One in ten residents in Birmingham believe that large UK events, like Birmingham 2022, provide opportunities for celebration. A record 1.5 million people purchased tickets for events around the West Midlands.
Statistics on game attendance, employment growth, and legacy initiatives demonstrate how the games have a long-lasting effect on the neighborhood.
According to a recent study, over half of the UK watched or attended the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and eight out of ten respondents said that it provided the nation an opportunity to rejoice.
The results of a study undertaken by Ipsos on behalf of DCMS show that the Games, which were delivered in record time, attracted an estimated total UK audience of more than 20 million viewers across TV, the internet, and in-person viewing. Birmingham 2022 attracted an estimated hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide as the city sparkled on the international stage.
Two-thirds of residents of Birmingham and the surrounding region participated in the Games, according to the study, and one-quarter of those surveyed said they went to see the Queen’s Baton Relay as it passed through the city.
The data is presented in a new study titled Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games: The Highlights, which demonstrate the favorable effects the event has had on participation in sport and culture, employment development, and the local economy.
The Commonwealth Games Minister, Nigel Huddleston, said:
These outcomes strongly suggest that Birmingham 2022 was more than simply 11 days of outstanding sport. The UK and the West Midlands rallied around Birmingham 2022 and brought back the 2012 atmosphere, allowing the whole nation to unite and celebrate our incredible athletes.
The impact of the Games has just started, and I am eager to see the area continue to gain economically, culturally, and socially from hosting such a spectacular summer.
Birmingham 2022’s CEO, Ian Reid, said:
The crew put in a ton of effort, and the results speak for themselves. Birmingham and the West Midlands did themselves well, and the whole city and area exuded a genuine sense of newfound possibilities. Venues were full, fans had a great time, and nearby businesses saw immediate financial gains as a result of the surge in tourists. These findings show the good effect and advantages that large events provide, and the legacy of these Games is still beginning.
The tournament attracted a record 1.5 million people, making it the most well-attended Commonwealth Games ever held in the UK. During the two-week span of the Games, more than 5 million visitors visited Birmingham’s city center, a 200% increase from the same time in 2021. Additional millions watched on TV and online. A total of 28.6 million people watched the Games on the BBC, with 5.2 million tuning in for the opening ceremony. A record number of 57.1 million people watched the event live on the BBC, which was also for the Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games Federation’s president, Dame Louise Martin DBE, stated:
The Games in Birmingham in 2022 were outstanding and raised the bar for Commonwealth sports. It was the first time that more women than men received medals, it had the biggest integrated para program ever, and it was the most environmentally friendly Commonwealth Games ever held.
Birmingham 2022 will be remembered for the way the city of Birmingham welcomed the Games, creating a warm, vibrant environment that motivated our Commonwealth athletes to achieve new heights, in addition to the memorable athletic events.
Importantly, the Games will also leave a lasting legacy through promoting redevelopment, generating employment and training opportunities, and acting as a catalyst for funding to encourage physical activity among those who need it most.
Birmingham, the West Midlands, and other areas have seen increased investment and redevelopment because to the Games’ significant core public contribution of £778 million. Sandwell Aquatics Centre is giving elite and community swimmers and divers a fresh new, top-notch facility while Alexander Stadium was refurbished for the Games and communities.
In addition, 40,000 employment and skill opportunities, including 14,000 volunteer roles, were generated by the event for locals. Over £10 million was spent by a dedicated Jobs and Skills Academy to train unemployed locals to fill Games-related jobs. The local economy has been supported by the Games, which have also increased the area’s profile in the UK and overseas, according to six out of ten residents of Birmingham and Sandwell.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street stated:
I can honestly say that, when I think back on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, I’ve never felt more pleased to be from the West Midlands. The summer’s extravaganza must serve as a springboard, not a destination. It is already abundantly evident that there is enormous potential to leave the West Midlands’ residents with a lasting legacy for future generations.
We doubled our pipeline of leads for inward investment, we upskilled thousands of local residents, we brought communities together in a moment of shared celebration, and we’re leaving a lasting legacy for future sports stars with the Sandwell Aquatics Centre and the renovated Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.
It’s fantastic news that local grassroots organizations will now have free access to Games athletic equipment, and I hope to hear of many more positive developments in the coming days, weeks, months, and years.
The Olympics have increased Perry Barr’s continuing investments, such as the renovation of the railway station, broader transportation upgrades, and the construction of up to 5,000 new dwellings backed by a £150 million government investment.
Through a variety of public and nonprofit organizations, including Sport England, who invested £35 million to create a legacy of physical activity, this public investment has also enabled the release of almost £85 million in additional financing. As part of this endeavor, a variety of sporting goods, including boxing gloves, martial arts mats, and basketballs, that were used by teams and athletes during the Commonwealth Games will be donated to regional sports organizations and clubs around the West Midlands.
Birmingham City Council leader Cllr. Ian Ward said:
This is the main reason I fought so hard to have the Games held in Birmingham. I was always of the opinion that we just couldn’t afford not to hold the Commonwealth Games when others questioned whether we could afford to.
There was much more to the Olympics than just 11 days of top-notch competition. They provided people with houses, employment, better transportation, access to cultural events, and a feeling of community pride.
Birmingham’s residents, companies, and communities excelled at meeting the challenge, and together we staged an extraordinary celebration of sport, culture, friendliness, and unrestrained fun.
Sport England’s CEO, Tim Hollingsworth, stated:
The Olympics provided a great platform for making a lasting difference in local communities all around the nation by fostering friendship, community, and sport.
In order to address the issues with activity levels, Sport England’s “Uniting the Movement” policy takes a long-term approach, which includes addressing the ingrained inequities that hinder certain people from participating in sport and activity. In order to provide inclusive chances for people to join together and be active in their communities – now and for years to come – our £35 million investment into the Games targeted assistance to where it’s most needed. provides the country a reason to celebrate
Notes to editors
The embargoed Birmingham 2022 Highlights Report has been published on:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/birmingham-2022-commonwealth-games-the-highlights
Further Ipsos polling results
Almost 8 in 10 (78%) people say major UK events including the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gave people the opportunity to celebrate.
3 in 4 (75%) people agree that major UK events including the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gave people the opportunity to come together nationally.
3 in 4 (72%) people agree that major UK events including the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gave people the opportunity to come together in their local community.
2 in 3 (61%) people agree that events like the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games make them feel proud of the UK.
6 in 10 people in Birmingham (60%) agree that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has had a positive impact on the economy in Birmingham and Sandwell.
6 in 10 people (58%) in Birmingham think that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will have improved perceptions of the area, with less than 1 in 10 saying it won’t.
Nearly half of people nationally (46%) have watched, followed online, or taken part in Birmingham 2022 events.
Birmingham 2022 delivered some important Commonwealth Games firsts:
Delivery in a record 4.5 years rather than the usual 7 years, with over half of the total delivery time in extraordinary circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic;
The first major global multi-sport event to have more women’s medals than men’s and the biggest para-sport programme in Commonwealth Games history;
Commonwealth Games sporting debuts for basketball 3×3, wheelchair basketball 3×3 and cricket T20.
Birmingham 2022 been part of a landmark year of celebration for the UK and the Commonwealth. In June, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations saw people and communities from across the UK, Commonwealth and beyond come together to celebrate this historic milestone, marking Her Majesty The Queen’s 70 years of service. Further cultural events are continuing throughout the year through UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, with PoliNations launching in Birmingham’s Victoria Square on 2 September.
Physical activity and wellbeing
Further quotes
Sahara Mohammed, Operations Manager of the Impact Fitness Academy said:
The Commonwealth Games being in Birmingham were brilliant for showing the amazing community we have in our city.
At Impact, we focus on developing children not only in their wrestling and boxing ability, but in helping them become more confident and resilient people for the community and beyond.
We welcome in people from all backgrounds, particularly those from disadvantaged communities, and give them a place to develop their talents and passions. Hopefully, we’ll see one of our members in the next Commonwealth Games!
Alex Mee, Cluster General Manager at Bloc Hotels, said:
As the first business to achieve Games Ready accreditation, we were thrilled to play our part by offering a warm welcome to visitors from all over the Commonwealth. The hotel was bustling and the atmosphere throughout the Games was incredible, with our Games Ready trained staff playing an important role in providing local knowledge and advice to help guests make the most of their stay.
Bloc Hotels is incredibly proud of its Birmingham roots and the Games provided us with the opportunity to show our guests, and the rest of the world, why.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme (BATP) is the first economic legacy programme of its kind aligned to the Games, designed to strengthen bilateral ties between the UK and Commonwealth markets.
Gideon Orovwiroro, Chief Operations Officer at Kora, said:
Through BATP, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games provided a valuable gateway into the UK and West Midlands, facilitating conversations with the region’s investment promotion agency, the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC). Their support was key to our expansion, in the form of our new Birmingham office, and will enable many more businesses and individuals to use our innovative payments infrastructure.