Business community unite behind Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games bid

BUSINESS leaders across the West Midlands have been unanimous in their backing of Birmingham’s bid to stage the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Should the bid be successful then the city region could see a £400m boost to its annual GVA.

Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport, said the hub was well positioned to provide the connectivity to support such a prestigious event in the city.

“We fully support this decision to host the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and will be assisting our regional partners involved in pulling together the bid to show that Birmingham is the right choice for this major event in 2026,” he said.
 
“Birmingham Airport currently serves 440 direct or one stop flights around the world and by 2026 will be the first UK airport served by HS2, growing the catchment and making access from the south east faster and easier.
 
“We are focused on continuing to grow our route network, particularly to long haul destinations in order to serve the region’s business and leisure needs, so we anticipate that connectivity will continue to flourish, with more airlines realising the strength of the Midlands market and ease of flying through Birmingham.”
 
He said he was confident that in 10 years’ time the airport would be in an even stronger position to deliver the global connectivity necessary for the Games.

• Birmingham has a successful track record of attracting major sporting events, having staged more than any other UK city. It is currently preparing for the 2018 World Indoor Athletics Championships.

 
Steve Hollis (left), Deputy and Interim Chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, said the area was perfectly poised to welcome the thousands of sports fans and athletes who would travel for the Games.

“We are one of the most connected regions in the world with unrivalled transport links, accommodation, world-class venues and entertainment. Unlike other cities considering bidding, we already have significant infrastructure in place and HS2 is also set to be operational from 2026,” he said.

“Working collaboratively across the public and private sector has been the cornerstone of our economic success – and it’s that spirit that gives us a great chance of bringing the Games to Birmingham.”

• Birmingham was the first city in the United Kingdom to be awarded the title National City of Sport by the Sports Council.

Cllr Bob Sleigh, Chairman of the West Midlands Combined Authority, said the wider region offered the potential for venues such as The Hawthorns, home to West Bromwich Albion – the region’s only Premier League football club – and the Ricoh Arena in Coventry to be used for the Games. (The Ricoh was used as a football venue doing the 2012 Olympic Games.)
 

• 71 teams will take part in the Commonwealth Games in sports such as athletics, bowls, netball, rugby sevens, gymnastics, swimming and boxing.

 
Sir John Peace, Chairman of the Midlands Engine, said: “The Commonwealth Games is an incredible opportunity to showcase the Midlands region, one of the largest economic areas outside of London, with the largest population, sitting at the crossroads of Britain. The Games will not only attract interest in the region, but will also provide legacy investment opportunities long after the last race is won.”
 

• Other cities believed to be considering bidding include Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, Edmonton in Canada and Liverpool. Candidates must notify of their intention to bid by March 2018, with the winning city being unveiled in November 2019.

Paul Faulkner (left), chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “The business community in Greater Birmingham will fully support this initiative. It would present a huge range of opportunities for all businesses and the bid itself will bring a focus on Birmingham at a time when it is driving its importance on the global stage.

“We already have a great track record in delivering huge sporting events, including the World Indoor Athletics Championships, ICC Champions Trophy, Davis Cup tennis, the British Basketball League Finals, the All England Open Badminton Championships, the Rugby World Cup and championship boxing.

“We greatly look forward to actively supporting the bid.”

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “I am sure the whole region will get behind Birmingham’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games as it will, undoubtedly, bring benefits to Coventry, Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands.

“It would have an economic uplift for the region and would boost our profile to a global audience.”

David Burbidge, the chairman of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “We are very much behind Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games bid.

“Birmingham is supportive of our bid to be UK City of Culture in 2021 and it would be great for the region if we could bring both to the area from an economic, social and cultural point of view.”

• Birmingham City Council will now commission a full feasibility study and form the Commonwealth Games 2026 bid organising committee to progress the city and region’s ambition to host this high-profile event.