By Tom Lloyd, Friday, 16 June 2017: Mixing existing world-class venues, its iconic Mersey waterfront setting, exciting new planned facilities and an innovative partnership with Manchester, Liverpool – a city known the world over for its warm welcome, sporting prowess and cultural dynamism – promises a transformational 2022 Commonwealth Games Liverpool.
Central to Liverpool’s unique bid to stage the Games is the riverside regeneration of the Bramley-Moore Dock – just two miles north of the city centre – which would be home to Everton Football Club’s new stadium.
The new football stadium – which is seeking to replicate the intimacy, fan proximity and atmosphere of Goodison Park – will accommodate a temporary athletics track for the Games without any disruption to those features.
The track will be installed after the final home game of the 2021/22 season and will be removed before the first scheduled kick-off of the 2022/23 season.
As part of Liverpool’s transformational plan, which is predicted to accelerate £1bn of investment up to 10 years ahead of schedule and create more than 12,000 jobs, the city is also proposing to host:
• Swimming at a new 50 metre pool within the city centre dock system, that would remain in place after the Games – providing both a swimming and visitor attraction legacy
• Triple jump, long jump and pole vault on the dockside by neighbouring Mann Island to ensure spectators are brought even closer to the action
• T20 Cricket and Track Cycling as its ‘optional sports’ which would take place in Manchester at Old Trafford Cricket Ground and Manchester Velodrome – marking an exciting partnership with its legendary North West neighbour.
Other key highlights of Liverpool’s hosting plan include the following existing venues:
• Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool – ACC: home to the 11,000-seat Echo Arena, BT Convention Centre and Exhibition Centre Liverpool [Badminton, Artistic Gymnastics, Judo, Netball and Wrestling]
• Anfield Stadium [Opening ceremony, Rugby Sevens]
• St George’s Hall [Squash Finals]
• Goodison Park [Boxing Finals]
• Stanley Park [Lawn Bowls] A further key element of Liverpool’s mould-breaking plan is to host the Athletes Village beside Everton FC’s new stadium in Nelson Dock, within Peel Land and Property’s £5.5bn Liverpool Waters scheme – residential developments that already have outline planning permission meaning construction could start in the first half of 2018.
The city also today launched its official bid website: www.liverpoolCG22.org with a call to action for the public to back the bid via social media with the hashtag#IAmLiverpool2022Liverpool 2022 Bid Chairman Brian Barwick said:
“Liverpool is a world-class city and what we have unveiled today is truly transformational.
We are utilising our existing, world-class venues such as ACC Liverpool, Anfield, St George’s Hall and Goodison Park, as well as facilities linked to the massive regeneration that is already taking place in the Bramley-Moore Dock area that would be home to the athletes village.
Some of the other eye catching plans, such as the dynamic new pool in the docks and the creative approach to working with Everton FC’s new state of art stadium will set the bar for how major games leave a real and tangible legacy.
“We are also being transformational in how we present sports such as athletics, by bringing some of the jumping events to spectacular locations in our docks. Through a creative partnership with our North West neighbour Manchester we are able to host T20 cricket and track cycling in world class facilities.
This plan is both compelling and deliverable and will be amazing for the athletes, the spectators and the Commonwealth – and crucially is designed to leave Liverpool transformed.”
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “In this city we do things differently. Since being European Capital of Culture in 2008, Liverpool has undergone a renaissance through smart investments, forging great partnerships and building a reputation as a major event and cultural hub.
This bid taps directly into this creative ambition, innovative approach and the uniqueness of our city which will transform not just how the world views the Commonwealth Games but will also transform the economic fortunes of our waterfront and countless lives across the city.
“Our vision for the Games brings together ambitious new sporting facilities on the historic waterfront, with the existing world-class stadia revered by sports fans and athletes across the globe. This combination makes for a bid which I think is very hard for anyone to match in terms of ambition, creativity and sustainability and would result in a transformational games that would make Britain proud.”
Everton FC Chief Executive Officer Robert Elstone said: “Everton Football Club is proud and excited to partner Liverpool City Council and support its commitment to delivering a landmark Commonwealth Games in 2022, one that will celebrate the city’s rich sporting history, showcasing the talent and energy within the Commonwealth.
Significant progress is being made at Bramley Moore Dock and we are fully focused on the delivery of an iconic stadium which will complement and enhance the city’s world-famous waterfront and deliver much-needed regeneration benefits to north Liverpool.
From the outset, our designers were tasked with developing an atmospheric and intimate stadium for our fans, attributes we know the City Council wishes to replicate for the Commonwealth Games. Having seen the work to date, we are confident that our teams will find that solution – a stadium that will meet the needs of the football club and provide a venue for a world-class Commonwealth Games Athletics programme.”
Liverpool FC Chief Executive Officer Peter Moore said: “Liverpool Football Club is delighted to support the Council’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Our great city has a unique passion for sport and we would be proud to welcome the Commonwealth to Anfield Stadium.”
Beth Tweddle, Olympic and Commonwealth Games gymnast and Liverpool 2022 Bid ambassador, said: “Liverpool is my home town and, having won four Commonwealth Games medals, it fills me with a huge amount of excitement and great pride to imagine the Games in our great city in 2022.
The concept looks incredible and ideal for athletes given the compact nature of the plan and close proximity of the village to the venues. That makes a real difference to the athlete experience.
We also have sport in our blood in Liverpool, and I know our passionate and friendly fans would ensure an amazing atmosphere. I can’t wait!” Steve Parry, three times Commonwealth Games medallist and Liverpool 2022 Bid ambassador, said:
“Having competed at three Commonwealth Games I know what a special event it is and that Liverpool, my home city, would be the perfect host. The plans to create a pool in the city centre docks are an absolute knockout and a world first for swimming.
It will place swimming at the heart of the Games experience and provides a swimming legacy that would be a must-see visitor attraction. These Games would be a great springboard for Liverpool.” Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of Liverpool City Region, said: “
As Metro Mayor of Liverpool City Region I wish every success to Liverpool City’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. With its rich sporting heritage, strong international reputation and historic ties to the Commonwealth community, I can think of no more suitable city to host this prestigious event.”
Sir Richard Leese, Manchester City Council Leader, said: “Manchester is delighted to be supporting Liverpool’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. With the hugely successful Games our city held in 2002, and given the elite sporting venues we currently have in Manchester, we are pleased to be able to assist Liverpool in its quest to deliver an inclusive, innovative and inspiring Games for the Commonwealth.”
The City of Liverpool submitted its Preliminary Phase Questionnaire to the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport today as part of the ongoing candidate city assessment process.
The total cost of hosting the Liverpool 2022 Commonwealth Games is anticipated to be in the region of £672 million, with £547 million expected to come from the public sector. Liverpool City Council will contribute a quarter of this [£137 million] from its “invest to earn” strategy and existing resources as well as through various income steams raised from the Games.Liverpool 2022 – Competition Venues / Sports:
• ACC Liverpool – Badminton, Artistic Gymnastics, Judo, Netball and Wrestling.
• Anfield Stadium – Opening Ceremony and Rugby Sevens.
• Bramley Moore Dock (Everton FC new stadium) – Athletics.
• Goodison Park Stadium – Boxing Finals.
• City Centre Docks – Swimming, Long Jump, Triple Jump and Pole Vault.
• Liverpool Olympia – Weightlifting and Powerlifting.
• Liverpool Tennis Centre – Table Tennis.
• National Cycling Centre (Manchester Velodrome).
• National Squash Centre (Manchester).
• Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Manchester) – T20.
• Pier Head – Triathlon and Road Cycling.
• St George’s Hall – Squash Finals.
• Stanley Park – Lawn Bowls.• Wyncote Playing Fields – Hockey. —- Photos Credit – Liverpool City Council
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