FENNELL

LONDON, England (CMC):

JAMAICAN MIKE Fennell is set to retain presidency of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) for another four years, the CGF declared on its website this week. Fennell will have no challengers for the job when the General Assembly is staged next week Friday.

"As the sole nomination for the presidency of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), The Hon. Mike Fennell, OJ, CD, is set to continue his leadership of the organisation for another four-year term," the CGF said.

The General Assembly of the CGF will meet in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on November 9, where its 71 member nations and territories are expected to endorse the Jamaican's candidacy.

Fennell was first elected to lead the organisation at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada. He served as chairman until 2003 and then as president after the post was renamed. He is also the president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), a position he has held since 1977.

Excellent leadership

"Under his leadership, the Commonwealth Games have gone from strength to strength, highlighted most recently by the successful Melbourne Games in 2006," the CGF said.

The CGF said Fennell has modernised the Games' movement through the deployment of a range of innovative management strategies and initiatives, substantially upgrading the support provided to Commonwealth Games host cities and candidate cities for future Games. "The Games have grown significantly over recent years with athletes, officials and other key stakeholders viewing the Games as a dynamic and vibrant world-class event."

In 2003 the Federation took a landmark decision to award Delhi the right to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Previously, Delhi had hosted only one other major multi-sport event, the Asian Games in 1982. The decision has contributed to what is now the fast-changing landscape of that city.

The CGF General Assembly will decide if Glasgow or Abuja will host the 2014 Games and already many cities have expressed initial interest in conducting the 2018 Commonwealth Games.