How much did UK spend to host 2022 Commonwealth Games?

The Commonwealth Games 2022 officially got underway in Birmingham on Thursday (28 July), with an opening ceremony that included the likes of Lenny Henry and Joe Lycett.

But how much does it cost to host the Commonwealth Games – and where has the investment gone?

The Alexander Stadium is one of the focal points of investment at the Commonwealth Games 2022 (image: Getty Images)

What is the cost of Commonwealth Games 2022?Hosting any major event like the Commonwealth Games requires a lot of public money.

In 2019, the Commonwealth Games Federation – the organisation that oversees the competition – revealed that the Birmingham 2022 games would receive an estimated £778 million in public funding.

Birmingham City Council could be left out of pocket by the Commonwealth Games 2022 (image: Getty Images)

This amount is almost £200 million lower than the £967 million the previous edition of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast of Australia cost to run in 2018.

What is Commonwealth games money being spent on?

One of the key aims for the organisers of the Commonwealth Games is to leave behind long-term infrastructure that can support the host city and its citizens.