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Halifax withdraw bid to host Games

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HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- The Atlantic Canadian city of Halifax withdrew its bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games on Thursday over financial concerns, leaving Glasgow and Nigerian capital Abuja to fight it out to hold the quadrennial event.

Scotland hosted the Games, in Edinburgh, in 1970 and 1986. Manchester held the 2002 version and London will host the 2012 Olympics.

Africa has never hosted the event, which began as the British Empire Games in 1930. Canada last held the Games in 1994, in Victoria.

Halifax withdrew amid increasing criticism about the growing cost and a perceived lack of transparency in the bid process.

The initial bid cost was estimated at around C$785million Canadian dollars ($667 million) but government officials said on Thursday that the bill could be close to C$1.7 billion ($1.44 billion).

"The province of Nova Scotia has always said we would only proceed with the Games if they were the right size for our province and would leave a lasting legacy and would not compromise our fiscal position," said Barry Barnet, Nova Scotia's minister of health promotion.

He told a news conference in Halifax that an independent analysis of the Games "has led us to the unfortunate decision that the 2014 Commonwealth Games are simply beyond our fiscal capacity.

"The province of Nova Scotia was willing to contribute up to a maximum of C$300 million in support of the Games.

Unfortunately, even with this significant investment, the total project costs of approximately C$1.7 billion -- this was simply beyond our reach."

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