Commonwealth Games 2022: Birmingham has ‘little room for error’

A final budget for Birmingham 2022 is expected to be announced imminently, with initial estimates of £750m. It is thought the government will pay 75% of the cost of hosting the Games, with the other 25% – about £180m – raised locally.

When asked how confident he was that the event would cost less than the last Games in the Gold Coast, Grevemberg said: “We’re optimistic but very cautious in looking at risks, but that is our ambition – that our delivery costs start to buck the trend, and become more manageable.

“As soon as the budget is announced, things will start to fly into action. Certainty is the name of the game. The more certainty you can create the better, so over the next six months there’s a degree of focus and urgency to get some of those fundamental building blocks put on the ground, and we start moving forward.”

Although most other facilities for the 11-day event are already built, the central venue – Alexander Stadium – is having a £70m upgrade, and £350m is being spent on the athletes’ village in Perry Barr, which will then be turned into 1,500 homes.

Birmingham City Council’s financial position was described as “immensely serious” by a government-commissioned independent panel earlier this year. There have been £642m of cuts made since 2011 with a further £123m expected by 2021-22.

But Grevemberg says the Games can provide a major boost to the West Midlands.

“It’s critical that organising committees look at how we maximise that public investment,” he said.

“Whether it’s regeneration, destination tourism or strengthening businesses and community cohesion. All of those aspects can benefit from hosting the Games.

“The key is that there is a good community engagement programme and plenty of opportunities for people to be involved in making the Games great.

“Legacy is not something that happens to you, it happens by you. So public investment shouldn’t be taken for granted.

“I think it’s a great stimulus package if we treat it as such. If we all wait for legacy to fall in our laps it’s not going to happen. The message is ‘get involved but not just by watching the Games. Be part of the Games’.”

New sports for the 2022 Games will be announced at the end of this month with women’s T20 cricket expected to be included, and staged at Edgbaston.

Archery, shooting, beach volleyball and Para-table tennis have also applied to be part of the programme.