It's that time again. Time when the question is raised by a small minority of Kiwis as to whether New Zealand could ever host the Commonwealth Games again.
Amidst all the debate as to whether the Comm Games have any more relevance and whether they can continue into the next decade or so, the fact remains that New Zealand has a much better chance of hosting the Comm Games than any of the Summer or Winter Olympics.
However, in this age post Global Financial Crisis, nations and cities are now more cautious in coming out and making bids for the likes of the Olympics and Commonwealth Games especially considering that costs of hosting the games have spiralled out of control in recent times - look at the money spent by Russia on the recent 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Nevertheless, after recent experiences hosting the Rugby World Cup and future events like the Cricket World Cup and FIFA U-20 World Cup next year, New Zealand's appetite for hosting top level sport is very much there, backed by a strong and growing economy.
Furthermore, it has three cities that could realistically host the Commonwealth Games in the near future - Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
For me, I guess, Wellington is the least favourite given the lack of space in the region - it could partner with Palmerston North and host the games - by 2026, the route from Palmerston North to Wellington should be top notch with the Kapiti Coast and Transmission Gully highways completed along with roadworks to the airport.
Auckland would be considered favourite to host the games given it is our largest city, has the most free land, has our international airport and has quite a few facilities already, ready to host the games. Plus, Auckland's unified council means decision making shouldn't be a problem as it was prior to the 2011 Rugby World Cup - that scuppered the waterfront stadium idea of 2006.
I guess what might count against it is the fact that Auckland was the last New Zealand city to host the Commonwealth Games - back in 1990.
Hence, I reckon Christchurch - a city on the rise, a city very much under construction and badly badly needing new stadia and sports facilities to replace those damaged by the earthquake - and last hosted the games in 1974 - could be New Zealand's choice city to host the Games in say 12 years time.
Indeed, Cantabs won't need to wait 12 years for those new sports facilities to come up but hosting the Games could be a great initiative to get those facilities sooner rather than later. Plus, it would fit within the government's plan for the reborn CBD district, i.e. a sports district in the southeast corner of the CBD plus an adjacent Olympic village which could really regenerate the south of the city which has been left abandoned as a result of the quakes of 2010 and 2011.
The problem I guess is the fact that the Christchurch City Council is currently in the red and far too occupied with more pressing matters, i.e. rebuilding the city and trying to get through a backlog of claims with the EQC which will probably only be solved in 2016. It means any bid for the Comm Games will have to be footed by central government - unlikely under this National government even with the impending surplus - or a private consortium - very difficult to do.
But if Christchurch needed that new roofed stadium now along with new swimming pools, hockey park, athletics fields, housing etc., this would be the perfect excuse.
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