The Liverpool 2022 Commonwealth Games Bid Received a timely boost with the city being named as the number one Sporting City in the UK!



The coveted title was bestowed upon the city region by global sports media outlet ESPN and the University of Bath.

The research project, set up in 2015, sets out to find the UK’s Greatest Sporting City and more than 5,000 fans from across the country are surveyed. This year, Liverpool has taken top spot, with Commonwealth Games partner city Manchester coming second.

The news comes as Liverpool enters the final phase of competition to be nominated as the UK’s Candidate City to host the 22 Games.

If successful, Liverpool 2022 will then bid with international cities before a final decision is taken by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) towards the end of the year.

Cllr Ian Maher, Labour Leader at Sefton Council, said: “We fully support Liverpool’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games and know how the Liverpool City Region would make a perfect venue.

“The region is blessed with a rich history of sport and culture and we in Sefton would be more than happy to offer any potential venues across the borough to support the bid.”

Liverpool 2022 bid chair, Brian Barwick, said:

“To be recognised as the UK’s number one sports city is fantastic news, not only for our bid but for our city.
“If we win the honour of staging the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the CGF and Government will know that it is bringing it to a city that is dynamic, sports mad and fun to be in.”

Double Olympic heptathlete and Liverpudlian, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, said:

“It’s great to see that ESPN has recognised Liverpool as the UK’s number one sporting city. As someone born and raised in Liverpool, I already know what an amazing place it is. I believe we have a real passion for life, we welcome visitors with a smile and we have a proud sporting tradition which all contributes to make Liverpool a great city.