Swimming, para-swimming and diving are to make up 21 ticketed sessions between 29th July and 8th August 2022, as Birmingham hosts the biggest ever sports programme in the history of the Commonwealth Games.
Birmingham 2022 has released the latest version of the competition schedule for the Games, the biggest multi-sport event to be staged in the UK for a decade. High demand is expected for tickets, with sports fans relishing the prospect of attending 11 days of live sport next summer.
The new information includes the start and finish times for all 286 sessions of the Games, plus information about when the 283 gold medals that are up for grabs will be won.
During the Games, the busiest venue will be the brand-new Sandwell Aquatics Centre, with 66 medal events in swimming, para-swimming, and diving being held in the state-of-the-art facility. The venue - which is on track to be completed in spring next year - will be in use for all 11 days of competition.
Sporting action will start in style on Friday 29 July, with medal sessions on the first day confirmed for swimming, whilst the final day of competition will be held on Monday 8 August, when gold medals will be awarded in diving - a sport where Team England has previously excelled, meaning it could be a magic Monday finish for the home nation.
Last year, organisers confirmed that more medals will be awarded to women than men for the first time ever at a major multi-sport event. Birmingham 2022 is also set to showcase more para sport than at any previous edition of the Commonwealth Games.
Ian Reid, Chief Executive of Birmingham 2022 said: “We’re on track to stage a magnificent edition of the Commonwealth Games and we have seen huge interest in tickets in recent weeks. Now more than ever, people are searching for something to look forward to and that is certainly what we will deliver.
“There are millions of sports fans out there who, because of the pandemic, have not been able to attend events for 12 months and with things moving in the right direction, and vaccines being rolled out, we are anticipating a huge amount of interest when our tickets go on sale later in the year.”
The new schedule, which has been finalised following detailed conversations with Games Partners, international federations and broadcasters, has been added to the Birmingham 2022 website, with a dedicated new section allowing eager sports fans to start planning their visit to the West Midlands for the Games.
Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage said: "The Birmingham Commonwealth Games will provide some of the most memorable moments in what is set to be an incredible year of celebration for the UK in 2022."
The ceremonies team will be most in demand on Tuesday 2 August, when nine sports will award medals, and Sunday 7 August, when the medallists in 11 different sports will be decided.
Ama Agbeze, Team England gold medallist and Chair of the Birmingham 2022 Athletes’ Advisory Committee, explained what the new schedule means for the 4,500 athletes that will be looking to compete in Birmingham: “The competition schedule for the Games is really taking shape – not only do we now know which sports will take place on each day but we also know the number of sessions and when those all important medals will be decided.
“This will make the Games even more real for all of the athletes looking to compete at Birmingham 2022, plus it provides the teams with key information to help them plan and prepare.”
Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The publication of this version of the competition schedule really does illustrate how much will be going on in the city during the 11 days of action. It also highlights the breadth and variety of amazing venues we have including the world-famous Edgbaston Stadium, the city centre showcase at Smithfield, the beautiful surrounds of Sutton Park and the redeveloped Alexander Stadium. Birmingham will provide a brilliant stage for the best of Commonwealth sport.”
CGF President, Dame Louise Martin, DBE said: “This is another significant milestone as we move closer to Birmingham 2022.
“We are fortunate to showcase two full weekends of world-class sport, with the event featuring the largest para sport programme in Commonwealth Games history with an unprecedented platform for women’s sport.
“It is a huge source of pride for everyone in the Commonwealth Sport Movement that Birmingham 2022 will be the first major multi-sport event to have more medals for women than men, providing a huge boost for women’s sport.
"After such a difficult period, I am delighted Birmingham 2022 is unveiling this exciting schedule today, to give Commonwealth athletes and fans a spectacular competition to look forward to.”
To support the release of this new information, new pages have been added to www.birmingham2022.com and sports fans are urged to sign-up for more information so they can find out first when tickets go on sale.