Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games benefits highlighted in report

According to the report, the Games are estimated to deliver a $2.5 billion economic boost to Queensland, including $1.8 million to the Gold Coast. Approximately 82 per cent of Games-wide contracts, worth nearly $1.7 billion, were awarded to Queensland businesses, 20,000 pieces of sports equipment were gifted to schools, councils, sporting organisations and communities across Queensland, and Festival 2018, the arts and culture programme, was the largest arts and culture event ever hosted in Queensland attracting more than 1.1 million attendances.

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "I congratulate everyone involved with the organisation of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games for the delivery of an event that has clearly had a huge positive impact on the city and the state of Queensland.

"The success of those Games is inspiring, set a high standard to follow and will help us shape the aims and ambitions for Birmingham 2022. I've always said the Commonwealth Games are more than just 11 days of sport - this report confirms exactly that.

"When he visited Birmingham last year, the Mayor of the Gold Coast Tom Tate offered to share his knowledge and experience. I look forward to studying in more detail the findings of this report and learning as much as we can from our counterparts in Australia in the coming years."