Birmingham has been selected as the preferred UK candidate city for a potential bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Government has revealed.

The decision comes after an independent assessment panel and officials from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport made the recommendation for Birmingham to ministers.

Whitehall thanked both Birmingham and Liverpool, who were also considered, for their hard work.

‘I am grateful to the bid teams from both Birmingham and Liverpool for their hard work in making the case for their respective cities as potential Commonwealth Games hosts,’ said sports minister Tracey Crouch.

‘Now, after a comprehensive assessment process, the Government will look at the final bid proposal from Birmingham and decide if a formal bid will be submitted to the Commonwealth Games Federation.

‘We need to be completely satisfied that the bid offers overall value for money from hosting the Games and that a strong economic and sporting legacy can be delivered from it.’

‘This is a great endorsement by the UK Government of Birmingham’s credentials to host the Games and recognition of the city’s resolve to deliver a memorable event,’ said Ian Ward, deputy leader and chair of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bid Committee.

‘We appreciate that it was a very close decision and that Liverpool pushed us all the way with a very compelling proposal. This is not the end of the journey and we look forward to working with the Government as it makes its final decision to support a UK Candidate City.’

Liverpool 2022 Bid chairman, Brian Barwick, congratulated Birmingham for their successful bid and wished the city well.

‘I’d like to congratulate the city of Birmingham on making it to the next phase, and would like to offer this city’s support to the bid as it aims to represent the UK internationally,’ he said.

‘It will be great to see the Commonwealth Games back in the UK and we wish Birmingham well for the next stage in this process.’