BIRMINGHAM: The City Council’s direct contribution to Birmingham 2022 remains at £184 million ($238 million/€203 million), around 25 per cent of the total cost of the event.
According to Birmingham Live, however, a freedom of information request showed an additional £34 million ($44 million/€37 million) has been added to the wider planned spending.
This includes a budgeted $14.9 million for the costs associated with coordinating activities related to the 2022 Commonwealth Games and programme team costs, and a fund of $7.8 million designed to support Commonwealth Games community engagement, involvement and legacy programmes for Birmingham residents.
At least 110 small grants of between £10,000 ($13,000/€11,000) and £20,000 ($26,000/€22,000) have been approved by the City Council to create artistic projects across the city, which will then feature in the six month cultural festival set to be held in the West Midlands region from March to September 2022.
Enhanced city operations as a result of increased visitor numbers have been budgeted for £15 million ($19 million/€16 million) by the City Council.
“We are all seeing the impact of COVID-19 on all aspects of our daily lives,” a Birmingham City Council spokesperson said.
“Looking to the future, the Commonwealth Games will provide a major opportunity for Birmingham to position itself within the world, and particularly with the Commonwealth.
“The importance of the event and the opportunities it provides for the city and wider region, from an economic and social perspective, are now more significant than ever.”
Earlier this month, Jonathan Browning resigned from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Board because of “growing frustration” at “a lack of transparency”.
Birmingham is set to host the next edition of the Commonwealth Games from July 28 to August 8 in 2022.
