Birmingham Selected to Host 2022 Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games Federation announced their decision to select Birmingham, UK as the host city partner of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 at a media conference on December 21, 2017

The Commonwealth Games Federation announced their decision to select Birmingham, UK as the host city partner of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 at a media conference on December 21, 2017.

The Games are expected to take place July 27 to August 7, 2022, 20 years after the Games were last held in England in Manchester.

CGF President Louise Martin CBE commended Birmingham’s innovative and ambitious proposal, which envisioned engaging and benefiting the local community, showcasing Britain as a global partner and inspiring sporting athletes and enthusiasts across the Commonwealth.

She said that the vast majority of the Games venues already in existence and the UK’s extensive experience of hosting successful major events, such as Manchester 2002, London 2012 and Glasgow 2014, gave the city the capability of delivering a spectacular Games to the Commonwealth’s 2.4 billion population and beyond.

The final bid documentation was submitted by Commonwealth Games England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on behalf of Birmingham City Council and the UK government, with support from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The official handover is expected to take place at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony on April 15, on the Gold Coast, Australia.

Gold Coast 2018 organisers at the Coordination Commission, which took place at the start of December 2017, pledged to share relevant experience and advice with the Games’ future host.

Birmingham’s 2022 Organising Committee will also benefit from the new CGF Partnerships delivery model, which enables the Federation to play a more active and direct role in the Games delivery from within an integrated delivery team, working alongside the host city and Commonwealth Games Association.

Canada, Malaysia and Australia had all expressed interest in holding the next Commonwealth Games and their respective Commonwealth Games Associations have signalled the possibility of now holding the Games in 2026 or 2030.

Martin 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.”

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said: “The UK has a brilliant track record for putting on the biggest sport events in the world and … I am sure that we will put on an event that will make the country proud, leave a strong sporting legacy and strengthen relationships with our friends across the Commonwealth.”

Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council and Chair of the Bid Team, said: “At the start of 2017 we were looking into the feasibility of hosting the Games in 2026, but when 2022 became a possibility in April, we made the decision to back ourselves even though we knew that we would need to do a lot of work in a short time frame.

“This has been a team effort and the Bid Team would like to thank everyone who has contributed.

“The hard work begins now and we all have just four-and-a-half years to deliver an unforgettable Games that will shape the future of our city, our region and our people.”

Ian Metcalfe, Chair of Commonwealth Games England, added: “I am excited for all the Team England athletes who will have the immense privilege of competing at a home Games, backed by many thousands of proud England fans.”

Gold Coast 2018 Chairman, Peter Beattie AC said: “We are very keen to transfer as much of our knowledge as possible to enable the new host city to develop a robust Games business plan early in the establishment of the organising committee so they can literally hit the ground running when we hand over the flag at the GC2018 Closing Ceremony.”