Birmingham 2022 Bid celebrates a summer of sporting success

So far this summer, there have been medals, records and personal bests for athletes from across the region at a range of major events, including the World Para Athletics Championships, World Aquatics Championships, Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas and the EUBC European Women’s Junior Championships.

Further sporting action is yet to come with Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Judo and Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships all expected to feature Midlands sporting talent in the next couple of months.

Highlights so far this summer include:

Birmingham’s bid has the full support of the wider Midlands region, including: Birmingham City Council; three regional local enterprise partnerships: Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP; Black Country LEP; Coventry and Warwickshire LEP; the West Midlands Combined Authority and the newly elected Mayor of West Midlands, Andy Street; the West Midlands Growth Company; and the Midlands Engine.

The Birmingham 2022 bid team and sports fans across the Midlands have been cheering on the regions’ athletes. Excitement is also building around the potential to see many of them compete in local venues, should Birmingham be selected to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Buoyed on by their superb performances, athletes have also been sharing their hopes and dreams of repeating their successes in front of a home crowd in Birmingham 2022.

Sian Bobrowska, Commonwealth Youth Games Gold Medallist, Judo, from Worcester said:

"It was a real honour to represent team England in the Bahamas, I was very proud to get a Gold medal, it certainly would be amazing to represent them again at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham as it's very close to my home town."

Tom Fawcett, Commonwealth Youth Games 2017 Rugby 7s Silver Medallist and Worcester Warriors Academy player, said:

“Playing for my country in the Commonwealth Youth Games was incredible and the feeling of winning a silver medal is something I will never forget.

“As someone who has grown up in the area, the possibility of Birmingham hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games is something that really excites me and I would love to see the Games awarded to such a fantastic city.”

Zena Wooldridge OBE, Director of Sport, University of Birmingham and member of Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bid team, said:

“This summer of sport has already been truly inspirational with so many local athletes performing at their best on a global stage. With the World Athletics Championships starting next week, we wish University of Birmingham medical student, Sarah McDonald, well in the 1500m in London. We have seen from previous major events in the UK the benefits of home advantage and are working hard to ensure that Birmingham can provide that for our athletes by winning the 2022 Commonwealth Games bid.”

Backing #BrumBid2022

How you can support Birmingham 2022:

• Follow us on Twitter (@birminghamcg22)
• Like us on Facebook (Birmingham2022)
• Join in the conversation (#BrumBid2022)
• Visit the website (www.birmingham2022.com)

*CR = Championship Record; WR = World Record

About the Birmingham 2022 Bid

Sitting at the heart of the UK, and standing for the diversity of the Commonwealth, Birmingham is well positioned to attract people to the Games and to ensure that the benefits of hosting extend from the city and the region, to the UK, to the Commonwealth. The advancement of the UK’s global role and the Commonwealth movement is integral to our vision of Birmingham: heart of the UK, soul of the Commonwealth.

Birmingham 2022 will comprise 20 sports taking place across 19 venues. These sports and venues were selected following careful assessment of Commonwealth Games Federation guidelines regarding athletes’ needs, the technical specifications, seating capacity and Games-time logistics.

As part of the selection process, the bid committee looked closely at how to utilise Birmingham’s wealth of existing sports venues and facilities, ensuring connectivity and accessibility and maximising spectator numbers.

The list of sports below showcases all those we have announced publicly so far. More sports and venues will be announced in due course: