It’s a major date in the sporting calendar, and the Commonwealth Games 2022 starts today (July 28) in Birmingham, but what time does the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony start?
The Commonwealth Games will last for 12 days, and the star-studded opening ceremony will start at 8pm at the Alexander Stadium. The venue has undergone an impressive £72 million transformation, ahead of 30,000 people attending the ceremony. It’s been more than twenty years since the Games last took place in England in 2002, and eight years since it took place in the UK when the event was hosted by Glasgow in 2014.
Over a billion people will be watching the broadcast around the world. The TV coverage will begin on BBC One from 7pm with a build up, before the ceremony starts at 8pm until 10.30pm.
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will be present in place of Her Majesty The Queen and will officially open the games.
Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders is producing the opening ceremony, and has promised it will be “mind-blowing”. There’s a lot to live up to following the 2012 Olympics spectacle. No pressure!
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Duran Duran will be headlining the ceremony, in honour of the city where their incredible career began. It’s also a hometown show for legendary guitarist and co-founder of Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi.
The ceremony will provide a platform for new talent too, with Indigo Marshall and Gambimi performing.
The National Anthem ill be performed by a collection of 700 people from 15 different choirs from around the West Midlands, fronted by mezzo-soprano and Birmingham Conservatoire graduate, Samantha Oxborough.
One of the highlights of the opening ceremony will be the Commonwealth Games Parade of Nations. Australia will lead the parade as the most recent host nation of the Games, and will end with the host nation of this year's Commonwealth Games, England.
Locals are hopeful that the event will bring further investment and opportunities to the West Midlands, and a chance to show off the area.
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Over 5,000 athletes from 72 countries or territories will take part in the games over the next 12 days.
Jen Thomas