The 2022 Commonwealth Games will no longer take place in Durban, South Africa, the BBC and other British media reported Monday.
South Africa sports minister Fikile Mbalula indicated that the government might withdraw its financial support because of the cost of staging the multi-sport event.
Durban was named as the 2022 Games host in September 2015 but Mbalula told a news conference in Cape Town in February that the South African government and the organising Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) had still to reach an agreement over costs.
“It does not look like we will find each other,” said Mbalula. “We have given it our best shot, but we cannot live beyond our means.”
The CGF executive board was holding a scheduled meeting in London on Monday with the future of the 2022 Games on the agenda.
A CGF spokesman contacted by AFP would not confirm the reports about Durban losing the Games but said he expected to issue a statement later Monday.
The mayor of Liverpool has said the northwest English city is prepared to host the 2022 Games if they are no longer in Durban.
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