200 days until Birmingham 2022: what Brummies love best about the city

The countdown to Birmingham 2022 is on - with today (Sunday, January 9) marking 200 days until the Commonwealth Games begin.

The biggest event the city has ever hosted is taking place as Birmingham continues a huge transformation with exciting developments lighting up its skyline and new opportunities increasing for Brummies.

There’s a fresh sense of pride in Birmingham, the city of a thousands trades which boasts the youngest population in Europe.

A billion people are expected to watch the Commonwealth Games which will be screened around the world, so what do Brummies love best about Brum? And what do they recommend the most to the people who will be watching the spectacle that begins on July 28 and features 19 sports across 286 sessions.

Here’s what people visiting the city told BirminghamWorld - please join the conversation on social media at #Brummielove

‘So many different cultures - it’s got everything you want in a city’

Sandra says: “Birmingham stands out with that it’s a massive, massive city, even the city centre looks tiny, tiny - it has so many different cultures. You have so many places where you can dine, for example, it’s got many entertainments, basically, everything you want in one city.

“And it’s so accessible even to travel across borders when you have an airport, so close by as well. It has everything you need.”

‘It’s great - it’s got great cultural assets, great football teams, great parks and great history’

Sam says: “I think Birmingham is a bit underrated, really. I think it’s a great city. I think it’s got great cultural things. It’s got the Rep and Symphony Hall. It’s got great football teams. It’s got great parks. It’s got great history in terms of its industrialization and the steam engine and Watt’s contribution. Yeah, it’s the heart of the industrial revolution.

“So I think hopefully the Commonwealth Games could be a good showcase for the city.”

‘The Commonwealth Games will get the nation together’

Murad says: “I feel that the Commonwealth Games coming to Birmingham is very, very good, because it gets the nation together as well. Because we’ve never had this in Birmingham before. We had several events, but another Commonwealth Games as London had the Olympics, will be good. “

‘I’m seeing the city with new eyes’

Daniel says: “Yeah, I think just in my immediate sight, walking through here, we’re just talking about the urban planning and the way it’s opened up and there’s been certain buildings removed. And it’s just a showcase of old architecture and the feel walking through the city is one of intrigue. I’m like seeing the city with new eyes, even though I grew up locally. And I would come here like when I was 16, with my, you know, friends on the bus, we’d be like ah cool.”

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