Coventry is set to host 2022 International Children’s Games
COVENTRY city council is preparing to set aside £1m in order to host an Olympic-style event for children.
The cash will be set down as a budget after the city was invited to hold the 2022 International Children’s Games (ICG).
If approved, the council will then attempt to bring on board sponsors to reduce the cost to the public purse of the event which, last time it was hosted by the city, generated over £3.5m.
The games will be held between August 17 and 22 in 2022, just three days after the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony.
Around 1,800 children aged between 12-15 are expected to take part in sports including basketball, swimming, tennis, table tennis, athletics, six-a-side football, and climbing.
Councillors at the city council will meet next week to approve the invitation and a budget of up to £1 million to host the games, however sponsorship is being sought to reduce this cost.
It would be the second time Coventry has held games having held it in 2005.
The council said it provided an economic boost of around £3.6m to the city and the council’s cabinet member for events hopes it will have a similar impact in 2022.
Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, who is also the council’s deputy leader, added: “We are hoping the event will follow on from the Commonwealth Games and encourage people to get back into sport whilst also bringing some investment into the city.
“If we are to host this fantastic event, it will attract 100 participating cities from around the world and is expected to bring around 2,000 people to Coventry.
“As well as the benefits to the economy, the event will provide a sporting legacy, which ultimately is excellent news for everyone in Coventry.”
The ICG committee visited Coventry in June 2019 to assess the suitability of venues and unanimously agreed to offer the 2022 event to Coventry.
Athletics, tennis and climbing has been pencilled in to take place at University of Warwick Sports and Wellness Hub; swimming would take place at The Alan Higgs Centre 50m swimming pool; while Broadgate in the city centre would be the venue for basketball.
Venues have yet to be agreed for other sports such as football.
The city council said it also plans to hold a 3km Fun Run open to all ages and abilities so the rest of the city can get involved in the event.
Cllr Kamran Caan, cabinet member for public health and sport, added: “Hosting the event would be another great opportunity to inspire local young people to participate in sport and physical activity. During Coventry’s year of sport, we saw over 170,000 people get active. We have also invested in excess of £100m into sporting facilities so I am confident that we can provide a fantastic experience for competitors and spectators alike.”
The International Children’s Games was first held in 1968, starting out as an athletics competition in Celje, Slovenia, later evolving into the annual event which recognised by the International Olympic Committee.