Commonwealth Games 2022: Birmingham wins Government backing
Birmingham has been named as the UK's candidate city to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games – beating off a rival bid from Liverpool.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has backed the second city's bid.
Organisers will now need to convince the Governmet to approve the bid and underwrite the event's cost before persuading Commonwealth Games Federation it should stage the event. Birmingham is set to face opposition from Canada and Malaysia.
The event is up for grabs after Durban was stripped of hosting duties.
Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said today: “I am grateful to the bid teams from both Birmingham and Liverpool for their hard work in making the case for their respective cities as potential Commonwealth Games hosts.
"Now, after a comprehensive assessment process, the government will look at the final bid proposal from Birmingham and decide if a formal bid will be submitted to the Commonwealth Games Federation.
"We need to be completely satisfied that the bid offers overall value for money from hosting the Games and that a strong economic and sporting legacy can be delivered from it.
“The UK has fantastic expertise in hosting the biggest events in sport, as recently showcased at the London 2017 World Para Athletics and IAAF World Championships, and if we are to bid and are selected to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022 I have no doubt that Birmingham would put on an excellent sporting spectacle.”
Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games England, Paul Blanchard, said: "A Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 will deliver a lasting sporting, cultural and economic impact not just for the West Midlands but the country as a whole. I am sure that Birmingham could stage a fantastic Games, showcasing not only the West Midlands and a whole of the UK but the Commonwealth movement as a whole..”
“I would like to add my thanks to both Liverpool and Birmingham for their dedication in providing two outstanding bids and for their support throughout the entire process. The panel were convinced that both cities had the potential to host the Games in 2022 but we had to choose a winner and Birmingham came out marginally on top.”
“The Treasury now have an important decision to make and we will await the outcome with interest.”
Liverpool's mayor Joe Anderson confirmed the decision on Twitter, saying: "Liverpool has lost its bid to host Commonwealth Games 2022 thanks to my team #proud
"Congratulations and good luck Birmingham wish you well."
As part of Birmingham's bid, a £30 million swimming centre will be built in Smethwick – as well as the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr being revamped.
Cannock Chase has been earmarked as host of mountain biking races.
Sandwell Council plans to build a new leisure centre and a 10-lane, 50-metre swimming pool, with a separate diving pool, which his set to be the aquatics centre if Birmingham wins the Games.
Councillor Richard Marshall, cabinet member for leisure, said: “It’s great news that we’re a step closer to Birmingham winning the bid which means Sandwell will help host the games.
“We’re very excited to be moving ahead with plans for a new pool and leisure centre regardless of the outcome of the bid."
Plans for the new leisure centre are subject to further council reports and approval.
Birmingham Council chiefs welcomed the decision by the Commonwealth Games Delivery Unit (CGDU) to recommend it as a candidate city.
Ian Ward, city council deputy leader and chairman of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games bid committee, said: "This is a great endorsement by the UK Government of Birmingham’s credentials to host the Games and recognition of the city’s resolve to deliver a memorable event."
With Birmingham already doing a feasibility study for a bid for the 2026 edition, the midlands city had a clear early advantage over Liverpool.
Both bids, however, had strengths and weaknesses, and it is understood that Liverpool certainly closed the gap in terms of impressing the independent assessment panel set up by DCMS and the CGF's inspection team.
Ultimately, however, Birmingham's bid has been judged to have more certainty, largely because they already have a main venue for the athletics and ceremonies at the Alexander Stadium, whereas Liverpool were proposing to stage the athletics on a temporary track in Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The Alexander Stadium will be expanded from its current capacity of 13,000 to 20,000, with 25,000 additional seats for the Games.
This will make the Perry Barr venue, which is already the home of UK Athletics (UKA), the largest, permanent athletics track in the country, and it is also intended to be used for other sports, concerts and conferences.
There are some concerns about its legacy use, though, as UKA has already committed to hold most of its major events at the London Stadium every summer.
On the other hand, Liverpool's plan to spend a significant amount of public money on a temporary track was always going to be tough sell, despite the fact the actual stadium will be paid for privately and the city's bid made imaginative use of its other venues, including Aintree, Anfield and Goodison Park.
