World record breakers, state-of-the-art stadiums, and technological innovations! These are just some of the things we can expect from The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games! Read on to discover 10 (more) fascinating facts about the Games!
Here at Push Promotions, we recently published an article with ‘10 Fun Facts’ about the upcoming Commonwealth Games. We are a promotional staffing company based in the West Midlands so can therefore provide sports staff and events staff to the Games. The 2022 Commonwealth Games will take place from July 28th until August 8th in Europe’s youngest city- Birmingham, and the surrounding West Midlands region.
However, 10 facts were simply not enough to capture the sheer excitement, skill, and intrigue of the Games, and so we felt compelled to write a follow-up- with even more interesting facts and figures!
1. THIS IS THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES DEBUT OF 3X3 BASKETBALL AND 3X3 WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL!
Played with 3 players (and 1 substitute) on each team, only half the length of a standard basketball court, and 12 seconds on the shot clock! The winner is the first team to reach 21 points or the highest-scoring team after 10 minutes. This is an extremely fast-paced game and an exciting addition to the Games!
2. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME AN ENGLISH CITY HAS HOSTED THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES!
London hosted the Games in 1934, and Manchester 2 decades ago in 2002. Other UK nations have also hosted the Commonwealth Games. Cardiff, Wales in 1958- the cancelled 1946 Games was also supposed to take place here. And 3 times in Scotland: 1970 and also 1986 in Edinburgh, and 2014 in Glasgow.
3. THE QUEEN’S BATON RELAY TAKES 294 DAYS AND COVERS 90,000 MILES!
Similar to the Olympic torch relay, the Queen’s Baton relay sees the official 2022 Commonwealth baton travel far and wide in the 294 days precluding the Games’ Opening Ceremony. The baton will be carried by 7500 baron-bearers throughout 72 nations and territories. Additionally, it will spend Christmas in the Seychelles, New Year in the Maldives, and Commonwealth Day (March 14th) in New Zealand.
4. THE OFFICIAL LOGO OF THE BIRMINGHAM 2022 GAMES IS ACTUALLY A MAP!
The emblem is a jagged abstract B composed of yellow-blue ombre lines representing an abstract map of the key venues of the Games from across the West Midlands. For example, Wolverhampton, Solihull, Cannock, and Royal Lemington Spa.
5. THERE WILL BE 3 ATHLETE VILLAGES!
Due to the Covid-Pandemic de-railing the original plans, there will now be 3 separate athlete villages situated near competition venues. Firstly, there will be student accommodation on the University of Birmingham campus. Secondly, there will be student accommodation on the University of Warwick campus. And finally the Birmingham NEC hotels.
6. THE QUEEN’S BATON HAS A SECRET COMPARTMENT!
The Queen’s Baton, used for the Queen’s Baton relay, has a mechanised chamber hidden beneath a brass leaf plaque. This chamber contains a message from Queen Elizabeth II to be read at the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony at the Alexander Stadium on July 28th. The Baton also contains a platinum strand to honour the Queen’s platinum jubilee which will also be celebrated in 2022.
7. THERE IS AN OFFICIAL BIRMINGHAM 2022 PODCAST!
Moreover, the official Commonwealth Games podcast is named ‘22 Voices’. This podcast profiles individuals such as current Team England athletes, acclaimed former Commonwealth stars, and West Midlands icons in the build-up to the Games.
8. THOUSANDS OF TONNES OF SAND WILL BE SHIPPED TO BIRMINGHAM FOR THE BEACH VOLLEYBALL COMPETITION!
Thousands of tonnes of sand will be delivered to the former site of Smithfield Market, in Birmingham City Centre. This will be used to construct a beach volleyball court: 16m long, 8m wide, and 40cm of sand underfoot.
9. ONLY 6 COUNTRIES HAVE COMPETED IN EVERY COMMONWEALTH GAMES!
Despite 71 countries being eligible to compete in the Games, only Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales have taken up this offer at every opportunity. All of which will be seen again at Birmingham 2022.
10. IT TOOK MORE THAN 122 HOURS TO BUILD THE BIRMINGHAM 2022 COUNTDOWN CLOCK!
16 craftsmen and women took 122 hours to build the clock structure before it was transported to Centenary Square in parts and assembled on site. Here it was unveiled on Commonwealth Day 2020, 870 days before the beginning of the Games.
So there you have it, 10 more fascinating facts about The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games! The Games will showcase some of the world’s best sportsmen and women, and keep us on the edge of our seats for 12 packed days of exhilarating sports. As well as presenting the best of Birmingham and the West Midlands to the rest of the country and Commonwealth!
Here is a link to the official Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games website. You can find out more about the Games, such as volunteering opportunities and buying tickets.
Moreover, this article is bought to you by Push Promotions. Push is a promotional staffing agency that supplies staff nationwide to support some of the UK’s largest brands at their promotional events. We supply a variety of staff including leafleting staff, product demonstrators, hosts and hostesses, and promotional models.
We are local to the Birmingham 2022 Games with offices in both Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Therefore we regularly provide staff to local venues such as Grand Central Station and the NEC. Of course, we can also supply our network of 3000+ staff anywhere around the country. For more information check out our website or get a quick quote here.
