As the Queens Baton reaches its final destination, the Commonwealth Games is set to begin - with ticket sales already breaking the record set by Australia’s Gold Coast Games in 2018. Birmingham’s moment in the sun has finally arrived with the eyes of the world fixed on what will be 10 days of record-chasing, eye-popping, emotion-draining sport, the likes of which the UK’s second city has never seen before.
With two festival sites already open for the duration of the Games and thousands of athletes, from countries, territories and island states having arrived, to take their part at a variety of events at venues, from Perry Barr to Sandwell, Solihull to Coventry, and many other places throughout the region and beyond, the wide array of mass high-profile media figures, dignitaries and business leaders, will be standing side-by-side with the hundreds of thousands sports fans, who will be ready to gorge on a feast of activities and celebrations, the likes of which, only Birmingham can do – and will do!
Chief creative officer, Martin Green, said: "This is Birmingham's turn on the world stage as we throw the doors wide open to welcome the Commonwealth, celebrating the people and creativity that make this incredible city, through art, ideas, and innovation."
Birmingham City Council Leader, Ian Ward, said: “The World Indoor Athletics Championships, a Papal visit, the Eurovision Song Contest, international football fixtures, and now the Commonwealth Games - a huge multi-sport event, delivered in half the usual time.”
The festivities begin tonight with what will be a bright, bold and exciting Opening Ceremony, as the Commonwealth comes together to pay their ‘sporting homage’ to all the people, business, organisations, charities and other relevant stakeholders, who have played their part in putting this massively major event together.
Birmingham is the sixth British city to host the Commonwealth Games, after London in 1934, Cardiff in 1958, Edinburgh in both 1970 and 1986, Manchester in 2002 and Glasgow in 2018. And it is set to be the best!
And, as a caveat, it was confirmed the city will be bidding to host the European Athletics Championships 2026 and the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 as part of a new ‘Golden Decade’ of events for Birmingham.
