LONDON, December 21, 2017 - The Commonwealth Games Federation
(CGF) announced that it has selected Birmingham, England as the host city
partner of the XXII Commonwealth Games in 2022.
At a special Media Conference staged at the
Arena Academy school in Birmingham, CGF President Louise Martin CBE applauded
the city’s ambitious and innovative vision to engage and benefit its local
community, showcase the best of global Britain and warmly welcome and inspire
athletes and fans from right across the Commonwealth.
Birmingham 2022, which is expected to take place
from 27 July – 7 August 2022, marks 20 years since Manchester 2002, the last
time the Games were held in England.
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.”
The CGF President also thanked Canada, Malaysia
and Australia for the continued interest expressed in hosting a future
Commonwealth Games, and confirmed that the Commonwealth Games Associations
(CGAs) in these countries have signalled their potential hosting interest in
either 2026 or 2030.
The final, complete Birmingham 2022 bid documentation was
submitted by Commonwealth Games England (CGE), the Department for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on behalf of the UK Government, and Birmingham
City Council, supported by the West Midlands Combined Authority. The
foundations for the Games have now been laid, with the official handover to
Birmingham set to take place at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Closing
Ceremony on April 15 next year.
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media
and Sport Karen Bradley said: “Birmingham will put on a fantastic
Commonwealth Games in 2022 and I am delighted that the Commonwealth Games
Federation has awarded us the right to host what will be a sporting
spectacular. The Games will also give us a chance to show the best of Britain
to the world, give great opportunities to the people and businesses of the West
Midlands and beyond while inspiring many to get involved in sport. I look
forward to working with the Commonwealth Games Federation, Commonwealth Games
England and Birmingham City Council over the coming years as we prepare for
2022.”
Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said: “The
UK has a brilliant track record for putting on the biggest sport events in the
world and it is great news that Birmingham has been selected to host the 2022
Commonwealth Games. 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: “This is a wonderful way to end the year
and celebrate the festive season – with an early Christmas present for the
city! 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. That work and belief has been rewarded.
“This has been a team effort and the Bid Team would like to thank everyone who
has contributed. We have had excellent support from residents and businesses in
the city; our regional partners including Andy Street, Mayor of the West
Midlands, and the West Midlands Combined Authority, the Midlands Engine, Local
Enterprise Partnerships, the NEC Group, and the University of Birmingham; as
well as venues, sport and cultural organisations across the Midlands. We have
also enjoyed a close working relationship with the Department for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport, the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth
Games England.
“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. Thank you for backing Birmingham’s bid.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands,
said: “The success of this bid has depended entirely on the whole of
the West Midlands region getting behind it and recognising the benefits it will
bring. The Games will provide the opportunity to not only see world-class sport
but bring economic and social benefits.
“Above all, this will be our opportunity, along with the Coventry City of
Culture the year prior to the Games, to showcase a resurgent, diverse and
confident West Midlands to the world.”
Ian Metcalfe, Chair of Commonwealth Games England,
added: “I am delighted that the Commonwealth Games Federation has
awarded the 2022 Games to England and to Birmingham. In particular 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.
“England has a proud tradition of welcoming the world to our country and
creating fantastic sports events, culture and the warmest of welcomes for the
entire Commonwealth movement. We cannot wait to welcome the Commonwealth
once again in 2022.
“Being awarded the Games is clearly just the start of a very long journey. We look
forward to partnering with the Commonwealth Games Federation, Birmingham and
the wider West Midlands region to deliver the best Commonwealth Games that
anyone can remember.”
Today’s announcement by the CGF follows the Gold
Coast 2018 Coordination Commission taking place earlier this month in
Australia. Gold Coast 2018 organisers have committed to share all their
experience and advice with Birmingham, passing on the baton and putting the
city in the strongest position to deliver an inspiring, impactful and
successful Games.
The Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee will
also be the first to benefit from the new CGF Partnerships delivery model – as
the CGF takes an increasingly active and direct role in the delivery of the
Games through the creation of an integrated delivery team, working in close
partnership with the host city and CGA. This will help to deliver the Games
more efficiently and economically, and create a strong legacy for future hosts.
Gold Coast 2018 Chairman, Peter Beattie AC
said: “The Games in Glasgow in 2014 set the benchmark very high and
delivered an exceptional experience for athletes and spectators and I am
confident that Gold Coast 2018 will be another outstanding Games.
“There have been many lessons learned on the journey towards 2018 with more to
come as we move into Games time.
“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.”