Liverpool ready to host 2022 Commonwealth Games if Durban backs out

Liverpool has thrown its hat into the ring to stage the 2022 Commonwealth Games if Durban decides to relinquish its hosting duties for the event.

Representatives from the local authority have been liaising with sports minister Tracey Crouch and Commonwealth Games England about stepping into the breach if the South African city pulls out due to spiralling costs.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is expected to make a decision on whether Durban is fit to host the Games after setting a strict criteria of requirements it must achieve.

However, South African sports minister Fikile Mbalula has conceded that the event may be too expensive to host.

Last year, Liverpool’s mayor Joe Anderson revealed that the city would be bidding for the 2026 Games.

But a City Council spokesperson told the BBC: “Liverpool is interested in hosting the Games in 2022.

“We heard rumours that Durban might be unable to deliver the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and have already indicated to the government that we are very willing to host them instead.”

After announcing an official bid for 2026, Anderson ordered a full review of Liverpool’s infrastructure – including its sporting facilities.

A City Council spokesperson told Sports Management that a bid for the Games four years earlier hadn’t yet been factored into the feasibility study.

However, when speaking to Sports Management last year, Anderson said he was confident about the city’s current quality of infrastructure to host such an event.

“As well as our football stadiums, we have the Wavertree Sports Park and athletics club, an Olympic pool at the Liverpool Aquatics Centre and a number of other, national standard centres which would act as training facilities,” he said. “It’s pretty much all ready to go.”