Residents and businesses encouraged to ‘Get Set for the Games’ as organisers mark six months to go until Birmingham 2022

Birmingham 2022 and Games Partners today (28 January 2022) 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.

With some of the world’s best athletes already selected to compete at this prestigious event, it’s no surprise that 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.

John Crabtree, Chair of Birmingham 2022 said: “We are now just six months away from the biggest event that this city and region has ever hosted. It is going to be an incredible moment in Birmingham’s history and the spotlight will be fully focused on the West Midlands - this is our time to shine.

“With more than one million tickets already sold and spectators from across the region, country and beyond travelling to all of our sports venues, the region will be a hive of activity, so now is the time for residents and businesses to start making plans for the exciting and busy summer ahead.” 

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “With the Games fast approaching, excitement is really starting to build in Birmingham. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to show off the city at its best to the rest of the world – but we all need to get set.

“This is the biggest, most prestigious event Birmingham has ever hosted and there will be a range of things in our normal daily routines that need to temporarily change to enable us to stage the biggest event the city has ever seen. This is the case with all such major multi-sport events, so I would recommend people start planning ahead and check out information as it becomes available through the Get Set website and other trusted sources.”

Anne Shaw, Executive Director, Transport for West Midlands said: “We have recently agreed the Strategic Games Transport Plan which sets out the plans to keep the region moving – including 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.

“We are also working on plans to ensure residents and businesses can make their journeys with minimum disruption and will be issuing advice and information to help people prepare through the Get Set campaign over the coming weeks and months.”

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Ward, West Midlands Police Gold Commander for Birmingham 2022, said: “West Midlands Police, and particularly our local neighbourhood teams and staff and officers out in the community, will be working hard to support our residents and local businesses during Games time and in the lead up to it.  We’re working closely with our partners to minimise any disruption and listen to any concerns people might have. We all want to work together to make Birmingham 2022 a fantastic event for the whole region.”

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 and the road closures and all of the traffic management measures that will be put place, to ensure they are safely delivered, 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.