Doubts about funding and organisation have hung like a 'Sword of Damocles' for some time before the decision was finally made, ironically on Commonwealth Day itself.

“We have not changed the goalposts,” insisted CGF Chief Executive David Grevemberg. He described the decision as “difficult and unprecedented”. In the end lack of government funding scuttled Durban’s hopes.

“We will continue to work with South Africa,” said Grevemberg. But the decision is bound to set back the possibility of a major Games on the continent despite a CGF statement that it “remains committed to realising the shared ambitions of a future Commonwealth Games in Africa”.

The baton will spend over two months visiting African nations and is due in South Africa on May 15^th, though celebrations are likely to be rather muted following the decision.

It has been a difficult few years for multi-sport Games. Despite the advent of the Olympic master plan Agenda 2020, we had a two horse race for the 2022 Winter Games and even the 2024 Olympics is down to a choice between Paris or Los Angeles.

Durban were ultimately the only candidate for the 2022 Commonwealth Games after the Canadian city of Edmonton pulled out. But looking back through history, most bid races have had a maximum of two cities in the hunt.

The 2018 Games will be the fifth held in Australia. The nations of Britain have between them hosted on six occasions. Canada and New Zealand have both staged them three times.

Kingston in 1966, Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and Delhi 2010 are the only nations outside the big four to do so.

Now the quest is on for a 2022 host. Grevemberg would not be drawn on who has applied but Birmingham, Liverpool and London have all expressed interest. Gold Coast (GOLDOC) executive chairman Peter Beattie was very quick to rule out a return to Australia.

“It would be wrong if only the rich cities had the Games, it would not be much of a Commonwealth, that’s why we have made it quite clear that we will not be interested in 2022 because that would be simply against the spirit of the Commonwealth.”

The CGF have their own seven year strategic plan entitled Transformation 2022 and accept there are difficulties in enticing prospective host cities.

“It is absolutely critical that you are working with cities well in advance to create a bidding pipeline which will not only ensure feasibility and capability of the city’s capacity to deliver an event,” said Grevemberg. “It is absolutely imperative that we nurture good hosts, that games are not being done for the sake of doing Games, high level strategic words need to be ‘tangible deliverables’ on the ground.”

Whilst the destination for 2022 is as yet uncertain, Gold Coast organisers seem well on course to emulate and perhaps even surpass Glasgow, which was a terrific example of what are known as “The friendly Games”.

Certainly the Buckingham Palace launch of the Queen’s baton relay had dignity, a sense of occasion and fun in equal measure. The baton itself was delivered to Buckingham Palace by Paralympian Kurt Fearnley/ The Queen inserted her message of greeting to the athletes of the Commonwealth. It then began the journey to the Gold Coast in the hands of cycling greats Anna Meares and Victoria Pendleton and was later carried at Westminster Abbey by Dame Jessica Ennis Hill, former World and Olympic heptathlon champion.

The last time Australia staged the Games in 2006, the Queen wore deep pink to launch the relay. Supermodel Elle Macpherson described her outfit as delicious. At the risk of offending fashionistas, her outfit this time did appear quite similar to my untrained eye. It therefore seemed wise to sound out the expert opinion of Pendleton and Meares.

“A lot of people wish they could always look that 'put together', she always looks impeccable,” said an admiring Pendleton.

“She has quite an aura, quite an emphatic drawing to her. She looks at you directly in the eye for two seconds, it feels like a minute. she’s the sort of person I see on magazine pages not someone to take the baton from,” said Meares.

They were equally enthusiastic about the light blue camper van, complete with surfboard, which transported singer Cody Simpson away from the Palace. GOLDOC had scoured collector's groups to find a suitable vintage vehicle.

“I loved the camper van. I would love one of those in my life. Who doesn’t want a VW?” said Pendleton, who insisted that, despite the attractions of the Gold Coast, there would be no competitive comeback from her. “The only way I’ll be going to the Gold Coast is to sit back and enjoy it and maybe surf,” she added.

Simpson had earlier sung “I still call Australia home”. It is a song many Australians regard as their second national anthem. Yet it was at the centre of a storm at the time of the 2000 Olympics. It was banned from Olympic events to the dismay of many because it had been used for a popular commercial for the Qantas airline. The problem was that rivals Ansett sponsored the Sydney Games. GOLDOC do not yet have an official airline so there’s scope yet for a marketing coup.

The 2018 velodrome is named in honour of Meares who enjoyed a such a thrilling rivalry with Pendleton at the Commonwealth Games in 2006, the last time they were held in Australia.

“For me, that was the first games my whole family was in the crowd,” said Meares. “The Hyacinth arena seated 5,000 people we lived in a town of 2,000, so the venue itself was bigger than our whole town. My sister was there competing. I was announced as the reigning Olympic champion and Kerry was announced as the reigning Commonwealth champion and that, in front of family siblings and friends was very special.”

“When I first got involved in sport, I had no idea about past athletes when the Sydney Olympics came around I saw the ‘Dunc’ Gray arena and did not know who he was,” she said.

Gray was an Olympic gold medallist in 1932 and a champion at both 1934 and 1938 Empire Games.

“When I am long gone, I hope some young cyclist will come in and learn about me and what I did,” she said.

The red, black and gold Aboriginal flag is now very familiar, but it first came to international prominence at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada. Cathy Freeman, then 21-years-old, won gold over 400 metres and then waved it in celebration on her victory lap.

“It showed the world that there was another part of Australia, that you don’t cringe from,” said Yugambeh elder Ted Williams, who delivered the invitation to compete at Buckingham Palace.

He insisted GOLDOC's commitment to reconciliation with Australia's indigenous peoples is not simply an exercise in “box ticking”

“They are taking us seriously. Reconciliation is a process we’re going through and I am very committed to it. They are committed to find ways to include indigenous Australians in the Games. The programme that we have in place is designed specifically to take advantage of opportunities. They can move on to the rest of their lives with something from the games,” he said.

No decision has yet been made on who will perform the opening ceremony next year. Since her 90^th birthday last year, the Queen has been cutting back on her engagements, particularly those overseas. At Delhi 2010, Prince Charles read her message and opened the Games. The Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward is a former CGF President who opened them on his mother’s behalf at the Auckland 1990 Games.

You half expect Australian steeplechaser Genevieve La Caze to pop up somewhere between now and then. You might remember. She gate-crashed Kylie Minogue’s set during the Glasgow 2014 closing ceremony at Hampden Park.