Bid Chairman David Black confirmed the news saying "it's our turn". Black says Victoria has a pretty good shot at it given other cities in the running in Great Britain, Australia and Malaysia have all had the games, or are about to, since Victoria last hosted in '94.
Black says financing will be in place by the end of this month but doesn't want to announce what that is publicly yet because it could tip their hand to their competitors.
Black does say the budget will be modest, but the gains huge for the area:
"We're talking about adding perhaps $100-million of new student housing at UVic because we need twice the size of village we had last time, there's twice the number of athletes this time. We're talking about perhaps adding $80-Million of new low income housing in Greater Victoria to house the technical officials that we have to house. But after the officials use it for a month it will be there full time for Victorians."
Black adds there could be about $80-Million in capital improvements to facilities and about a $50-million legacy to add to the sport reserve fund. He says while cities would need to kick in some financial support, most of the money will come from outside sources.
Black served as the Chair of the committee that brought the '94 Games to Victoria and says the city has the knowledge, facilities, and volunteer base to pull off another successful event which will benefit residents for years to come.
At Black's side was two-time Commonwealth Games swimmer Suzanne Weckend-Dill, and former member of the Commonwealth Games CanadaBoard of Directors, who said Victoria definitely has the bones to stage a successful games. She spoke fondly of being a 16 year old swimmer competing in her hometown back in 1994, and feeling civic pride and support from residents who lined the streets to welcome athletes from throughout the Commonwealth. Weckend-Dill also trained at Saanich Commonwealth place, and says Victoria has a large contingent of high level athletes who choose to train here, and credits the legacy of the '94 games.
The Commonwealth Games Federation requires bidders to ahve their financnes in place by the end of this month, and will make a selection in the fall.