The five-person Evaluation Commission have toured prospective venues for the 2022 Games as part of their four-day visit of the city, which, with no opposition bids remaining, is set become the first African hosts of the Commonwealth Games if their proposal is ratified at the CGF General Assembly in September.

One of those venues, the outdoor Rachel Finlayson swimming pool, has been put forward by Durban 2022 as the first option for the Games, with a proposed capacity of 5,000 seats, while the King’s Park pool has been suggested as the alternative option with 2,500 seats.

The Evaluation Commission will guide Durban 2022 in ensuring that their facilities are up to standard, Martin claimed.

“They have got to make big decisions about the pool, because there are international standards and they are not deep enough,” the official, who is challenging Prince Imran of Malaysia for the CGF Presidency in September, told insidethegames here today.

“Rachel Finlayson is the one that has the best location and venue potential, but they will have to refurbish that.

“It is not just about the Games but what happens when the Games have gone.”

When launching their bid in March at Mansion House, in London, Durban 2022 outlined their proposal as being “compact and unique”, stating the city had 100 per cent of the sporting facilities required to host the Games.

Martin, who following the bid submission encouraged Durban 2022 to make use of existing venues, believes the city are currently living up to their proposal and dismissed suggestions complacency could become an issue.

“Seeing is believing, it is easier to see it than it is see it on paper and I am impressed,” she said.

“The facilities they have here are really, really good and they don’t have to build anything new.

“They have refurbishing to do but at the moment they have the potential to host a fantastic Games.

"They know it themselves it is all very well to see the facilities now but they will have to do quite a bit of work to keep them up to standard.”

Martin is joined on the Evaluation Commission by CGF chief executive David Grevemberg, Andrew Ryan, executive director of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, Ian Hooper, director of sport and special projects at Glasgow Life and Maxwell de Silva, secretary general of the Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games Association and National Olympic Committee.

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