Anderson "hugely disappointed" as Liverpool loses Commonwealth Games bid

Liverpool has lost out to Birmingham in the race to be named the UK's preferred bidder to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

The final decision lay with the Government - and the judges have decided to put forward Birmingham instead as the nominated city.

Liverpool's proposal included utilising Everton's yet-to-be-built stadium on Bramley Moore Dock as the venue for athletics events - and a regeneration plan which would have transformed a large area in the north of the city.

But Birmingham had a huge advantage with a ready made athletics arena, the Alexander Stadium, already in place - and it's thought their bid was deemed to be more functional and cost-effective.

"It's hugely disappointing for us - but it was the right thing to do. This city will always be ambitious because we need to look at creating new revenue and generating new business and opportunities, if we're to look at moving forward.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson says the whole team is downhearted - but they're glad they pitched for the Games.

"It's hugely disappointing for us - but it was the right thing to do. This city will always be ambitious because we need to look at creating new revenue and generating new business and opportunities, if we're to look at moving forward.

"For us, we believe that we put in a bid that was fantastic - it met all the requirements and much, much more. It was delivering an inspirational Games in terms of jobs and opportunities, using the River and the waterfront to showcase the Games - we believe it would have reinvigorated the Commonwealth Games itself."

Speaking about the future, with the next Commonwealth Games due in 2026, Anderson says they haven't ruled out another bid.

"What happens now is, because it comes back here in 2022, rather than 2026 when the UK was due to have it, it's unlikely the UK would be allowed under Commonwealth Games rules to host the event again four years later. It would be around 2030, 2034 - that sort of time.

"So, we could, but things change and times move on. We'd have to look at it and see. This was our moment we felt, that we could have delivered for the UK and the Commonwealth. Personally, myself now, I just want to crack on with developing things in our city, including the stadium, and we'll await to see the feedback from the Government on why the bid wasn't chosen."