Birmingham bids for 2029 World Para Athletics Championships

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 10 Nov, 14:28 · Archive

Birmingham will bid to host the World Para Athletics Championships in 2029 despite financial concerns at the council.

Birmingham will bid to host the World Para Athletics Championships in 2029 if the bid is successful. The council describes the event as an opportunity to build on the legacy of the Commonwealth Games and establish Birmingham as the centre of athletics and para sport in the United Kingdom. It would follow other major events set to be held in the city, including next year's Invictus Games and Euro 2028.

Government commissioners, sent in to oversee the council's financial recovery, advised cabinet members prior to a meeting on 10 November that they should consider not hosting the event. Amid the council's 'significant' financial challenges and 'competing demands on scarce resources', the commissioners said councillors should 'carefully consider' whether not submitting a bid would provide greater benefits to residents. They noted that going down this route would enable up to around £6m to be invested in other services and priorities.

The commissioners added that should the cabinet decide to proceed with a bid, the decision should be conditional upon securing a minimum 50 per cent contribution from external partners. Cabinet member for culture Deborah Harries acknowledged that fellow councillors would be 'rightly focused on affordability and risk'. She stated that the recommendations before cabinet ensure that any final commitment is dependent on securing significant external funding, with an expectation that at least 50 per cent of funding will come from partners.

How it is being reported

• Birmingham to bid for major sporting event in 2029 despite financial concernsBrum will host the World Para Athletics Championships in 2029 if the bid is successful.Express & Star · 10 Nov, 14:16
• Birmingham to bid for major sporting event in 2029 despite financial concernsBrum will host the World Para Athletics Championships in 2029 if the bid is successful.Birmingham World · 10 Nov, 14:16
• Birmingham to bid for major sporting event in 2029 despite financial concernsCommissioners at Birmingham Council told cabinet members they should consider not hosting the event amid 'significant' financial challengesBirminghamLive · 10 Nov, 14:00

In this story: Birmingham · Birmingham Council · Deborah Harries

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