WINCHESTER could get in on the Commonwealth Games action when it returns to the UK under new plans by two city councillors.

With the city’s new sports and leisure centre due to be completed in 2021, Lib Dem councillors Brian Laming and Malcolm Prince want to see Winchester put on the sporting map by becoming a training base for athletes heading to Birmingham 2022.

Cllr Prince, a former international athlete himself, highlighted the need for visiting athletes to have time to acclimatise before major championships, saying that Winchester would make an ideal location due to the city’s proximity to the major airports, and major road and rail links.

“Through hosting an overseas team, the Commonwealth Games will seem to be very real to Winchester in 2022. The hope is we will all have the opportunity to see top athletes training and being a part of our city for two to three weeks in the summer of 2022,” said Cllr Prince.

Cllr Laming added: “The new leisure centre will be outstanding and will include a first-class hydrotherapy unit which will particularly benefit the para-event participants in the games.”

The pair say bringing part of the games to Winchester could see an economic boost in the city, as well as encouraging residents to get more involved in sporting activities.

The games will be held in Birmingham between July 27 and August 7, 2022, following this year’s event in Australia.