THE Commonwealth Games may be cut in size dramatically in a bid to keep it in existence beyond 2018, it has been suggested.

The possible move comes as it emerged that no country has yet expressed a serious interest in hosting the 2022 event ahead of a March deadline.

It has been suggested that ­dropping the number of sports from 17 to 10 might create more interest.

Ten sports is the minimum allowed by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Money is a major factor in bids, with the Glasgow Games ­estimated to be costing over £500 million to stage - an investment some say few in the Commonwealth could afford.

Mike Hooper, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said: "We recognise the tough economic times but we have flexibility.

"If someone wanted to ­predicate a bid on a theme of 'bring it back to basics', then they could do so.

"Clearly the cost structures associated with putting on a 10 sports Games versus a 17 sports Games is vastly different and that has always been the case."

The Commonwealth Games brand was badly damaged by the disastrous 2010 Games in Delhi, India, which were deeply flawed, riddled with favouritism and vastly over budget, according to the country's state auditor.

The games cost £2.5 billion, most of which was paid by the taxpayer, instead of the £166m first estimated, while revenue was only £23m.

The head of the organising committee, parliamentarian Suresh Kalmadi, was jailed along with a handful of other organisers on corruption charges.

Glasgow, Abuja in Nigeria and Halifax in Canada all put in initial bids for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which will take place from July 23 until August 3.

Halifax went on to withdraw from the race due to budget concerns after estimates put the final cost at £746m. Councillors had already said they would not support the bid if it would exceed £345m.

At the time, Barry Barnet, then Nova Scotia's Health Promotion Minister, said the risks associated with pursuing the games were simply too high.

Glasgow went on to be awarded the Games during an event in Sri Lanka in 2007.

Australia's Gold Coast is due to host in 2018 after beating competition from Hambantota in Sri Lanka.

Official notes of interest in hosting the 2022 Games must be in place by the end of March, but so far none have been received.

Full bids must be in by March 2015.

Mr Hooper, who will stand down from his position after the Games in Glasgow this year, said: "If you are asking me can I guarantee multiple bids for 2022 then right now I can't give you that guarantee.

"Obviously if there are no bids, the games will finish in 2018 but I don't believe that will be the case."

Any decision over the 2022 Games will not be taken until the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in New Zealand in September 2015.

Asked to clarify the level of interest, Mr Hooper added: "There's talk of Singapore, South Africa and the UK but we will wait and see."

There have also been fears that a major dispute over governance between the federation and its members could be having a detrimental effect on interest.

The more contentious issues were understood to be the mechanism for funding and support of nations and a proposal, later dropped, from the federation president Tunku Imran, a Malaysian prince, to move the organisation's headquarters from London to Kuala Lumpur for tax purposes.

The 17 sports in this year's Commonwealth Games include aquatics, athletics, badminton and boxing. Cycling, gymnastics, hockey judo, lawn bowls and netball will also be on, while there are also events in rugby sevens, shooting, squash, table tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.