years' time.

It will be the first time the games are held on the continent.

Pollock - who took part in the games in 1998 joined city officials and hundreds of excited pupils at the George Campbell School of Technology this morning - for a public viewing of the announcement from Auckland.

''I'm really excited about the smaller sports, as rugby players, soccer players, cricketers, we're really spoilt. There are swimmers, athletes, runners and they don't always get local support. They have to always go overseas to compete in the big events and they've got no one shouting for them.

''It's almost a little bit like our golfers in the majors and the tennis players, they're always abroad when they're trying to compete on that big stage. This time the event is coming to South Africa and all the locals will get here. 80% or 90% of the people that will be watching will be shouting for the South Africans and I think that will be an awesome experience for them,'' he said.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has also congratulated Durban for securing the rights to host the event.

''Durban has been given the opportunity, a rare opportunity to be the first city and the first country in the whole continent of Africa, to host the Commonwealth Games. The commonwealth Games represents more than a billiuon people and we're going to have many nations coming to our country in 2022 to celebrate the games,'' he said.

Ramaphosa had been answering questions in the National Assembly.

(File photo)