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Government invites cities across the UK to put forward proposals for hosting the Games. 

• Culture Secretary: Hosting the Games in 2022 could give us an opportunity to “step up and show the very best of Global Britain”

• Sports Minister writes to Commonwealth Games Federation confirming UK interest

The Government is calling on UK cities interested in hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games to work up plans for how they would stage the event, Culture Secretary Karen Bradley announced today.

The UK Government will work with interested cities and the relevant Commonwealth Games Associations on a detailed assessment of whether Britain can step in to host the event in 2022 after it was announced last month that Durban in South Africa can no longer hold the games.

This will include looking at important factors such as the economic benefits the Games could deliver to the UK – and to the host city or cities - through international trade, investment and tourism opportunities, and how potential host cities could benefit as well as the necessary infrastructure and major event delivery experience that potential host cities have.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said:

Hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2022 could give us an opportunity to step up and show the very best of Global Britain as an outward-looking nation that is confident on the world stage. So it’s only right that we look into the potential for hosting one of the world’s biggest sporting events on home soil.

Britain has a wealth of expertise in staging major sports events, inspiring people to get involved in sport and helping to grow our economy. The British people embrace these events and always give a warm welcome to the world. I would urge cities to consider if they have the desire and capability to stage the Games in 2022 as they could bring benefits not just to their city but across the country.

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said:

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games showed the appetite and enthusiasm that the British people have for supporting major sporting events. Now that the Commonwealth Games Federation need to find a new host for 2022, we want to hear from cities interested in repeating the triumphs of London, Glasgow and Manchester before it in 2002. We will then weigh up whether the UK should step in to host, looking at the opportunities to promote Global Britain and deliver a lasting legacy at good value for taxpayers.

The government will consider multi-city proposals, as well as applications from individual cities which will be assessed to ensure they offer value for money. The process will end later in the year when the government will decide if the UK will put forward a formal bid.

Cities that are interested in hosting will be given detailed assessment packs from the government that they will have to complete and their plans will be scored against each other in a fair and transparent competition process. This will then determine if the UK will put forward a formal proposal and where the Games would be held.

The Commonwealth Games Federation last month announced that Durban, which was due to host the Games in 2022, will no longer stage the event, after the city could not commit to delivering against criteria set by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

The Commonwealth Games Federation is due to decide where the 2022 Games will be staged later this year.

The Sports Minister has today also written to the Commonwealth Games Federation, ahead of their deadline for expressions of interest from interested countries, to confirm the UK’s interest as a potential host in 2022. This fulfils the first formal requirement set out by the Commonwealth Games Federation in their selection of the host city for 2022.

Interested cities who require further information should email: CG2022@culture.gov.uk

Notes to Editors

Media enquiries please contact:

Jose Riera at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport press office on 020 7211 6971 / 07825 057405