By a vote of 46 to 22 New Delhi India became the host city of the 2010 Commonwealth Games as announced by the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation in Montego Bay Jamaica Thursday.
Hamilton bid organizers said they were discouraged that at the closing of the presentation, Delhi announced a $100,000 grant for each Commonwealth Games Association should they host the Games. Some called it unethical vote buying.
Hamilton’s loss paves the way for Toronto to bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The Toronto Star reports that should Toronto win the 2014 Commonwealth Games it would help get the city a new outdoor stadium for soccer and the city would also get an Olympic-sized pool and a velodrome for cyclists.
James Villeneuve, chairman of the Toronto Economic Development Corp. and a member of Commonwealth Games Canada said prior to the announcement, “if Hamilton loses Toronto should make a serious play” for 2014.
Joe Halstead, Toronto’s Commissioner of Economic Development, said if Hamilton takes a tumble, the people at Commonwealth Games Canada would probably wait a year or more before making asking Canadian cities if they’re interested in 2014.
