The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will begin today (Thursday, July 28).
Over the following 11 days, more than 5,000 athletes from 72 nations will compete in 280 events across 19 sports.
It comes almost 10 years to the day since the critically-acclaimed opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.
Local government officials hope Birmingham 2022 can be the catalyst to attract other major sporting events to the city and the West Midlands over the next decade, including a potential bid for the World Athletics Championships.
You'll know when you've seen it... 👀 📺 Watch our Opening Ceremony live, tonight from 7pm on @BBCONE!#B2022 🤐 pic.twitter.com/GN4Z7sPxVF
— Birmingham 2022 (@birminghamcg22) July 28, 2022
The city will also host the World Trampolining Championships and the International Blind Sport World Games next year and will find out later this year whether a bid to stage the 2026 European Athletics Championships has been successful.
Birmingham City Council Leader Ian Ward added: “I’d very much like us to end the golden decade (of hosting events) with the possibility of bringing the World Athletics Championships to the city, but we’ll have to see where we go.
“We have ongoing conversations with World Athletics about what the options are. Our ambition, as set out in our strategy, is to be a global sporting city by the end of this decade.”
Here is a full list of venues that will be hosting Commonwealth Games events in and around Birmingham.
Commonwealth Games locations
Alexander Stadium - Opening and closing ceremony, Athletics and Para Athletics
Arena Birmingham - Gymnastics
Cannock Chase Forest - Cycling (Mountain Bike)
Coventry Arena - Judo and Wrestling
Coventry Stadium - Rugby Sevens
Edgbaston Stadium - Cricket (T20)
Lee Valley VeloPark - Cycling (Track and Para Track)
IT'S HOME! The Queen's Baton Relay finally reached Victoria Square, Birmingham. After a 294 day journey to 72 nations, the Baton is now home. Sir Lenny Henry was the man to bring it back for #B2022. Want to get involved in the final day of #QBR2022?👇 https://t.co/mJw6QzItDk pic.twitter.com/gS0qaFaxko
— Birmingham 2022 (@birminghamcg22) July 28, 2022
The NEC - Badminton, Boxing, Netball, Para Powerlifting, Table Tennis, Para Table Tennis and Weightlifting
Sandwell Aquatics Centre - Diving, Swimming and Para Swimming
Smithfield - Basketball, Wheelchair Basketball and Beach Volleyball
Sutton Park - Triathlon and Para Triathlon
University of Birmingham Hockey and Squash Centre - Hockey and Squash
Victoria Park - Lawn bowls and Para Lawn Bowls
Victoria Square - Athletics (Marathon finish area)
Warwick - Cycling (Road race)
West Park - Cycling (Time Trial)
A full list of the events and when they take place can be found here.
