Birmingham 2022: plans for 7 neighbourhoods to host local Commonwealth Games festivals

Seven Festival Sites have been identified to host free two-day events featuring sport, culture, food and drink while the Commonwealth Games are on.

Birmingham City Council has drawn up the proposals and, if approved, say the festivals will provide a great opportunity for everyone to be part of the Games - even if they don’t have a ticket.

They would be held in addition to the main city centre Commonwealth Games Festival which is running from March to February.

The neighbourhood events would feature big screens showing key moments of sport alongside a programme of live performances from artists and community groups.

The locations which have been identified to host the Commonwealth Games neighbourhood festivals are:

• Castle Vale Festival Site, located in Farnborough Fields, Castle Vale
• Relaxed Festival Site, located at Sense Touchbase Pears, Selly Oak
• Sparkhill Festival Site, located in Sparkhill Park, Sparkhill
• Edgbaston Festival Site, located at Edgbaston Reservoir, Edgbaston
• Oaklands Festival Site, located in Oaklands Recreation Ground, Yardley
• Handsworth Festival Site, located in Handsworth Park, Handsworth
• Ward End Festival Site, located in Ward End Park, Ward End

Is there more information about the Relaxed Festival Site at Selly Oak?

Organisers have given further details about the Relaxed Festival at the Selly Oak site, saying that has been chosen to complement Birmingham 2022’s ‘Games for Everyone’ inclusive approach.

The site would be be especially designed for people with complex disabilities at the Sense Touchbase Pears in Selly Oak.

The purpose-built facility, managed by the charity Sense, is hoping that, alongside the screening of sport, there will be specially adapted programming, including quiet spaces and activities for those that don’t want to or aren’t able to be in louder, more intense spaces.

Are there any other Commonwealth Games Festivals planned?

There are also plans for large scale city centre Festival Sites and further information will be released about these later in the year. A full programme for Festival Sites is also due to be announced in the spring.

What have the Commonwealth Games Festival organisers said about the neighbourhood plans?

Martin Green, Chief Creative Officer for Birmingham 2022, said: “It is really important to us that residents from across the city have the opportunity to celebrate and embrace the Games, even if they don’t have tickets for one of our competition venues. These Festival Sites would make that sure that this is possible.”

Can I still get tickets to the Commonwealth Games?

For more information about the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, including ticket availability, details of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, which will start on 17 March, and advice for residents and local business on how to plan for the Games, go to birmingham2022.com.

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