Liverpool will launch an assessment of its infrastructure – including all its sporting facilities – as the city’s bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games gathers pace.
After mooting a bid earlier this year, Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson is now in the process of appointing a project director who will oversee the bid and hire a firm to carry out a feasibility study.
This study will include a detailed look at infrastructure compared to the requirements set out by the Commonwealth Games Federation. A financial appraisal will also be carried out, in which the cost of hosting the Games and the potential economic impact will be assessed.
Anderson said the bid would be the “catalyst for regeneration, investment and raising the profile of sport”.
Talking to
Sports Management in May
after confirming the city’s intention of bidding, Anderson said Liverpool had all the “infrastructure needed to bring people in” highlighting its international airport, hotel capacity and sporting infrastructure.
“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.”
The government will make a final decision as to whether Liverpool will be nominated as the UK city to bid for the Games in September 2018 – a process which has been made slightly simpler
by Wales’ decision to pull out of bidding for the event due to financial pressures.
The Commonwealth Games General Assembly will make a final decision on the 2026 host city in September 2019.
Backing Liverpool’s bid is a host of local sports stars such as Rio 2016 hopeful Katrina Johnson-Thompson, former Liverpool football Jamie Carragher, World Champion gymnast Beth Tweddle and WBC World Cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew.
The sports stars – who will act as ambassadors for the bid – made a joint statement, which said: “The city is synonymous with sport, the people are so welcoming and there’s nowhere better for the Commonwealth Games to take place in so we’re delighted to act as ambassadors for the bid.”
