Four countries have submitted updates to Commonwealth Games organizers after they "extended the deadline for bids" for the 2022 Games, according to Alan Baldwin of the REUTERS. The Commonwealth Games Federation said on Friday that it received more information from Australia, Canada, Malaysia and England and "would consider the next steps after a Dec. 6 board meeting." Birmingham, England, was the "only bid submitted before the original Sept. 30 deadline" but that was deemed "not fully compliant" despite being backed by the British government. The CGF "did not state whether any more bids had been received" (BBC, 12/1). The BBC reported Kuala Lumpur and Victoria are "thought to be the cities involved" from Malaysia and Canada, respectively. Birmingham City Council Leader and Birmingham 2022 Bid Team Chair Ian Ward said, "We have had a number of productive meetings with the Commonwealth Games Federation as we demonstrate that Birmingham, being at the heart of the U.K. and the soul of the Commonwealth, would make the ideal host for the 2022 Games" (BBC, 12/1).
