Edmonton withdraws bid for 2022 Commonwealth Games

Edmonton has withdrawn its bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the bid committee announced Tuesday. 

The committee cited Alberta's mounting budget deficit as the primary reason for withdrawing the bid.

"It would not be right to move forward with our bid when cuts are being made in our communities to programs like in education and health," bid chairman Reg Milley said in a statement.

Alberta's economy has been hard-hit by decreasing oil prices, with the budget deficit forecasted to reach as high as $7 billion. 

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Edmonton's withdrawal leaves Durban, South Africa, as the only city bidding for the games. Durban has previously hosted matches for high-profile events such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations, the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

The Commonwealth Games are contested by the countries that make up the Commonwealth of Nations, formerly known as the British Commonwealth. Last year's games were held in Glasgow, Scotland.

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