Commonwealth Games excitement builds
Manchester
Support's growing to bring the Commonwealth Games back to Manchester.
Council officials have offered to step in and help after the South African City of Durban withdrew as hosts for 2022 due to financial reasons.
Manchester hosted the Games in 2002 and is now working with the Commonweath Games Federation and the Government about the event in five years time.
Liverpool and Birmingham are also in the running. They were originally bidding to host the 2026 games but now it's available four years earlier they too are offering their services.
In a statement Manchester City Council said:
"It is disappointing that South Africa and Durban have been unable to organise the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Manchester has always considered itself part of the Commonwealth Games family and we worked incredibly closely with the Commonwealth Games Federation to deliver a memorable 2002 Games here in the city. If we were invited to help we would be pleased to work with the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Government to ensure the delivery of a successful 2022 Games in England which could make a significant contribution to the growth of the Northern Powerhouse as well as supporting the Commonwealth sporting family."
There's been lots of reaction on twitter to the prospect of the Commonwealth Games returning to Manchester.
Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell said: “Manchester has shown it can host the Commonwealth Games really well.
“It would be a fitting way to mark the 20th anniversary of the event which was the catalyst for Manchester’s rebirth.”