From the Gold Coast to Birmingham – the Commonwealth Games Return
Ten years on from when London delivered one of the most memorable Olympic Games of the modern era, the UK is again in the spotlight as it hosts the 2022 Commonwealth Games in its second city, Birmingham.
As participants come solely from countries within the Commonwealth, these Games naturally operate on a slightly smaller scale than their Olympic counterpart, however, they are still unquestionably seen as a career highlight for the competitors who take part every four years. This time round, there are a total of 72 nations competing in the Games, which will last for 11 days and feature 19 different sporting disciplines.
Over 5,000 athletes are descending on Birmingham for the 22nd edition of the Games, which was first held in 1930. It’s known as the ‘Friendly Games’ and is being hosted in England for the third time, following London 1934 and Manchester 2002.
Australia has the most medals in the history of the Games and has topped the leaderboard a record 13 times, with England’s tally of seven victories the next best. It was Australia who won last time round and in comfortable fashion, as they doubled the amount of England’s gold medals on home soil. They’re likely to be the bookie’s favourite to top the table this time round too, but England will be hoping they can make home advantage count.
The action is to be played out across 16 venues, including athletics ground Alexander Stadium and iconic cricket ground, Edgbaston, which welcomes T20 to the party. Birmingham marks the first time that T20 has been played at the Commonwealth Games and the first time that women’s cricket has featured.
The only other time cricket has been played on this stage was in 1998, in Kuala Lumpur. This time round, there’s no male cricket representation at the Games, which some will see as fitting since the first ever T20 international was played out by women.
With some of the world’s greatest sportsmen and women on show, there’s plenty to keep an eye on, but amongst our favourite competitors is Jamaica’s 10-time world sprint medallist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who is set to go up against compatriots and fellow sprinting superstars Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson.
England’s Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson are also set to compete. They will certainly garner a significant amount of attention, as will English swimming sensation Adam Peaty, who is the current 100m breaststroke world-record holder and Olympic champion. He’s also a two-time defending Commonwealth champion, having won gold in 2014 and 2018, and is looking to make it three in a row in Birmingham. Crowd favourite Chad le Clos from South Africa – you may remember his impassioned poolside father from London 2012 – will also be there and is looking for one more medal to share the accolade of most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete of all time.
Over 1 billion people tuned in to watch the opening Ceremony on Thursday 28th July. With Birmingham local, and acclaimed writer of Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight a part of the ceremony’s creative team, it’s certainly one to remember.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games are taking place between the 28th of July and the 8th of August, and it promises to be thrilling. Please get in touch with us here if you’d like to enquire about how to attend the Games as part of a luxury, bespoke package.
