It seems like only yesterday that we were in Birmingham’s Victoria Square celebrating the return of the Team England heroes from the Gold Coast in 2018. A couple of years on, we are now just two years away from walking out at the Alexander Stadium for the Opening Ceremony as the home team at Birmingham 2022.

As I have mentioned before, we are so proud to be the home nation for Birmingham 2022. It is great working with all of our National Governing Bodies, Sport England, our partners to be as successful as we can within the sporting arenas. But also working alongside the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee to help put on the most successful Commonwealth Games ever.

Of course, since those celebratory moments of the Gold Coast, the whole dynamic has changed for those within Commonwealth Games England and the entire landscape since the Coronavirus pandemic has hit everyone’s lives so hard.

During this time, we at Commonwealth Games England have been continuing to carry on as best as we can. Whether this be through adopting home working protocols or announcing Kukri Sports as our kit partners for the 2022 Games. Along with beginning the kit design process with a virtual athlete kit panel which included 23 athletes from 17 of our Commonwealth sports.

The athletes from all our sports are amazing and none more so than during this pandemic. 

With their support in producing videos across social media to continue interacting with our supporters, they’ve shown just how committed they continue to be even during the most difficult of times.

Team England athletes have also been able to adapt their training in the trickiest of circumstances as they push towards these home Games in two years’ time. We have been able to showcase this in our ‘United, Diverse, Successful’ photo and video campaign which not only celebrates the two years to go landmark moment but also highlights Team England’s key values.

All three athletes, Courtney Tulloch, Alice Tai and Dominique Allen have shown how they have been able to remain motivated and how they have found unique ways to continue to train in their hometowns with a Commonwealth Games on home soil at the front of their minds. From the beaches of the Dorset coast, the woodlands of Kent to the heart of Birmingham city centre, all three of these athletes have shown the determination and talent to succeed. 

This landmark in itself is not only a big step for us and Birmingham 2022, but hopefully it brings a sense to our supporters that good times and some sort of normality lie ahead in the not too distant future.

I hope you all continue to stay safe and the thought of Birmingham 2022 edging ever closer lifts the spirits during these ongoing difficult times.

All the best,

Paul