The 2022 Commonwealth Games have been confirmed as being held in Birmingham.
The Second City was the only bid submitted to the Commonwealth Games Federation by the deadline set, and although the bidding process was problematic, with South African city Durban being awarded the games back in 2015 before having it taken away for not meeting criteria, and no further bids were made, the city will now be hosting the most expensive sports event in Britain since the Olympics in London in 2012.
There are plans to build the largest permanent athletics stadium in the UK, as well as purchase land in Perry Barr for the athletes' village.
CGF President Louise Martin CBE said: “We warmly congratulate Birmingham and England on today’s announcement – it is a defining moment for this truly Commonwealth city. With its rich history, cultural diversity, youthful dynamism and ambitious spirit, Birmingham embodies all that we cherish about the Commonwealth, and so the Commonwealth Sports Movement looks forward to collaborating with all the Games partners to showcase the city’s humanity and pride to a global audience over the coming months and years.
“The vast majority of the Games venues are in place, and with extensive experience in the UK of hosting successful major events – including Manchester 2002, London 2012 and Glasgow 2014 – the CGF looks forward to a truly spectacular Games that delivers not only for the 2.4 billion citizens across the Commonwealth but the wider world, too. Today is a fantastic day for Birmingham, global Britain and our resurgent Commonwealth Sports Movement.”
Congratulations to everyone involved in the bid, and congratulations Birmingham! As a proud newspaper of both Birmingham and the Commonwealth, we have been connecting communities and championing the Commonwealth for the last 7 years. We are more than proud that finally the message is loud and clear that we are ONE community under the banner of The Commonwealth, celebrating
