Scotland have backed Birmingham's bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games ©Birmingham 2022

Scotland has called for Birmingham to be awarded the 2022 Commonwealth Games as early as possible following the decision by the UK Government to choose it as its candidate city.

The English city was chosen ahead of its only rival Liverpool on Thursday (September 7). 

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport now expects Birmingham to put forward a compelling business case which shows "clear value for taxpayers' money" to receive Government funding towards an official bid.

That is expected to be a formality before the deadline of September 30 set by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) for cities to formally submit bids.

A bid from Victoria in Canada does not have the necessary backing from its Provincial or Federal Government, although a group of local businessmen after trying to revive the campaign by promising to underwrite any overruns.

Kuala Lumpur, host of the 1998 Commonwealth Games, had also explored the option of bidding but is currently lacking Government support.

It would leave Birmingham as the only candidate.

Birmingham 2022 will continue the momentum in Britain created by major events like the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Commonwealth Games Scotland claim ©Getty Images
Birmingham 2022 will continue the momentum in Britain created by major events like the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Commonwealth Games Scotland claim ©Getty Images

A decision is not scheduled to be officially made by the CGF until the middle of November.

There is, however, a CGF Executive Board meeting due to be held in Colombo in Sri Lanka on October 3 and 4 where a decision to find a replacement for Durban after they were stripped of the Games following a failure to meet a series of financial deadlines will be top of the agenda.

"Scotland is extremely supportive of an England bid for the Games," Paul Bush, the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Scotland, said.

"We believe this would help to maintain the momentum for sport across the UK on the back of the huge success of London 2012, Glasgow 2014, the 2017 World and Para Athletics Championships and with the Glasgow 2018 European Championships still to come.

"We very much hope that England’s intention to bid is confirmed by colleagues at Commonwealth Games England and the British Government.

"We look forward to an early decision by the Commonwealth Games Federation to enable everyone to get behind the Games and capitalise on the exciting opportunities it would bring for all the Home Countries."