Top things to know about the 2022 Commonwealth Games: Answers to the most asked questions
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games begin Thursday 28 July and end on Monday 8 August, but what exactly are the 'Friendly Games'? Olympics.com reveals all.
What are the Commonwealth Games?
Known as the ‘Friendly Games’, the Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations.
The quadrennial tournament was last hosted on the Gold Coast in Australia in 2018.
The 2022 edition is the third time that England has hosted the competition after London 1934 and Manchester 2002, and the seventh time the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has welcomed athletes to the Games after Cardiff 1958, Edinburgh 1970 and 1986, and Glasgow 2014.
The Games debuted in Ontario, Canada in 1930 and only six teams have attended every Commonwealth Games since: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales.
Australia has been the highest scoring team for thirteen games, England for seven, and Canada for one.
How many countries are participating in the Commonwealth Games?
The 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games is set to feature 72 teams, including the 54 Commonwealth of Nations countries and 18 territories.
From Anguilla to Australia to Eswatini and Guernsey through to Kenya, Montserrat, Norfolk Island and Northern Ireland, to South Africa, Tonga, Tuvulu and Zambia, the Commonwealth Games brings together all cultures and nations with the "core values of humanity, equality and destiny".
For a full list of nations and territories competing at Birmingham 2022, click here.
How many medals are being awarded at the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022?
Overall, 1,875 medals have been produced for the 283 medal events that are part of the Birmingham Games.
Designed by three students, the design and concept of the medals was decided via a competition held by Birmingham’s School of Jewellery and the Commonwealth Games organisers.
The touch and feel of the medals have been created keeping the visually impaired para-athletes in mind.
How many different sports are being featured at Birmingham 2022?
Nineteen different sports will feature at Birmingham 2022.
These are:
Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Bowls, Boxing, Cricket (women's), Cycling, Gymnastics, Judo, Hockey, Netball, Rugby 7s, Squash, Table tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting, Wrestling.
Birmingham 2022 features the largest number of events for women (136) and Para-sport athletes (42) in Games history.
What are the new sports?
There are three new sports – women's T20 cricket, 3x3 basketballm and 3x3 wheelchair basketball.
Which countries are leading the all-time medal table?
Australia lead the all-time medal table, adding a plethora of medals to their account after hosting the last Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018. They added 80 golds to their tally, which sits at 932 gold medals and 2,416 total medals heading into Birmingham 2022.
The Aussies have topped the medal table for the fourth time in the past five Commonwealth Games, and have sent a strong team to Birmingham to earn more. However, on home turf, Team England will be looking to close the gap on the all-time list, sitting in second with 2,144 medals, 714 of those gold.
Canada are third (1,555 total, 484 gold), India fourth (503, 181) and New Zealand, fifth (657, 159 gold).
At the other end of the table, there may be a jostle for positions as The Cook Islands, the Solomon Islands and The Gambia will be keen to add to their one bronze each to catch up to Norfolk Island and Vanuatu who both have two third place finishes.
How many athletes are competing in Birmingham?
More than 5,000 athletes from more than 72 nations are expected to compete at Birmingham 2022.
Celebrated athletes include the likes of 10-time world sprint medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, England’s triple Olympic champion and speedy breakstroke swimmer Adam Peaty and Pandelela Rinong Pam, Malaysia's first female Olympic medalist who claimed bronze in 10m platform diving at London 2012.
Crowd favourite Chad le Clos of South Africa needs one more medal to share the title of most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete of all time, while out on the road, Namibia's Helalia Johannes will defend her women's marathon title.
Pakistan take on India in the group stage of women's T20 cricket – always a tasty match up – and Kenya's Faith Kipyegon takes on Scotland's Laura Muir in the 1500m on the track.
For full information about the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022, including how to watch the action, head to our preview article.