By now you are probably all aware of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games taking place this summer, right here in Brum. It will be the biggest multi-sport event to be held in the UK since the London 2012 Olympics and the largest event ever to be held in the West Midlands region.
Officially beginning on 28 July with a spectacular Opening Ceremony at the newly transformed Alexander Stadium, the Games is expected to attract more than 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories who’ll take part in 19 different sports and eight Para sports.
With some of the world’s best athletes already selected to compete at this prestigious event, it’s no surprise that more than one million spectators (including some of you lucky lot!) are set to attend.
As the city and campus prepares to host visitors from all over the world, we asked some of our students to share the places they love in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Did you know that the University of Birmingham is an Official Partner of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and has signed the most comprehensive university partnership agreement in the history of the Games?
As a result, the University of Birmingham is:
- an official competition venue for hockey and squash,
- a Tier 1 partner, the principal / largest Athletes’ Village during the Games,
- the official catering provider for athletes, spectators, Games family and workforce
- and a training venue for athletics and swimming…
…So this will be an incredibly exciting time on campus!
Find out more about the Games, how you can still get involved, travel and campus access information, and how some of you are preparing for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Hear from our students
Volunteering at the Games
With thousands of roles available our Sports Science student Laura McPeake will be playing a crucial volunteering role as an Anti-Doping Chaperone.
Hear from Laura about what she's most looking forward to
Birmingham's best summer job
Working as a Food and Beverage Assistant at the Games, English and Classics student Alina Kokina will be earning money as well as being part of the action.
Hear about Alina's dream Games role
Get set for gold
We have some of our very own students taking part in the Games, including Physics student Muqtadir Nimji, who will represent Kenya in squash!
Find out how Muqtadir is preparing for the Games
Queen's Baton Bearers
The Queen’s Baton Relay has been making its way around all four corners of the globe and UoB students are set to bring it home. Follow the Baton.
Follow the Baton and hear the story of our incredible student achievements.
Work at the Games this summer
There are still a number of paid summer posts available to support the delivery of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on campus. With pay starting from £9.90 per hour, plus £1.78 per hour holiday pay, you'll get experience in supporting a large-scale, high-profile event with the bonus of getting paid! If you know of any friends and family over the age of 18 who are also looking for summer work, please email ADM-cleanliving@adf.bham.ac.uk
Check out all current vacancies through Worklink.
Past and present UoB stars competing
A huge number of staff, students and alumni have been selected to represent their home nations in the Games and we're excited to share this selection information with you as our UoB stars compete with the very best talent from across the Commonwealth countries. Meet our UoB Stars.
Games on campus
Campus will remain fully open and operational throughout the Games. In the run up to and during the Games, we will see some temporary changes to our campus and the surrounding areas to facilitate the operational and security requirements the Games has.
We do appreciate that our campus, the car parks, the surrounding areas and our transport networks will be busier than usual during this period. Please allow extra time and check your journey (such as bus and train times) before you set out as the transport providers may make changes to usual timetables during this busy period.
Things to note:
- For security reasons, on-campus restrictions will be in place from Thursday 21 July – Wednesday 10 August.
- If you drive to campus, East Gate (entrance by the Guild of Students) is the only entrance to campus.
- To exit campus, use East Gate and North Spur Gate only (gate in between J G Smith (R20), Fry Building (R33) and the School of Education (R19)).
- South Gate will be closed from Saturday 16 July to Saturday 13 August (including on foot, bicycle and Voi Scooter)
- We encourage students where possible, to use public transport to travel to campus as the roads will be busy and on-campus parking will be reduced.
- If travelling by car is absolutely necessary, Transport for West Midlands has advised that we should travel outside of the following times: 7 – 11am, 3 – 7pm.
- Any available parking on campus is for those with valid University of Birmingham car parking passes only. Spectators and visitors will not be able to park on campus. Please make sure your vehicle has the correct, valid parking pass and that you wear your student pass at all times.
- All areas of campus are open to students travelling to campus by foot, bicycle or Voi scooter, with the exception of areas that fall within the red lines (University of Birmingham Sport and Fitness, the sport pitches, the South Gate (Bristol Road entrance) and the Vale Village).
- If you catch a train to campus, Transport for West Midlands has advised that we should travel outside the following times where possible: 12 – 1pm, 5 – 6pm, 10 – 11pm.
- University Station will be very busy and all station users (spectators, staff, students and campus visitors) will need to join Network Rail’s queuing system. Where queues go over 25 minutes at peak times, Network Rail and Transport for West Midlands will use a shuttle bus system to take station users straight into Birmingham City Centre. Alternatively Selly Oak Station is within walking distance of campus.
- If you're not attending the Games but need to go on campus, Network Rail has confirmed that you will not have to join any concourse-level queuing systems at New Street station but can pass through the ticket barriers as usual (please have your student pass available to show).
For more details and up-to-date information on this temporary changes, check out our ‘Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games’ intranet pages.
#GameChangingBirmingham
We'd love you to see your Games related snaps and stories so make sure you follow our socials and tag us @unibirmingham - don't forget to use the hashtag #GameChangingBirmingham.