Potential candidate cities for the 2022 Commonwealth Games have until the end of the month to submit details of intent, with Birmingham, England, "seen to be in pole position as organizers continue the search for a new host," according to Mark Gleeson of REUTERS. Kuala Lumpur and Victoria, Canada, are "also in the running but both have sent mixed signals in recent months concerning their ability to pay for the event." Durban, South Africa, was removed as host in March after "failing to agree to financial guarantees and losing government support." The Commonwealth Games Federation exec board meets in Sri Lanka next month. Birmingham was chosen ahead of Liverpool by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport as Britain’s "preferred option after officials and independent assessors weighed up the merits of the two cities." The Olympic Council of Malaysia said that its government’s consideration of a Kuala Lumpur bid would only be finalized in the days leading up to the deadline, while Victoria was told that it "will not be supported by home province British Columbia, leaving it to local business to keep the bid alive" (REUTERS, 9/20).
