Manchester up for 2022 Comm Games

Mar 15, 2017 - 1:25 PM Manchester has joined Birmingham and Liverpool in making its pitch to replace Durban as the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) stripped Durban of the right to stage the Games on Monday, only 18 months after the city was awarded them but one month after South Africa's sports minister admitted the country could not afford them.

Having already expressed an interest in the 2026 event, Birmingham and Liverpool wasted little time in saying they would be delighted to take it on four years early, and now Manchester has said it is interested in hosting of the 2002 Games.

It is disappointing that South Africa and Durban have been unable to organise the 2022 Commonwealth Games," a Manchester City Council spokesman said.

"Manchester has always considered itself part of the Commonwealth Games family and we worked incredibly closely with the Commonwealth Games Federation to deliver a memorable 2002 Games here in the city.

"If we were invited to help we would be pleased to work with the Commonwealth Games Federation and the government to ensure the delivery of a successful 2022 Games in England which could make a significant contribution to the growth of the northern powerhouse as well as supporting the Commonwealth sporting family."

With a bid from England considered by many to be the safest bet for 2022, a decision on which city is likely to be the best candidate rests with Commonwealth Games England (CGE).

Manchester was the last English host of the Commonwealth Games in 2002, while Glasgow hosted the event in 2014, when 5,000 athletes from 71 countries took part.

Source: AAP