By Tom Degun

June 16 - England has been encouraged to bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which would be only the third time the country has staged the event since it was launched in 1930.



Mike Fennell, the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), has claimed that England would stand a good chance with the 2010 Games due to be held in New Delhi, 2014 in Glasgow and 2018 which will be awarded to either Hambantota in Sri Lanka or the Gold Coast in Australia.

England last hosted the Games in 2002 in Manchester, which was the launchpad for London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

But before that the last occasion England had staged the Games was in London in 1934 when they were held at White City and the Empire Pool in Wembley.

Fennell told insidethegames: "The last Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 would have taken place exactly 20 years ago by the year 2022.

"Certainly that is not a bad rotation and you could argue that by then, it would be a good time for the Games to come back to England again."

London, which should have several world-class facilities after hosting the Olympics and Paralympics, would be the obvious candidate but Fennell said that should not rule out other cities in England putting themselves forward.

He said: "Remember that 2022 will be ten years after the London Olympic and Paralympic Games and those facilities used for the Games could well have a different use by then or even be long gone.

"So London may well have to use other facilities to host a potential Games in 2022.

"Alternatively another major city in England, such as Birmingham who are hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Sports Awards at the end of this year, could no doubt mount a serious bid for the 2022 Games."

A decision on which city will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games is due to be made by the CGF in 2015.

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