The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has agreed a 24-hour change in start date and will now begin on 28 July 2022, running through to 8 August 2022.

The significant impact to the international sporting calendar caused by COVID-19 means that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, UEFA Women’s Football Championships, World Athletics Championships and European Championships will now all take place within a six week period in the summer of 2022.

The joint announcement from the Commonwealth Games Federation and Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee is the result of collaborative discussions between the leaders of some of the world’s major sporting events following both the World Athletics Championships and UEFA Women’s Football Championships moving by 12 months from 2021 to July 2022.

It ensures that Birmingham 2022 will now boast two full weekends of Commonwealth Sport whilst extending the rest and recovery period for athletes competing in the World Athletics Championships. The alteration to the Opening Ceremony date also avoids a potential clash with the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Football Championships, helping to protect and promote the profile of women’s sport.

The UEFA Women’s Football Championships will further enhance the ever-growing popularity of women’s football, while Birmingham 2022 is expected to be the first major multi-sport event in history to have more women’s medal events than men’s events.

In addition to the slight shift in date, Birmingham 2022 is working to refine the competition schedule to maximise the recovery time for those athletes who will be looking to participate in more than one major event in two years’ time and ensure that the Commonwealth’s best athletes can compete at the Games.

Jon Doig OBE, Chief Executive at Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “We welcome notice of the 24 hour move and planned refinement of the competition programme by Birmingham 2022 in response to the upheaval to sport caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The summer of 2022 will be a real treat for sports fans and this positive collaboration between these major events is a real boost in enabling our athletes to perform to their best across a packed schedule.”

CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE said: “In unprecedented circumstances, I am delighted that we have been able to work in partnership to ensure that the Commonwealth Games will take pride of place in what will be a fantastic summer of sport. “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all areas of life, including the international sporting calendar, has been huge. In adversity, I have been proud to work closely alongside partner International Federations and Governing Bodies to help shape a spectacular six-week period of elite sport. It demonstrates the very best of sport working at the service of athletes.

“On behalf of the Commonwealth Sports Movement, I am pleased that 2022 will now be a real celebration of women’s sport.

“I would like to thank World Athletics, UEFA and The FA for working with us to navigate very difficult circumstances to create an amazing summer of sport for fans and spectators.”

2022 Summer Major Sporting Event Dates

• The UEFA Women’s EUROs will take place in England from 6 – 31 July
• The World Athletics Championships will take place in Oregon (USA) from 15 – 24 July
• The Commonwealth Games will take place in Birmingham from 28 July – 8 August
• The 2022 European Championships will be held in Munich from 11–21 August