13 August 2019

Commonwealth history made as Birmingham announces three additional sports for 2022

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will make history as the first major multi-sports event to award more women's than men's medals after adding three sports to the programme.

Para table-tennis, beach volleyball, and Women's T20 Cricket have all been added to the schedule meaning there are currently 135 women's medal competitions scheduled in comparison to the men's 133.

The competition will also be making history boasting the largest ever Commonwealth para-sport programme.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin said: "We are passionate advocates of women's sport and para-sport so I am thrilled we are able to make this special announcement."

Shooting and archery also applied to be added to the event but missed out after a majority of the 71 Games associations voted in favour of cricket, beach volleyball and para table- tennis.

There are also seven mixed events in the programme, with the finalised line-up to be announced next year.

How will it work?

Beach volleyball:

Made its debut at the games on the Gold Coast in 2018 and was also hugely popular at the London 2012 Olympics. The venue has not yet been announced.

Women's T20 Cricket:

Eight teams will play at Edgbaston after a successful bid from the ICC and the ECB. Cricket has only ever been included once before; South Africa won the men's 50 overs-a-side format in Kuala Lumpur in 1998. 

Para table-tennis:

Also made its Commonwealth debut on the Gold Coast in 2018. 32 athletes will take part across four medal events held at the NEC.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will consist of 19 sports in a programme spanning from July 27 to August 7 at an expected cost of £778m, which will be the most expensive sports event hosted by Britain since London 2012.

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