"There are now fewer than 200 days to go until the Commonwealth Games get underway here in Birmingham, and the eyes of the world will be on our city. I have absolutely no doubt at all that this bold, young, creative city will shine in the spotlight.

"The Games will be our springboard for future success, but they are not the reason for optimism in 2022 and beyond. Our city is attracting record levels of investment, and we are building homes and creating the jobs and opportunities that we need.

"I have often said that 2022 represents the start of a Golden Decade of Opportunity for Birmingham, with the Commonwealth Games, HS2, the £1.9 billion Smithfield programme, Paradise, and the Digbeth development all underway.

"Local areas across Birmingham are receiving huge, transformative investment, with the Perry Barr Masterplan, the Longbridge redevelopment, the East Birmingham Regeneration Strategy and the Local Centres Strategy will share opportunity across our city.

"These projects will shape the lives and life chances of people growing up in Birmingham today, creating jobs, opportunities and pathways to prosperity. Our great challenge over the coming decade is ensuring that this opportunity is made available to every community in our city, lifting our children out of poverty, and giving everyone a stake in Birmingham’s growth and success.

"That is why the council has already made a strong case for Birmingham to be at the very heart of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda. We have set out our ambitions to challenge deeply ingrained structural inequalities, addressing poor health, poor educational attainment, low skills and incomes, congestion and air pollution, while bringing forward new homes, employment sites and community assets.

"As the Government develops its approach to levelling up, we offer a unique opportunity to develop, co-produce and deliver genuine change - at scale - for the people and communities at the beating heart of the UK.

"In under 200 days, the wait will be over and Birmingham will be ready to shine, as the people of this great city make the 2022 Commonwealth Games a huge success.

"So, let's deliver a Games to remember and let's show the rest of the world what we already know, that Birmingham is a bold and brilliant city that can strike gold on a global stage.

"2022 will be Birmingham's year - and in years to come, people will look back and say that this was just the start."

This blog was posted on 14 January 2022.