Media Release

For immediate release, 03 July 2019

BIRMINGHAM 2022 CELEBRATES THREE YEARS TO GO WITH THE COMMONWEALTH SOCIAL

A FREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY FESTIVAL OF SPORT, FOOD AND LIVE PERFORMANCES

With three years to go until the Commonwealth Games, Birmingham 2022 is marking this

momentous milestone in the countdown to what will be a once-in-a-lifetime event, by hosting

the Commonwealth Social, a free family friendly public celebration on Saturday 27 July

2019 from 12:00 – 19:00.

Taking place in Birmingham’s recently redeveloped Centenary Square, the Commonwealth

Social will be a fabulous festival of sport, culture and food with the people of the West

Midlands at its heart, celebrating everything that makes this vibrant region special.

The Commonwealth Social is an opportunity for local people to join in the celebration of the

upcoming Games, which will provide a unique opportunity to put the city and the region on a

global stage. There will also be a first glimpse of the new Birmingham 2022 look and feel,

which has been created by working closely with communities from across the West Midlands,

to create something that is truly representative of the region and its people.

Communal dining tables in the centre of the square will encourage visitors to pull up a chair

and sit alongside their neighbours, international athletes, DJs, local community leaders,

tastemakers from the region, local celebrities and those working to make the Games possible,

and bring together the community to put their stamp on the Games in the way that only

Birmingham can.

Attendees can expect to be wowed by pop-up performances from regional talent including

dance groups, brass bands, choirs and world DJ sets. Local street food traders from

Digbeth Dining Club will provide an exciting range of cuisine from across the Commonwealth,

including Caribbean, Mauritian, Indian and British, encouraging local people to enjoy

exciting new flavours from around the world. Each trader will also offer a special dish with £1

of its proceeds going to Foodinate, a not-for-profit organisation working to end local hunger.

Foodinate forms partnerships with restaurants, venues and charities to provide meals to local

people in need, and has provided over 100,000 free meals so far.

Local food traders from Digbeth Dining Club

The day will play host to a number of sports demonstrations including 3X3 wheelchair

basketball and much more. Team England athletes from the region and beyond will be in

attendance to join in the celebration and mingle with local people.

Josie Stevens, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Birmingham 2022, said:

“Local people are at the heart of Birmingham 2022, they are what will make these Games truly

special, so we’re inviting people across the region to join us and some of our athletes to

celebrating this major milestone. Birmingham and the West Midlands has a rich cultural

heritage so what better way to bring people together than to unite over a shared love of sport,

food and live performances!

“The Commonwealth Social is part of our ‘three years to go’ celebrations which also sees us

out engaging with people across the region in the ten locations where we have sports venues.

We’ll also be unveiling our new ‘look’!

“Birmingham 2022 will be a world-class festival of sport and culture. It’s also a once-in-a-

lifetime opportunity for our region to show the world the fantastic community spirit we have to

offer. The Commonwealth Social is the start of creating a Games that will be a catalyst for

transformation across the region.”

Team England’s Mimi-Isabella Cesar said: “The West Midlands has a wonderful rich

community spirit and the Commonwealth Social is the perfect way to bring the region together

for one great day. What could be a better way to kick-start what is going to be an exciting

countdown to Birmingham 2022? I am proud to be a part of Birmingham 2022 and I can’t wait

to get involved in everything the day has to offer.”

Birmingham 2022’s Common Ground project, which has been connecting communities

across the West Midlands by inviting them to have a conversation about the Games and how

Birmingham 2022 can benefit their community, will conclude at the Commonwealth Social

with the reveal of an artwork that draws upon the thoughts, ideas and experiences of the

communities that Common Ground has visited.

The innovative art-led research project will visit locations across the West Midlands throughout

July, speaking to local people to better understand how the Games can make a positive impact

for them and their community. Each Common Ground event will produce an artwork drawn

live by local illustrators Ruth Porter and Harley Davison, which serves as a visual interpretation

of the conversations with the community. Those people who participate in Common Ground

will be invited to the Commonwealth Social for the reveal of the resulting artworks.

Event Promotional Materials

ENDS

For more information about the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, please contact:

GUNG HO Communications

Chris Quinn Chris@gunghoco.com 0121 6046366

Rachael Allcock Rachael@gunghoco.com 0121 6046366

George Marrable George@gunghoco.com 0121 6046366

Birmingham 2022

Sarah Dickson sarah.dickson@birmingham2022.com 07494 671802

Notes to editors

About the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from 27 July until 7 August

2022, will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to put the city, the region and its people on the

global stage.

The Games is already proving to be a catalyst for transformation across the West Midlands,

attracting new investment and funding, creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people

and new opportunities for local businesses, as well as accelerating projects that will ensure

the region is ready to host a fantastic sports and cultural celebration.

Birmingham 2022 will be the Games for everyone, bringing people together from across

Birmingham and the region, to provide a warm welcome to its millions of visitors during the

summer of 2022. Find out more at www.birmingham2022.com

A British Sign Language interpreter will also be available at the event