We’re helping set the West Midlands stage as our region hosts the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Read on to find out more about Warwick’s role and how our facilities will be used by 2,000 world-class, international athletes.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are taking place 28 July - 8 August 2022 in towns and cities across the West Midlands. The Games provide the opportunity to once again showcase the region’s ability to thrive in the global spotlight, following hot on the heels of Coventry City of Culture 2021.

Home and host to world-class athletes

We’re so pleased to have been chosen to provide world-class training facilities for athletes taking part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, as well our role hosting an athletes' village.

Over 12 days, 4,500 athletes from 72 countries will compete across 15 competition venues. Last year we were able to announce that we’ll be hosting one of the athletes’ villages, with close to 2,000 competitors making use of our campus facilities. You’ll start to see preparations around campus from the start of July 2022 as we get ready to welcome competitors.

Spotlight on West Midlands and our local communities

The Commonwealth Games will further highlight the huge variety of exciting opportunities on our doorstep. The Games will follow on from the close of Coventry’s time as UK City of Culture and further embed the legacy of that incredible build up and year of celebration. But on a more tangible level, the Games will also make a real difference in our local communities too.

For example, Leamington Spa will host the lawn bowls and para bowls events at their venue in Victoria Park and St Nicholas Park in Warwick is hosting the start and finish for the cycling road race. Thanks to this, Warwick District Council has been able to attract a total of £1.8 million funding from Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) and from the Government’s Local Growth Fund for infrastructure improvements in Leamington Spa ahead of the Games, which will have long-lasting benefits for the town. The Ricoh Arena (now Coventry Building Society Arena) will also host three different sports: the rugby sevens, judo and wrestling.

We also have the Playing Out in Canley project, which is funded by Spirit of 2012 and the Commonwealth Games 2022. The Playing Out project is supported by our Community Engagement team and Warwick Arts Centre, who are working with community leaders in Canley to develop an inclusive art and culture project with workshops hosted at community venues. Look out for the Canley Carnival, which is part of the Birmingham 2022 Cultural Programme, inspired by the unique moment of the Games!

Major events like the Commonwealth Games can offer local communities access to extraordinary entertainment and help attract tourism, investment and opportunities. We want to play our part in showcasing our home in the West Midlands as an incredible place to live, work and visit.