Tuesday 14 March 2017 18:30, UK
Birmingham and Liverpool are battling to be named hosts of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which were stripped from Durban on Monday after it failed to meet bid commitments.
The South African city was awarded the Games in 2015, but a review by the Commonwealth Games Federation reported "a significant departure from the undertakings" made in the bid.
Officials in both UK-based cities have already suggested stepping in as a replacement for Durban, which would have been the first African city to host the Games.
However, they are not the only cities to publicly state their interest, with Melbourne and Edmonton also weighing up potential offers to stage the Games.
Birmingham had already indicated its desire to bid for the 2026 Games and insists it is capable of bringing forward its plans to stage the 2022 event.
The council is in the advanced stages of producing a feasibility study on what would be needed to stage the first English Games since Manchester in 2002.
Meanwhile, Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson has reportedly written to sports minster Tracey Crouch to declare the city would have "no problem" stepping in to stage the Games four years earlier than originally planned.
The city was quick off the mark to declare its position when rumours of Durban's demise first emerged last month, but has ground to make up on Birmingham with its feasibility study.
Edmonton on the other hand was the last city to pull out of the original race to host the 2022 Games, withdrawing its bid in January 2015. It has indicated interest in submitting a new bid, but admitted it would need some assistance - potentially becoming part of a twin bid with Calgary.
Melbourne staged one of the most successful Commonwealth Games in 2006 and would be a relatively safe bet to host a second at short notice. The city is mulling another bid, with Australian sports minister John Eren telling local media: "In an emergency we have got the infrastructure in place."
