Confirmation yesterday that Durban had been awarded the rights to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games is a cause for celebration. The Games, which are expected to draw about 1.4million visitors, will provide a significant revenue injection for the city and the South African economy generally.Though they are expected to cost about R6.4-billion to host, projections are that the Games will generate up to R20-billion spending, and GDP growth to the tune of R11-billion.Much of the sports infrastructure, centred on the precinct around the excellent Moses Mabhida Stadium, which hosted Soccer World Cup matches in 2010, is already in place.Additional facilities, for example an international-standard athletics track, can be provided by modifying part of the stadium at greatly reduced cost instead of starting from scratch.A velodrome for track cyclists could prove prohibitively expensive though, and reports yesterday suggested that the event might have to be dropped from the 2022 edition of the Games unless the International Cycling Union can be persuaded to contribute to the cost of building one, possibly in Pietermaritzburg.Generally, though, with good planning and ingenuity, capital expenditure on the Games can be kept within reasonable bounds.Durban, with its mild winters, new international airport, abundance of hotel accommodation and world-class convention centre, has successfully hosted numerous international events.The organisers will have done well if they manage to sell the Games to all the people of Durban and, indeed, South Africa.Critically, an estimated 11 000 jobs could be created.A successful Commonwealth Games could pave the way for a compelling Olympics bid.But that is a different beast entirely...