Residents and businesses are encouraged to start planning for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games - information and updates will appear on birmingham2022.com/getset and on the new Get Set Twitter account - @GetSet2022
Birmingham 2022 and Games Partners have officially launched the ‘Get Set for the Games’ programme which will provide useful information for businesses and residents, to help ensure the region is ready to welcome a huge influx of visitors from around the UK and the world this summer.
Birmingham 2022 is the biggest multi-sport event to be held in the UK since the London 2012 Olympics and it is the largest event ever to be held in the West Midlands region. It will officially begin on 28 July with a spectacular Opening Ceremony at the newly transformed Alexander Stadium and 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. More than one million spectators are set to attend, so organisers are keen to highlight the information that will be available to all residents and businesses, explaining the potential temporary impacts on journeys and normal day to day activities during the 12-day event.
‘Get Set for the Games’ is a joint campaign involving several Games Partners, including Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), Birmingham City Council, plus all of the other local authorities that are coming together to host events across the region. West Midlands Police and the other emergency services are also involved in ensuring the efficient and safe delivery of the Games.
To facilitate the smooth running of Birmingham 2022, there will be temporary changes to roads, parking regulations and public transport around the 15 competition venues and the Games accommodation sites.
To help ensure reliable journey times for athletes and officials, who need to get from their accommodation to competition venues on time, and for spectators, who need to arrive before the sports sessions begin, there will be additional traffic management in place. There will also be traffic management on local roads in the vicinity of venues and to help maintain access for residents and businesses.
Public transport operators are also looking at increasing capacity, frequency of service and operating hours, to manage demand during the Games, especially as, for events in the West Midlands, spectators will have access to public transport included within their Games ticket for the local area on the day of their event. A journey planner will be released later in the year to help people plan their travel during the Games.
With just six months to go until Birmingham 2022 begins, residents and businesses alike are being encouraged to plan ahead and to think about how and when they will travel during what will be a busy and exciting time for the region.
Deputy Leader for Solihull Council and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Transport, Cllr Karen Grinsell, said:
“Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games takes place in just six months’ time. This will be the largest event ever held in the region and Transport for West Midlands has agreed the plan for keeping the region moving during this busy time. This includes offering spectators local travel to the venue with their tickets, providing additional park and ride facilities, shuttle buses and improved routes for cycling and walking.
“With six events taking place within the borough at the NEC, Solihull Council is supporting these plans. All major road works in the area around the NEC will be suspended during the Games. As the games take place during the summer holidays we are expecting the usual traffic levels to be low but additional public transport services will be provided to help manage peak travel demand. Please do make sure though that you check for the latest event information and plan your journeys during this very busy and exciting time!”
Information regarding where and when transport will be busiest throughout the Games will be made available at Birmingham2022.com/getset as Birmingham 2022 and other Games Partners look to do all they can to ensure the smooth running of the event, whilst minimising the impact for residents and businesses.
On this special section of the official Games website, you can also take a look at all of the route maps for the four road events that are an important part of Birmingham 2022. This includes the Cycling Time Trial through Wolverhampton and the Black Country, the Triathlon and Para Triathlon events in and around Sutton Park, the Cycling Road Race on the roads of Warwickshire and the Marathon and Wheelchair Marathon, which will see athletes winding their way through Birmingham city centre and its suburbs.
Most of these road events are for just one day. The road closures and all of the traffic management measures that will be put place will be published a little later in the year, along with advice for people living in the local area. You can also watch all of these events for free.
Information will continue to be added to the website and partners will also be holding community engagement sessions, where more details will be shared, plus there will be an opportunity to ask questions about the temporary changes taking place in each location.