Birmingham Community Games 2022: What is the event, when are the games taking place & how can I get involved?

The Birmingham Community Games are returning for another year, with thousands of people across the West Midlands set to participate in sports.

The event, now in its 12th year, coincides with the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which is also bringing a summer of sport to the West Midlands.

Here’s everything you need to know about the games. 

What are the Community Games?

The Community Games are a series of sporting events that run across the country annually and encourage children and families to get active.

The games were launched in June 2010 as one of West Midlands’ main programmes of activity.

It was inspired by the Olympic heritage of the West Midlands and the Wenlock Olympian Games, which have been held annually since 1850.

In 2011, an application was made to the Cabinet Office’s Social Action Fund to roll out the programme across the country.

The event creates opportunities for people to try different sporting activities regardless of age or ability.

At each event, stickers are given to children for trying different activities, which earns them their very own medal to take away at the end of the day.

When and where are the games taking place?

The 2022 community games began in June and will run across the West Midlands until mid-September.

These are the scheduled events taking place this year:

• Moseley Community Games – Moseley Rugby Club, Moseley, Saturday 2nd July

• Canal and River Trust Community Games – Birmingham, Saturday 9th July

• Tamworth Community Games – Castle Grounds, Tamworth Wednesday 20th July

• Sutton Coldfield Community Games – Wyndley Leisure Centre, Sutton Coldfield, Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th August

• Aston Community Games – Aston Hall, Aston, Saturday 20th or Sunday 21st August (TBC)

• Small Heath Community Games – Small Heath Park, Small Heath, Saturday 3rd September

• Shard End Community Games – Shard End Park, Shard End, Saturday 10th September

• Lichfield Community Games – Beacon Park, Lichfield, Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th September

What sports can people participate in?

There are plenty of opportunities for people to try something new with over 20 different sports from local providers.

Event-goers could get involved with sports including boxing, table tennis, orienteering, hockey, rugby and yoga.

What happened at previous events?

In 2016, a Community Games event held by the community of Heathcote attracted over 1800 participants.

Activities at this particular event included a fun run, wheelchair basketball, a swim carnival, a hospital bed race, a motorised scooter race and an old woman’s race.

How can I get involved?

You can keep up to date with the events in your area at Community Games or by following the Community Games Twitter account @commgamesuk.

The majority of events are free to attend for those wanting to spectate, or you could even have a go yourself.

To book tickets for an event, go to: Community Games booking

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. BirminghamWorld is Birmingham’s latest news website, championing everything that is great about our city - reporting on news, lifestyle and sport. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.