Comment 2022 will be much more than a sporting triumph
Awarding the Games also comes at a time of renewed importance for the Commonwealth.
With an increasingly international United Kingdom building new relationships across the world, the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will be a powerful platform to celebrate diversity, maximise legacy opportunities and drive global trade links. Just four years ago, in Glasgow, we saw the power and potential of what happens when an open, ambitious and warm-hearted city throws its arms around the Commonwealth’s finest athletes.
The East End of the city was transformed and re-generated; the city and its people charmed 1.5 billion TV spectators; more than £6 million was raised for children across the Commonwealth; new major events streamed in to the city; 15,000 volunteers embraced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to contribute to the event’s success and develop their skills.
With our full support, I’ve every confidence that Birmingham will build on Glasgow’s legacy-first approach, harnessing the power of sport to contribute to the long-term prosperity of the city.
Of course, each Games has its own story.
In just four months’ time, Australia’s Gold Coast will make the most of its moment in the sun as host city of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
This will provide huge testing and knowledge-sharing opportunities for the Birmingham and English team – and everyone ‘down under’ is excited about sharing their learning and expertise to put Birmingham in the best possible position to succeed.
They will be passing the baton to a city whose moment has truly arrived on the world stage, and it will be a privilege to write a new chapter in its rich and proud history.
We congratulate, and look forward to working in partnership with, the teams in Birmingham and the UK Government.
In every sense, Birmingham 2022 truly promises to be the Commonwealth’s Games.
David Grevemberg is the chief executive of the Commonwealth
Games Federation
I’ve every confidence that Birmingham will harness the power of sport to contribute to the long-term prosperity of the city