£778m Commonwealth Games investment for Birmingham

The government has confirmed that Birmingham and the West Midlands region will benefit from a £778 million investment to stage the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport said that the public funding, which includes contingency, will be split approximately 75per cent/ 25 per cent between investment from central government (£594 million) and Birmingham City Council and a number of its key partners (£184 million).

Birmingham 2022 will open up a wealth of opportunities, including business and trade, cultural engagement, volunteering, physical activity, jobs and skills, education and tourism. Over one million tickets will be made available for spectators from across the UK and around the world.

Mims Davies, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, said: “The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be the biggest sporting and cultural event ever held in the city. Watched by one and a half billion people worldwide, this is a massive opportunity to showcase the best that Birmingham, the West Midlands and the whole UK has to offer.

“The Games budget is a significant investment in Birmingham and the region that will deliver benefits to local people for years to come. It will increase participation and encourage more people to get active and stay active, and to volunteer to be part of this fantastic event 10 years on from London 2012.”

Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The level of investment coming into the city and the wider West Midlands as a result of our decision to successfully bid for the right to host the Commonwealth Games, is huge. The Games are undoubtedly a catalyst, bringing forward many regeneration and infrastructure schemes, so they are delivered much quicker that we could have done so otherwise.

“The event also gives us a golden opportunity to reposition the city and region on a global stage and bring citizens together. The announcement of the budget is a time to reflect upon this and thank all of the partner organisations that have joined forces to put resources into the local contribution to the overall Games budget.”

Birmingham was awarded the rights to host the Games in December 2017. This announcement comes following a detailed budget review that took place after Birmingham was awarded host city rights.