Formal confirmation allows Birmingham to press on with preparations to host 2022 Games

Birmingham will be confirmed as the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games at a media conference in the city this morning.

The Games were originally awarded to Durban two years ago but the South African city ran into financial difficulties and was stripped of the right to host them.

That prompted another biddingcontestthatcamedownto a race for British government backing between Birmingham and Liverpool, which was won by the West Midlands city in September. But despite being the only city to submit a bid by the Commonwealth Games Federation’s (CGF) deadline, Birmingham has had to wait nearly three months to have its victory confirmed.

First, the CGF extended the deadline for bids until the end of November, saying Birmingham’s bid was “not fully compliant”, and then a second delay was announced earlier this month as the CGF sought further guarantees from the city and government.

The CGF was concerned about some of the conditions attached to the government’s offer to finance 75 per cent of the estimated £750 million budget and Birmingham’s ability to fund its share.

During the extension, potential bids from Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur and Canada’s Victoria, however, failed to materialise.

With recent pay disputes with female council staff and refuse collectors over pay, there had been concerns raised about Birmingham’s ability to raise the money but it is understood the council has given guarantees to both the government and CGF.

One possible plan is a hotel tax – the first of its kind in the UK, which would see visitors to the city pay a small levy.

Bid confirmation will enable the council to push on with securing the land for the proposed athletes’ village in Perry Barr, one of the city’s northern suburbs which is also home to the Alexander Stadium, which will be expanded to host the athletics and ceremonies.