Press release: Birmingham and Liverpool through to final phase of assessment process for 2022 Commonwealth Games bid

Birmingham and Liverpool have both passed the preliminary assessment phase in the UK city selection process for a potential 2022 Commonwealth Games bid, Sports Minister Tracey Crouch has announced today.

Both cities have been the subject of inspection visits in the last few weeks attended by an independent assessment panel, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) representatives and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport officials.

The assessment panel has recommended to government that both cities have sufficiently developed a clear initial vision as to how they would construct a compelling games programme which meets CGF requirements and which would leave a legacy for their city, the region and the UK. The panel found that Birmingham and Liverpool’s current planning demonstrates sufficient merit that both cities be given the opportunity to further develop their proposals over the coming weeks.

Birmingham and Liverpool will now undertake further, more detailed work on the cost, practicability and delivery of their plans with both cities asked to submit final proposals to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in August.

In early September the independent assessment panel will make a recommendation to the government on a preferred city before the government then makes a final decision whether to submit a formal bid to the Commonwealth Games Federation based on the overall value for money of hosting the Games.

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said:

It is right that a proper and rigorous assessment is carried out before we decide if a formal bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games is submitted. I’ve been encouraged by the commitment and enthusiasm that both Birmingham and Liverpool have demonstrated so far in the process but it will be crucial that their final plans demonstrate good value for money, how they would leave a lasting legacy and showcase the best of Britain.

We have a great track record of hosting the biggest events in sport in the UK and I am sure that if we were to host the Games in 2022 the British people would give a warm welcome to the world and get right behind the event.

Commonwealth Games England chief executive Paul Blanchard said:

An English Commonwealth Games in 2022 would be an inspirational event and create a lasting legacy for the whole country. Five years ago this week, the country was gripped by London 2012, the best Olympic and Paralympic Games ever staged. Then in 2014 the UK hosted the memorable Commonwealth Games in Glasgow showing beyond doubt what a spectacular success an English games would be.

Birmingham and Liverpool have two fantastic sets of plans and either city would stage a Games to remember for athletes and spectators alike. There is still a huge amount of work to be done by both Government and the cities themselves but what we have seen so far promises some very exciting times ahead.

Earlier this week Team England topped the medal table at the Youth Commonwealth Games, a home Games in 2022 would give the best possible platform to our outstanding young sporting talent.

Notes to Editors

For further information please contact:

Jose Riera, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 020 7211 6971 / 07825 057405

The independent assessment panel is made up of the following people:

Nicky Roche (Chair)

Nicky is currently a Non-Executive Director of UK Sport and Chair of the UK Sport Major Events Panel. She is also Director of Strategy at Sporting Assets, a social enterprise supporting communities and local organisations to use sport for wide social impact, including how to fund and operate local sports facilities. Before that, Nicky was Chief Executive of TDFHub 2014, responsible for co-ordinating the delivery of the 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart and before that was Director of Operations at the Government Olympic Executive during London 2012.

Jan Paterson

Jan Paterson, MBE, is CEO of the British Olympic Foundation and Director of Olympic Relations at the British Olympic Association. She has participated in a myriad of roles including; Chef de Mission, Deputy Chef de Mission and Press Attaché at every Olympic and Olympic Winter Games between 1992 – 2016, three Commonwealth Games and four World University Games. Jan was appointed Team GB’s first female Chef de Mission and more recently was Chef de Mission for Team England at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, where the team topped the medal table. She is a member of the IAAF’s Conflict Resolution Advisory Group and was recently appointed as a member of the 2019 European Games Co-ordination Commission.

Charles Johnston

Charles is currently Property Director at Sport England where he has overall responsibility for Sport England’s investment in sports facilities across the country. A qualified engineer who also has a Master’s in Business Administration, Charles started at Sport England in 2008 from MDA Consulting where he was Chairman and CEO. He began his career at Jaguar before joining Sainsbury’s where he helped to develop Homebase stores and the Savacentre Hypermarkets as Project Manager. He progressed to become Director of Construction and Facilities.

Ian McKenzie

Ian is an Architect and Director of McKenzie Sports Architecture Ltd, a consultancy specialising in venue master planning for major sports events and the design and development of sports facilities. Previously he was Head of Venue and Village Development and Integration at Glasgow 2014 Ltd, the Organising Company for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He had responsibility for planning and managing the development of the competition and non-competition venues and the Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village.

Paul Blanchard

Paul is Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games England (CGE), the member association of the Commonwealth Games Federation. CGE is the organisation that leads and manages the participation of the English team at the Commonwealth Games, working closely with each sport’s National Governing Body, Sport England and the Games’ Organising Committee. Before that Paul was Chair of Active Surrey and Chief Executive of The Surrey Sports Park, a £36m elite training venue at The University of Surrey and has been involved in sport for over 25 years.

David Brooker

Most recently David was Director of Sport at DCMS. Before that he was Director of Legacy at the Government Olympic Executive during London 2012. David has also worked in the Home Office and the Northern Ireland Office, where he remains a Non-Executive Director.