Burmingham next host
Games heads to England
GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie has wasted no time reaching out to his Birmingham counterparts after the English city was awarded the 2022 Commonwealth Games overnight.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) declared Birmingham would become the third UK city to host the sporting extravaganza in six cycles, replacing South Africa’s Durban, which was stripped of hosting rights in March for failing to meet a series of financial deadlines.
Mr Beattie said he was looking forward to sharing his Games’ experience with the newly appointed 2022 organising committee.
“We are very keen to transfer as much of our knowledge as possible to enable the new host city to develop a robust Games business plan early in the establishment of the organising committee so they can literally hit the ground running when we hand over the flag at the GC2018 closing ceremony,” he said.
“The Games in Glasgow in 2014 set the benchmark very high ... and I am confident that Gold Coast 2018 will be another outstanding Games.”
The original deadline for bids to replace Durban was September 30, with Birmingham the only city to publicly commit to the process. When the CGF ruled the city’s bid was not fully compliant, the deadline was extended to November 30 but no fresh contenders emerged, with Kuala Lumpur reportedly more focused on the 2026 Games and Victoria in Canada failing to persuade its provincial or federal governments to back its bid.
A breakthrough in negotiations finally came this month when a new financial offer was submitted by Birmingham City Council.
GOLDOC chief executive Mark Peters said hosting the Commonwealth Games had heralded a new era for the Gold Coast and Queensland.
“Considering the longterm legacies early on in, the planning has been the key to ensuring our Games delivery partners and community appreciate the impacts of hosting and ultimately embracing the Games,” he said.
“This is an event that plays a key role in the Commonwealth, to unite the 70 nations and territories in a unique multi-sport spectacular every four years. Aptly known as the Friendly Games, the event showcases a destination and provides significant opportunity for host communities.