Sports festival showcases Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

A sports festival held in Centenary Square in the heart of the host city has showcased some of the 19 sports and eight para sports that will be part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games when they begin in just 12 months’ time.

The event, which was held exactly one year before Birmingham 2022’s opening ceremony, was designed to bring to life many of the sports that will feature at the Games next year, an event which will be the largest multi-sport event to be held in the UK since the London 2012 Olympics.

With the West Midlands ticket ballot set to close in just 48 hours’ time, the festival provided a timely opportunity to find out more about the sports that will be included in the Games when it is staged from 28 July to 8 August next summer.

Ian Reid, CEO at Birmingham 2022 said: “This is a hugely exciting moment. With a year to go until the lights go up on the Opening Ceremony, I am delighted to say that we are on track to deliver what will be an incredible showcase of sport, culture, creativity and community, providing a long-awaited celebration that will bring people back together.

“With just two days left to go until the West Midlands ticket ballot ends, I’d urge anyone living in the region to make their application for tickets now because you won’t want to miss this chance to witness sporting history being made in your hometown.”

Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport and Tourism, visited Birmingham to take part in some of the activities on offer in the square and chatted to athletes and local people about the Games. He said:

“Today is an important milestone on the road to Birmingham 2022. As we mark 365 days to go, excitement is really beginning to build to the biggest sporting and cultural event ever held in the West Midlands. “Over one million tickets will be priced at £22 and under, meaning more fans can watch the Commonwealth’s best athletes compete here in the UK. With just one year until the opening ceremony, we remain on track to deliver a spectacular Games that the city, region and country can be proud of."

Commonwealth Games Federation President, Dame Louise Martin DBE, was also in Birmingham to help celebrate the countdown to the Games and said:

“One year to go to Birmingham 2022 is a special milestone. It means that we are now approaching the home straight in our preparations for the Commonwealth Games and we are on track to stage a fantastic event. “For athletes and fans, Birmingham 2022 will be a once in a lifetime experience that showcases the very best of Commonwealth Sport. “With ticketing and volunteering opportunities for the Games now open, I would urge everyone to get involved and be part of this world class sporting and cultural event.”

The sports activities in Centenary Square were hosted by Team England athletes and the national governing bodies from many of the Commonwealth sports, with demonstrations by the sports stars also taking place, to help illustrate the level of skills and expertise that will be on display next summer.

Sports represented on the day included boxing, table tennis, netball, wrestling, judo, lawn bowls, weightlifting, gymnastics and badminton. Cricket, squash, basketball 3x3, wheelchair basketball 3x3, volleyball and athletics also featured, and these sports will be hosted in venues located in the city of Birmingham next summer.

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said:

“As we reach yet another milestone on the road to Birmingham 2022, I want to offer my thanks to everyone involved with the planning and preparation of the Games. “The work that has been put in to enable us to reach this point, despite the shortened delivery timescale and a pandemic is a tribute to their hard work and determination. Now with the Games very much in sight, things are becoming increasingly real and more exciting by the day. People in Birmingham can now enter the regional ticket ballot and have been given the chance to become volunteers as part of the Commonwealth Collective. “In the year ahead, we’ll show exactly what it means to be a Proud Host City and how bold Birmingham really is.”

Watch the #1yearToGo drone display lighting up the night sky above the city's skyline:

Find out more about all of the sports at Birmingham 2022 and apply for tickets