Liverpool's ambition to host Commonwealth Games

Liverpool: Liverpool's Mayor Joe Anderson has announced the English city is to bid to host the Commonwealth Games.

Mayor Anderson said: "Liverpool is an ambitious city and I believe we have an enormous amount to offer when it comes to hosting an event of this scale which would be an incredibly important catalyst for regeneration, investment and raising the profile of sport.

"I'm delighted we already have a raft of local sporting heroes backing our plans and our aim to host the most inclusive Commonwealth Games ever," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.

Liverpool's bid comes just days after the Welsh government announced it was dropping out of race to host the event, saying the reason was partly due to uncertainty after the vote by Britain to leave the European Union.

A final decision as to whether Liverpool will be nominated as the United Kingdom city to bid for the Games will be made in September 2018, with the ultimate decision as to who will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games confirmed in September 2019 by the Commonwealth Games General Assembly.