Organizers of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games showed off a completed Sandwell Aquatics Centre on Tuesday in celebration of reaching the 100 days to go milestone. The venue is one of many due to host sporting competitions this summer during the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Olympic divers, adaptive swimmers, and local club swimmers were invited by local organizers to test out the newly completed facilities.
Ellie Simmonds, a five-time Paralympic champion in swimming and Birmingham 2022 Board Member, stated, “with 100 days to go until the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games begin, it is fantastic news that the Sandwell Aquatics Centre is now complete, and it is amazing to be back here to see the finished facility.”
“This is an important and proud moment for everyone associated with Birmingham 2022 and having swimmers and divers in the pools for the very first time makes the Games feel real.”
Construction of the Sandwell Aquatics Centre was overseen by the Sandwell Council and Tony McGovern, Director of Regeneration & Growth. The venue is located in Smethwick, which lies a few miles outside Birmingham.
McGovern’s focus on Tuesday wasn’t only on hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but also providing a legacy for the local community. He stated, “we are incredibly excited to be part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate Sandwell on a global stage as the proud host venue for the swimming, para swimming and diving events for the Games.”
“We want the whole community in Sandwell and beyond to benefit from the world-class swimming and diving facilities at this fantastic new facility. More than that, the new Aquatics Centre is supporting our vision to boost the health and wellbeing of our communities, driving economic growth and regeneration, and improving transport links.”
Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin also commented on the achievements of local organizers with the 100 days to go milestone in focus.
She stated, “as we reach the final sprint, Birmingham and the West Midlands should be enormously proud of all the Games progress to date. The Sandwell Aquatics Centre is an impressive, world-class, community-focused facility and I’ve no doubt all remaining tickets will be in high demand when they go back on sale today.”
Elsewhere around Birmingham and the West Midlands, preparations continue for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Local organizers recently showed off renovation works at Alexander Stadium, which will hold both the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the athletics program during the Games.
Delegates from countries and territories around the Commonwealth of Nations recently traveled to Birmingham for a series of meetings, briefings, and tours held by local organizers.
The visit left a good impression on Australia’s Chef de Mission Petria Thomas, who told Commonwealth Games Australia, “after recently returning from visiting Birmingham, I know the Games are going to be a great celebration of culture, sporting excellence and of Commonwealth friendship.”
The 2022 Commonwealth Games are slated to feature an estimated 4,500 athletes, competing across nearly two dozen sports, and representing 72 countries and territories within the Commonwealth of Nations. The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to run from July 28 to August 8, 2022.