Kuala Lumpur Expected To Pull Out, Leaving Birmingham As Sole Bidder For 2022 CWG

Birmingham "looks set to be the only bidder" for the 2022 Commonwealth Games because Kuala Lumpur is reportedly "not expected to receive the support of the Malaysian Government in time," according to Duncan Mackay of INSIDE THE GAMES. The deadline set by the Commonwealth Games Federation for cities to announce they are bidding is Sept. 30. The Malaysian Government, led by PM Najib Razak, would reportedly "rather consider a campaign for the 2026 Commonwealth Games." Kuala Lumpur was one of several cities that expressed an interest in replacing Durban after the South African city was stripped of the Games in March. Potential bidders, however, "have steadily faded away and only Birmingham now remains in," having made a firm commitment to stage the event. Kuala Lumpur would have been "serious contenders" to Birmingham, having staged the CWG in '98, an event "widely considered one of the best in history" (INSIDE THE GAMES, 9/12).