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Do not fill this in! == Sport == [[File:Kingsmead2009.jpg|thumb|[[Kingsmead Cricket Ground]], Durban in 2009]] [[File:Mm stadium.jpg|thumb|[[Moses Mabhida Stadium]] in Durban]] Durban was initially successful in its bid to host the [[2022 Commonwealth Games]],<ref name="bbc._Durb">{{cite web | title = Durban hosts 2022 Commonwealth Games | work = BBC Sport | date = 2 September 2015 | access-date = 2015-09-02 | url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/commonwealth-games/34125467 }}</ref> but needed to withdraw in March 2017 from the role of hosts when the government withdrew its subsidy due to financial constraints.<ref>{{cite news|title=Commonwealth Games 2022: Durban 'may drop out as host'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-39116534|access-date=28 February 2017|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=28 February 2017}}</ref> [[Birmingham]], [[England]] replaced Durban as the host city. Durban is home to [[Sharks (rugby union)|The Sharks]] [[rugby union]] club, also known as the Cell C Sharks, who compete in the domestic [[Currie Cup]] competition as well as in the international [[United Rugby Championship]] and [[Heineken Champions Cup]] competition. The Sharks' home ground is the 54,000 capacity [[HollywoodbetsKings Park Stadium]], sometimes referred to as the Shark Tank. The Sharks are home to many [[South Africa national rugby union team]] players such as [[Thomas du Toit]], [[Bongi Mbonambi]], [[Eben Etzebeth]], [[Makazole Mapimipi]], [[Lukhanyo Am]] and the 2019 Rugby World Cup captain [[Siya Kolisi]]. The city has two clubs in the [[Premier Soccer League]] β [[AmaZulu F.C.|AmaZulu]], and [[Golden Arrows]]. AmaZulu play most of their home games at the [[Moses Mabhida Stadium]]. Golden Arrows play most of their home games at the [[King Zwelithini Stadium]] in the nearby township of [[Umlazi]], but sometimes play some of their matches at [[Moses Mabhida Stadium]] or [[Chatsworth Stadium]]. It is also a home to some teams that are playing in the [[National First Division]] such as Royal Eagles FC and Royal Kings [[File:Transport des supporters Γ Durban.jpg|thumb|Bus transporting supporters during [[2010 FIFA World Cup]]]] Durban is host to the [[KwaZulu-Natal cricket team]], who play as the [[Dolphins cricket team|Dolphins]] when competing in the [[Sunfoil Series]]. [[Shaun Pollock]], [[Jonty Rhodes]], [[Lance Klusener]], [[Barry Richards]], [[Andrew Hudson (cricketer)|Andrew Hudson]], [[Hashim Amla]], [[Vince van der Bijl]], [[Kevin Pietersen]], [[Dale Benkenstein]] and [[David Miller (South African cricketer)|David Miller]] are all players or past players of the [[Natal cricket team]]. International cricketers representing them include [[Malcolm Marshall]], [[Dwayne Bravo]] and [[Graham Onions]]. Cricket in Durban is played at [[Kingsmead cricket ground, Durban|Kingsmead cricket ground]]. Durban hosted matches in the [[2003 ICC Cricket World Cup]]. In 2007 the city hosted nine matches, including a semi-final, as part of the inaugural [[ICC World Twenty20]]. The [[2009 IPL]] season was played in South Africa, and Durban was selected as a venue. 2010 saw the city host six matches, including a semi-final, in the [[2010 Champions League Twenty20]]. Durban was one of the host cities of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], and [[A1 Grand Prix]] held a race on a [[Durban street circuit|street circuit in Durban]] from 2006 to 2008. Durban hosted the [[123rd IOC Session]] in July 2011. The city is home to [[Greyville Racecourse]], a major [[Thoroughbred horse race|Thoroughbred horse racing]] venue that annually hosts a number of prestigious races including the country's premier event, the [[Durban July Handicap|July Handicap]], and the premier staying event in South Africa, the [[Greyville Gold Cup|Gold Cup]]. Clairwood racecourse, south of the city, was a popular racing venue for many years, but was sold by the KZN racing authority in 2012.<ref name="spor_Clai">{{cite web | title =Clairwood Sale Advances {{!}} Clairwood Racecourse sold for R430 million | work = Sporting Post | date = 25 May 2012 | access-date = 2015-09-02 | url = http://www.sportingpost.co.za/2012/05/clairwood-racecourse/ | archive-date = 19 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150919083830/http://www.sportingpost.co.za/2012/05/clairwood-racecourse/ | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="iol._R2bn">{{cite web | title = R2bn Clairwood racecourse park rejected | last = Carnie | first = Tony | work = Business Report | date = 25 February 2014 | access-date = 2015-09-02 | url = http://www.iol.co.za/business/news/r2bn-clairwood-racecourse-park-rejected-1.1652574#.VebxjfR-5ek }}</ref> Durban hosts many famous endurance sports events annually, such as the [[Comrades Marathon]], [[Dusi Canoe Marathon]] and the [[Ironman 70.3]]. The city hosted several continental basketball tournaments such as the [[1994 FIBA Africa Championship for Women]] or the [[2006 FIBA Africa Under-18 Championship]].<ref>{{cite news|author1=Julio Chitunda |title=FIBA U18 African Championships have produced some bright talents over the years|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/news/fiba-u18-african-championships-have-produced-some-bright-talents-over-the-years |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=[[FIBA]] |date=25 September 2020}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page