Ramsamy's experience and extensive list of international sporting and political contacts would be of great value to the bid in its contest against Edmonton in Canada, which has been far more active in the early stages of the race.

This is scheduled to culminate next September in Auckland at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly.

The Durban Commonwealth Games bid is seen in some influential circles in South Africa as a possible prelude to a bid from the city for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics.

If it proceeds with this ambition, Durban may very well face a domestic rival for the right to be South African candidate-city, or region: it emerged last month that Gauteng, the province containing Pretoria and Johannesburg, may aspire to be a candidate if more flexible Olympic bidding rules are approved this week under the Agenda 2020 process.

Ramsamy, 76, was until this year a member of the IOC's ruling Executive Board; he also served on the IOC's Coordination Commission for London 2012.

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