The Sport and Venue Programme for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games was confirmed and celebrated on Friday 19th October, as five Team England medallists joined Birmingham 2022 Chairman John Crabtree and pupils from Mapledene Primary School for a sporting showcase at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre – one of the key venue clusters for the Games, which take place from 27 July to 7 August 2022.
17 thrilling sports will take place over 11 days of action-packed competition, at venues across the host city and throughout the West Midlands and beyond with the Coventry Arena** staging the netball.
The Coventry Arena is one of the leading indoor sporting venues in the Midlands and is home to two-time Vitality Netball Superleague champions Wasps Netball.
Alongside attracting around one thousand netball fans to each match, the arena has also hosted international sporting events such as snooker, darts, fencing and gymnastics.
Nick Eastwood, Group Chief Executive at the Ricoh Arena and Wasps, said: “We are delighted that the home of two-time Vitality Netball Superleague champions Wasps Netball is being given this once-in-a-lifetime chance to host the sport on a global stage for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.
“The Ricoh Arena’s Ericsson Indoor Arena has plenty of experience at successfully hosting domestic and international netball matches, making us perfectly poised to deliver a memorable experience for the thousands of visitors to the Ricoh Arena and the millions watching on TV.
“Netball is growing in popularity, particularly in the Midlands through the community work that Wasps Netball are doing with England Netball, and this announcement will really help to inspire generations before, during and after the Commonwealth Games.
“We look forward to working with various partners to ensure we maximise this opportunity for the wider Midlands.”
Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, commented: “The Commonwealth Games will showcase the very best of Birmingham, the West Midlands and the UK to the rest of the world.
“This is an exciting sport programme that will be held at some of the region’s most iconic sites and venues.
“I am particularly pleased that it features an inclusive para-sport programme and equal medal opportunities for men and women.”
Cllr Ian Ward, Birmingham City Council Leader added: “Birmingham has a global reputation as a sporting city and this line-up of venues underlines just why we were selected to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“This city has a very strong track record of successfully staging major championships and athletes love competing in front of enthusiastic and knowledgeable Birmingham audiences.
“In 2022, the world’s top stars are guaranteed a warm welcome over what we can be sure will be 11 unforgettable days of sporting action in top-class facilities.”
The sport programme for Birmingham 2022 includes all mandatory sports and disciplines as per Commonwealth Games Federation rules, as well as an approved selection of optional sports chosen by the local bid committee: Diving, 3×3 Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball, Mountain Biking, Track Cycling and Track Para-Cycling, Rhythmic Gymnastics, and Para-Triathlon.
Wheelchair Basketball makes its appearance at the Commonwealth Games for the first time ever in 2022, and organisers have committed to ensuring that the 2022 edition builds on the Commonwealth Games’ track record of inclusive para-sport and gender equal medal opportunities.
Commonwealth Games England Chairman Ian Metcalfe said: “On behalf of Commonwealth Games England, I’m so pleased with the announcement of the sport programme and venues.
“The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be an incredible opportunity for Team England to build on the English sporting pride that we saw on the Gold Coast.
“Our athletes will benefit from the power and support of a home crowd while competing in world class venues in Birmingham, the West Midlands and England.”
Over one million tickets will be available – and go on sale closer to the event.
For further information on the 2022 Commonwealth Games, please check out https://www.birmingham2022.com/
**(Please note that for commercial reasons, the existing naming rights of venues do not apply at Games Time.)
