Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city by population, is currently in the international spotlight as the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. To welcome the athletes and stage their events, the city has invested £788 million of public funding, including £594 million from central government.
This funding has kickstarted programmes to, among other things, get more people taking up physical exercise, starting businesses and devising tourism experiences. It has seen the city dotted with new infrastructure, a new aquatics centre in Sandwell, a rejuvenated Alexander Stadium and the launch of the Birmingham 2022 Festival – a celebration of creativity in the West Midlands.
