Birmingham to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Birmingham will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games Federation announced on 21 December that it had selected the city as host city partner for the event, which is expected to take place from 27 July to 7 August 2022.

The announcement was made at a special media conference at Arena Academy school in the city. The Games will be the first held in England since Manchester in 2002.

"A defining moment"

Federation president Louise Martin said the decision was a defining moment for a truly Commonwealth city. "With its rich history, cultural diversity, youthful dynamism and ambitious spirit, Birmingham embodies all that we cherish about the Commonwealth," she said.

She noted that the vast majority of the venues needed for the Games are already in place.

A year that changed course

Council leader Ian Ward, who chaired the bid team, called the news an early Christmas present for the city. At the start of the year, the council had only been looking into the feasibility of hosting the Games in 2026. But in March, Durban in South Africa was stripped of the 2022 Games, and the bidding process was reopened.

"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. That work and belief has been rewarded," Cllr Ward said.

In September, Birmingham was chosen ahead of Liverpool as England's candidate. The final bid was submitted by Commonwealth Games England, the government and the city council.

"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," Cllr Ward said. "Thank you for backing Birmingham's bid."

Support from government

Culture secretary Karen Bradley said Birmingham would put on a fantastic Games, and sports minister Tracey Crouch said it would leave a strong sporting legacy. Ian Metcalfe, chair of Commonwealth Games England, said athletes would have the immense privilege of competing at a home Games.

What happens now

The official handover to Birmingham will take place at the closing ceremony of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia on 15 April next year. The organisers in the Gold Coast have promised to share their experience with Birmingham to help it get off to a strong start.

Birmingham will also be the first host to use the federation's new partnership model, in which the federation takes a more direct role in delivering the Games through a joint team with the host city.

The bid was built on the city's track record of staging major events and its existing venues. Among the plans put forward during the bid were a refurbishment of the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr and an athletes' village nearby, which is expected to provide new housing after the Games.

After a year of uncertainty and hard work, the city now has four and a half years to get ready to welcome thousands of athletes and fans from across the Commonwealth.