The city has lined up a bid which it claims will not only raise Birmingham’s global profile but have a possible financial legacy - creating thousands of new jobs, benefiting local suppliers, and boosting existing transport and housing plans.

Birmingham already boasts high-class sporting venues such as Villa Park, Edgbaston cricket ground and the Alexander Stadium.

Others include the National Exhibition Centre, the International Convention Centre, and the Genting and Barclaycard Arenas.  

More could be built as plans take shape, while existing venues outside Birmingham, including West Bromwich Albion Football Club’s The Hawthorns and Coventry City Football Club’s Ricoh Arena, could also be used.

Next year, the city is hosting the Birmingham International Marathon and fixtures for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy, and in 2018 it will stage the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Indoor Championships.

Birmingham unsuccessfully bid to host the 1992 Olympic Games, suffering elimination in the second round of the vote which took place in 1986 and saw Barcelona prevail. 

Those behind the Commonwealth Games bid, however, say the English city is ready to play host this time.

"Birmingham is a fantastic sporting city and we have proven ourselves to be warm, welcoming and friendly hosts to a number of international events in recent years," said John Clancy, the City Council’s leader. 

"In addition to the huge economic impact, these events showcase the very best of our city and wider region to the world."

Birmingham’s bid will stress its experience of hosting major sporting events, including Ashes Tests at Edgbaston, 2015 Rugby World Cup matches at Villa Park and IAAF Diamond League meets at the Alexander Stadium. 

Niels de Vos, the chief executive of UK Athletics and the London 2017 World Athletics Championships director, has given his backing. 

"Birmingham has the perfect blend of existing facilities, fantastic location, supportive local authority and a sport mad local population - all the key ingredients essential to hosting a successful multi-sport Games," he said. 

"But perhaps what marks out the Birmingham bid is the unparalleled track record the city has in staging major sporting events - making it 'Games Ready' in a way that I doubt any other bidder could claim to be."

Birmingham City Council's deputy leader Ian Ward called on the entire region to get behind the bid, which has also been backed by regional development agencies Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, the Midlands Engine and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

"The economic benefit, not to mention the excitement and legacy that such an immense sporting event would have on this area, is massive," he said.

"It is not just about the economic case, important though that is.

"There will be the excitement, a feel-good factor and a legacy for sport in the city."

A decision on England's chosen city will be formally confirmed in 2018, with Liverpool another contender for the 2026 Games having officially announced its bid last month. 

Auckland in New Zealand, Edmonton in Canada and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea are also currently considering whether to bid. 

The Commonwealth Games Federation is expected to choose a host city at its General Assembly in 2019. 

The next edition of the Commonwealth Games is due to take place in the Gold Coast in 2018 and the 2022 event is scheduled to be held in Durban in South Africa. 

Britain last staged the quadrennial event in Glasgow in 2014 - with Scotland as hosts - 12 years after the Games were held in Manchester.