BIRMINGHAM: The English city of Birmingham was picked on Thursday as the replacement host for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, nine months after the South African city of Durban was stripped of the multisport event because of financial difficulties.

Birmingham was the only city to submit a bid by the Com­monwealth Games Federation’s deadline of the end of September.

Weeks earlier, it beat Liverpool in a head-to-head contest for British government backing for the event, which is for countries associated with the former British empire.

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Louise Martin announced the decision at a press conference at Birmingham’s Arena Academy.

“We warmly congratulate Birmingham and England on today’s announcement it is a defining moment for this truly Commonwealth city,” she said.

“With its rich history, cultural diversity, youthful dynamism and ambitious spirit, Birmingham embodies all that we cherish about the Commonwealth.

“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.”

Durban was originally awarded the Games in 2015 before being stripped of the event in March because it failed to meet promises contained in its bid.

The quadrennial multisport event last took place in the United Kingdom in Glasgow in 2014. Before that, Manchester hosted in 2002.

Birmingham had to wait three months before being awarded the Games, with the CGF seeking further guarantees from the city and the government, which is financing 75 percent of the estimated budget of 750 million pounds ($1 billion).

The city’s bid was judged to be not fully compliant with all the criteria in October, leading the CGF to extending the deadline for other bidders, but no other cities came forward.

The CGF is believed to have encouraged rival bids from Canada and Malaysia, both of which failed to materialise.

But Martin thanked the two countries — and Australia — for their interest in hosting future Games and said all three countries had expressed interest in staging either the 2026 or 2030 event.

Birmingham bid organisers have said that 95 percent of the competition venues are already in place with Alexander Stadium, an established athletics venue that already stages Diamond League meets, set for an increase in capacity and facilities upgrade.

The only new venue proposed in Birmingham’s bid is the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, which will host Swimming, Para Swimming and Diving.

The city centre Victoria Square will also be used for 3x3 Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball.

“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,” Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said.

“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.”

The 2018 Commonwealth Games will be held on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia from April 4.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2017