This has now gone live.
Any locals who think the Mayor and the city council should look into bidding for the Commonwealth Games should sign.
http://councillors.liverpool.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=16&HPID=4197079Also, feel free to Tweet: Enjoyed the Olympics? Fancy the Commonwealth Games up in Liverpool? Sign this & let the Mayor know
http://councillors.liverpool.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=16&HPID=4197079Liverpool should bid to host the Commonwealth GamesWe the undersigned petition the council to bid to host the Commonwealth Games
Following the huge success of the London Olympics, it is clear that Liverpool should bid for the next available opportunity to become a host city for the Commonwealth Games.
We have seen the transformation that East London has experienced in the lead up to the recent Olympics. Similarly, Manchester enjoyed huge benefits from holding the Commonwealth Games in 2002. Benefits which Liverpool could and should pursue.
Upon securing the 2002 games, Manchester capitalised secured large scale public investment to help its physical, economic and social regeneration.
The games brought in over £300m direct investment to the city, which has lead to billions of pounds further regeneration.
Some of the more obvious benefits of Manchester hosting the games included the construction of new and improved facilities such as:
• The Manchester Aquatics Centre,
• The Northern Regional Tennis Centre
• The National Squash Centre.
• The upgrades of Belle Vue and Moss Side leisure centres
• The City of Manchester Stadium, subsequently handed over to Manchester City Football Club. This heavily subsidised investment meant the club were able to secure overseas investment, which catapulted the club to becoming one of the richest on the planet. This in turn has lead to the club seeking to invest hugely in redeveloping the area on further facilities.
• The £100m transformation of Manchester Piccadilly train station
Even when bids are unsuccessful, they have benefits. Manchester failed in an earlier bid to secure the Olympics, but the bidding process gave the city the belief to secure the Commonwealth Games only a few years later. Manchester Velodrome, built for the Olympic bid, went on to support the Team GB track cycling team in sweeping aside all before them at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. The facility also provides modern facilities for the local community, not to mention jobs for local people.
Over and above the physical transformation provided, the games provided a platform for the city to promote itself on a scale far in excess of that enjoyed by Liverpool during Capital of Culture. This sustained exposure lead to Manchester’s reputation being enhanced, promoting the city as a place to live, work and invest.
The recent Giant Spectacular event brought in £32m to Liverpool, at a cost of only £300,000 to the city council. More than that, it brought pride to the city and showed off areas that for far too long failed to get the recognition they deserved. Similarly, if Liverpool secured the Commonwealth Games, the city would attract investment from central government and the private sector on large scale, meaning that local tax payers would get much more for their pound.
Liverpool has proven itself capable of hosting international quality events. Having secured government funding to hold the 2014 Festival of Business, the city has managed to convince Whitehall that it can do so again. We should build on this reputation and bid to hold the Commonwealth Games as soon as possible.
On reaching 437 signatures a Senior Officer will attend a public meeting to answer questions.This ePetition runs from 14/08/2012 to 25/09/2012.