Birmingham to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has announced that Birmingham will be the host city of the next games in 2022.

This event will boost the West Midlands economy by £750m, organisers predicted, with hundreds of new homes built at Perry Barr and a major investment made in transport to ensure lines work at their best. Also the games will support an average of 4,526 jobs until 2022.

The government will pay 75% of the estimated costs while the rest will be contributed by local Birmingham backers who supported its campaign.

Commonwealth Games events include athletes from all countries belonging to the British Commonwealth, with the 2022 event due to take place from 27 July to 7 August. It will mark 20 years since Manchester's games in 2002 and will be eight since Glasgow held the event in 2014.

CGF president Louise Martin gave the announcement in the Arena Academy in Birmingham and applauded the ambitious and innovative vision that the city presented.

The event was going to be originally hosted by Durban but the South African city had to decline in March for economic reasons, having failed to fulfil promises made in its bid.

Birmingham, which beat Liverpool to be Britain’s candidate city in a run-off in September, said that 95% of its competition venues are already in Alexander Stadium, which will be given an increased capacity and upgrade to its facilities prior to the games.

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.”

And 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 a great news that Birmingham has been selected to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.”