The news, coming on the eve of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Evaluation Commission inspection to the South African city, follows the surprising omission of track cycling from Durban's bid. 

Track cycling is not compulsory sport on the programme but has been held at every Commonwealth Games since 1934 when London staged the event and the sport took place in Manchester. 

Track events were considered a highlight at Glasgow 2014 when competition took place in the newly constructed Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Concerns have already been expressed about the potential impact of its absence in seven years time.

“Durban does have some issues and proposed not to have track cycling," Cookson told insidethegames during the SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit, which finished here yesterday. 

"Obviously, all of the Commonwealth Games Cycling Federations were upset about that, and we’ve written to the CGF on their behalf, expressing our concern.

"The outcome is we’re open to look at alternative proposals in order to maintain track cycling in the Commonwealth Games programme.

"Hopefully, we will be able to make it a permanent part of the programme."

Mountain biking events are already set to be held in Pietermaritzburg, on the course on which staged 2013 World Championships.

The African Track Championships took place on the outdoor Sax Young Track in Alexandra Park in January this year.

The Para-cycling Track World Championships is also to be held on the same track in KwaZulu-Natal Province in 2016

Cookson claimed there is a proposal to build a "new and better" track there, something currently being discussed, and this is something likely to be explored further by the CGF Evaluation Commission next week.

Cookson, however, did not dismiss the possibility of the outdoor track being utilised, something that could also be seen at other international competitions.

“If there are countries in the world where it would work to have an outdoor velodrome, we will look at that,” he told insidethegames.

“It doesn’t have to be indoors.

“If there are places where the climate is more predictable and sustainable, we could look at an outdoor veleodrome for something like the Commonwealth Games.

“They are still usable and still ratified by us.”

Although no official decision will be made as to the host until September’s CGF General Assembly in Auckland, the withdrawal of Edmonton in February left Durban as the only surviving bidder, consequently poised to become the first African city to host the Games. 

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