LONDON - A $100 million transformation of Birmingham's 40-year old athletics stadium was announced on Wednesday by Prime Minister Theresa May.

The money will be used to upgrade and expand the stadium into a world-class athletics venue to prepare for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, May announced on a visit to Britain's second biggest city.

The stadium, with a current capacity of 12,700, will become Britain's largest permanent athletics ground outside of London, with a capacity of 40,000 for the 2022 games. After the event it will operate as a 20,000-seater venue.

The stadium will host athletes from across the Commonwealth competing in track and field, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. Alexander Stadium is already the home of UK Athletics.

The announcement came as Birmingham gets ready to take the baton from the Gold Coast in Australia at the closing of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Sunday.

Birmingham was awarded the right to host the Commonwealth Games last year after South Africa's Durban pulled out.