Belfast has been stripped of its right to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games, after the required funding for the event was not released by the Northern Irish government.

Belfast was awarded the Games in February 2016, but Northern Ireland's coalition government collapsed in January 2017, before ministers had agreed to a financial package for the event.

Since the government's collapse, the country has been run by civil servants – who have signalled their belief that the Games do not represent "value for money".

As there are no guarantees that funding for the Games will be released, The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said it has been forced to re-open the bidding process for the 2021 event.

“We empathise with the ongoing circumstances surrounding Northern Ireland’s legislative Assembly and Executive and we've maintained a collaborative dialogue with our colleagues in Belfast about their ambitions to stage the Commonwealth Youth Games," said CGF President Louise Martin

"However, with no funding guarantees in place, we will begin discussions and invite expressions of interest from other Commonwealth cities who wish to build on the successes of Samoa 2015 and Bahamas 2017 and host the 2021 edition of the Youth Games.

"Belfast will be able to re-submit its candidature for 2021 or may wish to postpone its ambitions for a future edition.

"However, alternative cities and their respective Commonwealth Games Associations will now be given the opportunity to work with the CGF to develop impactful, cost-effective hosting proposals."

Martin added that the host city selection process would begin with immediate effect and is expected to take around six months.