The sport and venue programme for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which will take place from 27 July to 7 August 2022, was confirmed at a sporting showcase at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre – one of the key venue clusters for the Games.

17 sports will take place over 11 days of action-packed competition, at venues across the host city, throughout the West Midlands and beyond. Most venues are already open and well-established and experienced hosts of world-class sport – the exception being the new Aquatics Centre to be built six miles from Birmingham City Centre in Sandwell.

The sport programme for Birmingham 2022 includes all mandatory sports and disciplines as per Commonwealth Games Federation rules, as well as an approved selection of optional sports chosen by the local bid committee: Diving, 3×3 Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball, Mountain Biking, Track Cycling and Track Para-Cycling, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Para-Triathlon. Wheelchair Basketball will make its first appearance at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, with organisers having committed to ensuring that the 2022 edition builds on the Commonwealth Games’ track record of inclusive para-sport and gender equal medal opportunities.

12 of the 17 sports take place within Birmingham itself: Athletics and Para-Athletics will take place at a significantly-upgraded Alexander Stadium, located close to the Commonwealth Games Village; Arena Birmingham will host Gymnastics; whilst the NEC campus will host six sports – Badminton, Boxing, Judo, Table Tennis, Weightlifting (including Para-Powerlifting) and Wrestling. Birmingham University’s facilities will be home to Hockey and Squash; and Aston Villa’s football ground Villa Park will be the stadium for the Rugby Sevens action. A city-centre location for the 3×3 Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball events is being finalised.

Venues across the West Midlands will also host Games action with Triathlon taking place at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield; Mountain Biking at Cannock Chase; Netball at the Coventry Arena and Lawn Bowls in Royal Leamington Spa. Finally, the velodrome at Lee Valley VeloPark in Stratford, venue for the London 2012 Olympic Games, will host Track Cycling on the tenth anniversary of those Games.

With interest expressed from a number of additional sports and disciplines over and above the programme announced, the Organising Committee will be conducting a review and costing to look at the possibility of including additional sports or disciplines to the Games.

Chief Executive at Commonwealth Games Scotland, Jon Doig OBE, said: “Commonwealth Games Scotland is excited about a UK based Games, being close to home will be a brilliant opportunity for friends, family and fans to show their support in 2022. The venue cluster at the NEC Complex is reminiscent of the highly successful SECC cluster at Glasgow 2014 and will be a vibrant, dynamic hub during Games time. It is fantastic that the majority of venues are in place and, through hosting many sporting events, are familiar to our athletes and ready to welcome the Commonwealth in just under four years’ time.”

Read more about Birmingham 2022 and venues here.