The World Gymnastics Championships could be coming to Liverpool after the city announced it will bid to host the competition in 2022.
Liverpool City Council’s cabinet will formally endorse British Gymnastics’ bid, supported by UK Sport with National Lottery funding, to the Federation of International Gymnastics tomorrow (15 December).
The competition would be held at the Echo Arena over 10 days, bringing together 700 gymnasts from more than 80 nations and generating an estimated £6m (€6.8m, US$8m) boost to the local economy.
Liverpool’s celebrated triple world gymnastics champion Beth Tweddle said: “I lived, trained and went to university in Liverpool and, having won three world titles, it fills me with a huge amount of excitement and great pride to imagine these championships in our great city in 2022.
“We have sport in our blood in Liverpool and I know our passionate and friendly fans would ensure an amazing atmosphere.”
The Echo Arena has hosted the annual British Championships since 2012. As part of the bid, British Gymnastics announced the city’s Kings Dock venue, which has held Davis Cup ties and other major sporting events, will continue to host these championships until 2022.
Last held in the UK in 2015, when Glasgow attracted a worldwide audience of 665 million viewers, the World Championships in 2022 will be the first event for nations to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said: “The World Gymnastics Championships in 2022 would be a huge sporting occasion for Liverpool and a unique opportunity to showcase the city to a global audience.
“Liverpool has a fantastic track record in nurturing gymnastic talent and we’ve fostered a great relationship with British Gymnastics by hosting its championships since 2012, so a 2022 World Championship would be great way to celebrate a decade-long journey.”
Matthew Greenwood, events director at British Gymnastics, added: “To bring the World Championships back to the UK ahead of the Paris Olympic Games and host it in Liverpool would be fantastic.”
The Federation of International Gymnastics is expected to announce the winning bid for the 2022 World Championships at its next council meeting in Istanbul in May 2018.
