10 National Federations of Belize to Participate in Long-Term Athlete Development Webinar Series

September 3, 2020 – Thirteen participants from 10 National Federations of Belize have registered to participate in a Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Webinar Series offered by PanAm Sports, in partnership with Sport for Life (Canada), the global leader in Quality Sport and Physical Literacy education.

Participating federations of Belize are: Belize Sailing Association, Belize National Cricket Association, Rugby Belize, Belize Softball Federation, Belize Canoe Association, Belize Body Building & Fitness Federation, Belize Tennis Association, Belize National Triathlon Federation, Belize Athletics Association and Belize Volleyball Association.

Sports leaders in the region and the world have found that many children and young people are dropping out of sports at an early age, resulting in a reduced talent pool for high performance teams. More importantly, an increasing percentage of the population is leading a sedentary lifestyle, which can lead to many health problems and a reduced quality of life.

Some of the reasons include:

  1. The lack of adequate programs designed to make sport fun and engaging
  2. Early specialization leading to burnout and injuries, which result in many children leaving the sport
  3. Inadequate teaching of the fundamentals of movement and physical activity at the appropriate age
  4. Poorly designed competition formats that force children to compete with the same rules as adults, resulting in frustration and desertion from organized sport

In an effort to address these concerns, Panam Sports reached an agreement with Sport for Life to share their knowledge and programs with the NOCs through a new Webinar educational series on Zoom and the Panam Sports Channel. It is an eight-week seminar that commenced on September 2. The course includes evaluations and certificates for all participants upon conclusion. Each NOC was offered a limited number of spaces free of charge. The information was shared with each National Federation of Belize, and the BOCGA received the names for onward submission to Panam Sports. Participants were recommended and endorsed by their federations as active members who will use their knowledge in the development of sport.

The BOCGA looks forward to positive feedback from the Belize participants, and is grateful to Panam Sports for this unique opportunity.


ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

Long-Term Development (LTAD) Webinar Series

Sport for Life (Canada) is the global leader in Quality Sport and Physical Literacy education. The 8-week online webinar series is about Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD), the underlying connective concept behind every healthy performing sport system across the globe. LTAD forms the basis for progressive stage-based development of participants from their introduction to sport, to recreational and high performance levels and on to ultimately staying active for life. It connects the multiple sectors responsible for the provision of sport opportunities, outlines key considerations in creating pathways and frameworks of athlete and system development, and enables the creation of policies that improve the quality of sport.

This LTAD series, presented by world class experts in sport and physical activity, will combine online education, e-learning and practical examples from guest speakers to provide each student the following:

  • The Athlete Development model and why it is absolutely crucial to modern sport
  • The Key Factors of LTAD – including specialization, age, physical literacy, competition, periodization
  • The 7 stages of Athlete Development – the flow, connections and key considerations
  • Quality Sport – LTAD in action, “Good programs, place and people” (case studies and examples from successful sports)
  • Training and Competition – the keys to successfully aligning competition structures, training & multisport Games
  • Physical Literacy – the competence, confidence & motivation to be active for life
  • Coaching and National Sport Systems – their central roles in healthy sport systems
  • Interdependence – how LTAD and Physical Literacy work together – case studies in NSOs and NOCs

This exciting series will present cutting-edge knowledge, practical information and real life examples to engage participants from every aspect of sport – from NOCs to club and school coaches, NSO leaders, government officials and the like. Participants will progress through an LTAD curriculum workbook and address Homework between weekly sessions that will be reviewed and discussed. As well, two exams will be staged to ensure the knowledge is understood and absorbed. Successful graduates of the LTAD program will receive an accredited Certificate of Completion/Achievement.

Key Outcomes

At the end of this series, participants will:

  • Have improved understanding of Long-Term Athlete Development
  • Understand how to connect Long-Term Athlete Development stage objectives to actual program delivery from club, school to national and international levels
  • Understand philosophy of multi (sectors – organizations) partner engagement
  • Have developed a rationale for how an LTAD Framework can support and enrich a National Sport Policy
  • Have developed a rationale for how an LTAD Framework with Physical Literacy can underpin and enrich a quality Physical Education Curriculum
  • Understand how to develop successful sport-specific LTAD/ADM Frameworks

Why governments, NOCs, sport organizations and coaches need to address Physical Literacy and Long-Term Athlete Development

  • To change national sport, health and education cultures by moving from one to three key outcomes. (Governments/NOCs)
  • To increase participation and excellence through an inclusive athlete (participant) development pathway. (Organizations)
  • To improve the quality of sport through the application of stage based development and ten key factors. (Coaches)

For more information on the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, please contact any of our Executives.

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Maldives Re-joins as Member of Commonwealth Games Federation

September 1, 2020 –  The Maldives Commonwealth Games Association has been re-admitted as a member of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) paving the way for the South Asian island nation to compete at future editions of the Commonwealth Games. The Maldives missed the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games due to the Maldives government’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth in 2016. The resolution for the re-admission of the Maldives was approved in a vote of the 71 Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) in August 2020, meaning that the Commonwealth sporting family grows to 72 nations and territories. The CGF resolution comes after the Maldives Government’s application for re-admission to the Commonwealth was approved by Commonwealth Heads of Government and announced by the Commonwealth Secretariat earlier this year.

The Maldives has a proud record at the Commonwealth Games having competed in eight editions of the competition, beginning in Edinburgh in 1986 and most recently in Glasgow in 2014. In a letter to Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the Maldives CGA confirming the news, CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE said: “I am delighted to confirm the re-admission of the Maldives as a Member of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

The Resolution for the re-admission of the Maldives was overwhelmingly approved by our Membership, and on behalf of the entire Commonwealth Sport Movement, may I congratulate you as we welcome your country and your inspirational athletes back to the Commonwealth Games. It will be an honour and a privilege to see the Maldives compete at the next Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022, where there will be huge support for your island nation especially at the Opening Ceremony.

It is a pleasure to see the Maldives return to our family of nations and to work with us to uphold our collective values of Humanity, Equality and Destiny.”

ENDS

About the CGF
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games, and for delivering on the vision of the Commonwealth Sports Movement: to build peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities globally by inspiring Commonwealth Athletes to drive the impact and ambition of all Commonwealth Citizens through Sport.

For more information please contact:
CGF Media and Communications Manager
Tom Degun
+ 44 (0) 7788 580790
t.degun@thecgf.com
www.thecgf.com

For more information on the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, please contact any of our Executives.

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First Junior Pan American Games will be held in Cali Colombia in September 2021

More than 3,500 athletes from 41 countries will compete in the 27 sports featured in the first multisport event in history designed specifically for young athletes of the Americas that will be held between September 9 and 19, 2021 in the city of Cali, Colombia.

“With the postponement of the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games, the Cali 2021 Junior Pan American Games will be the most important sports event in the world for young people in the coming years,” said Panam Sports President, Neven Ilic.

CALI, COLOMBIA (AUGUST 31, 2020) — One of the most-anticipated decisions for all of the National Olympic Committees, International Federations, Pan American Confederations and of course young athletes of the Americas has finally been confirmed by the Government of President Ivan Duque: the city of Cali, Colombia will organize the first Junior Pan American Games of Cali-Valle 2021.

The news was delivered by Colombia’s Minister of Sport Ernesto Lucerna Barrero to Panam Sports President Neven Ilic during the Virtual Meeting of the Organizing Committee of the Cali-Valle 2021 Junior Pan American Games on Monday. Among the attendees were Colombian Olympic Committee President Baltazar Medina, former Valle del Cauca Governor Dillian Francisca Toro, representatives of the Valle del Cauca Government, the Mayor of Cali and the Executive Director of Cali 2021, Jose Luis Echeverry.

The confirmation is a milestone for Panam Sports and the entire Pan American Family as a unique opportunity for the next generation of athletes and for the advancement of sports development throughout the entire American continent. Additionally, Cali 2021 marks the first continental event in history dedicated and designed for young athletes between the ages of 14 and 22.

Additionally, the official dates of the event were confirmed for September 9 to 19, 2021.

“With the postponement of the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games, the Cali 2021 will be the most important and massive sporting event in the world for young people in the coming years. I am sure it will be a spectacular sports festival that will serve as a launching point for our next generation of athletes and that Cali and the Colombians, as always, will be fantastic hosts,” said Panam Sports President Neven Ilic.

“I want to sincerely thank the Colombian Government, President Duque, Minister Lucerna, Valle del Cauca Governor Clara Luz Roldan, Mayor of Cali Ivan Ospina and the Colombian Olympic Committee for trusting us as an organization, and for the commitment and passion they have shown to youth and sport throughout the continent,” Ilic added.

“The National Government affirms the resources and commitments that are required for the Junior Pan American Games in Cali. We know the importance of these Games post-pandemic to help reactivate the economy and for the youth of Colombia and all of the Americas. We are working very hard to make these Games as great as we have all dreamed them to be. We want Games of the highest quality, and prestige, but as always the focus of everything is the region, for Colombia and for the athletes who are going to visit us”, said Colombian Sports Minister Ernesto Lucerna Barrero.

The first Junior Pan American Games of Cali 2021 will feature 3,500 athletes from the 41 member nations of Panam Sports competing in a total of 27 sports, including: Aquatics (Diving, Swimming and Artistic Swimming), Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball 3×3, Bowling, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling (BMX, Mountain, Road and Track), Fencing, Gymnastics (Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline), Handball, Judo, Karate, Modern Pentathlon, Roller Sports (Artistic, Speed and Skateboarding), Rowing, Sailing, Shooting Sport (Pistol and Rifle), Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball (Beach and Indoor), Weightlifting and Wrestling (Freestyle and Greco-Roman).

In order to ensure the best young talent throughout the region participates in these historic Games, Panam Sports is offering qualification to the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games to the gold medalists in every individual sport.

ONE-YEAR COUNTDOWN CELEBRATION: CALI REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

Although no massive celebrations or gatherings are allowed throughout the Americas due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Cali-Valle 2021 Organizing Committee is preparing a special surprise for Wednesday, September 9 to celebrate and mark the One-Year Countdown to the world’s most important sporting event for young athletes in the coming years. The special One-Year Countdown event will be live streamed throughout the Americas and the world on the Panam Sports Channel.

Panam Sports calls on all Caleños, Colombians and sports fans throughout the Americas to stay tuned to social media and the news as the continent begins to experience the passion, joy, music and rhythm of the 1st Junior Pan American Games of Cali 2021 as they start to give their “All For You”.

For more information on the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, please contact any of our Executives.

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ODECABE/CACSO NEWS – August 2020 Edition

VENEZUELA – AUGUST 20, 2020 – The ODECABE/CACSO NEWS is a digital newspaper created to keep everyone informed of all the activities carried out by the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO) and sports in general. Luis Mejía Oviedo (DOM), President of the organization, along with the board of directors, have taken the initiative to create a newspaper that collects the highlights of each month, including institutional activity, sporting events, athletes, academic activities, and any other special features.

This project was initiated by the Education Commission, directed by Eduardo Álvarez Camacho (VEN), who is also the General Secretary of the Organization. It will highlight all the monthly activities of the members of the regional body, including special projects of the other organizations and other work commissions recently created by the body. Journalists from different parts of the world, representing National Olympic Committees and other Regional Sports Organizations, can contribute to inform about sports news, not only in the region but also around the world.

This first version consists of a total of 14 pages, highlighting its Board of Directors, the different activities that have been carried out since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as special works related to the history of the organization. It also includes information about upcoming events related to the Olympic cycle.

This edition is available online at the following link: August 2020 Edition

The PDF version can also be downloaded here: August 2020 Edition (PDF)

Communications from the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO)

Follow us:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Odecabe_Cacso

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/odecabe_cacso/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Odecabe/

For more information on the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, please contact any of our Executives.

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Commonwealth Games Federation: President’s 90th Anniversary Message

August 16, 2020 – Today marks the 90-year anniversary of the inaugural Commonwealth Games (then known as the British Empire Games) in the Canadian City of Hamilton, Ontario in 1930.

President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Dame Louise Martin wrote a blog reflecting back on the 1930 Games, ‘the brain child’ of Bobby Robinson, which is available to read here:

Dame Louise Martin: “A proud moment to be celebrating 90-year anniversary of Commonwealth Sport”

Hamilton 1930 was the first major sporting event to use volunteers, the first to provide travel grants for athletes and the first to have an athletes’ village in a multi-sport event. It was also the first sporting event to have medal ceremonies for athletes on a tiered podium. What a legacy!
Belize joins in congratulating the Commonwealth Games Federation on the 90th Anniversary of Commonwealth Sport. For more information on the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, please contact any of our Executives.
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Seminar on Sports Administration Organized by CACSO

VENEZUELA (Saturday, August 8, 2020) – The “I Seminar on Sports Administration of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO)” has been widely accepted throughout the American continent and even in countries in Europe and Asia.

More than 1500 people from 47 countries around the world have signed up for this new initiative that seeks to connect, train and teach nations about the Olympic movement through the intervention of sports leaders from CACSO, Panam Sports and National Olympic Committees from all over America.

The expectations held by Luis Mejia, CACSO’s President and from Eduardo Álvarez, Secretary General of the organization and also Chair of the Education Commission, have been positively overcome. In principle, it was calculated that the seminar would be given for 1000 people, a figure that fell short when there was still a week left to start.

Even so, both sports leaders have extended the invitation to those who want to participate, ensuring that this seminar is available not only for leaders, coaches or those directly involved in the sport; it is also open to everyone who wants to learn about sport.

“We are giving those interested in sports the opportunity. That is the main characteristic of this seminar, which has content and a varied agenda that will change from time to time because sport is very broad “, said President Mejia.

The adaptation of CACSO to the digital present has also been an accomplishment and one of the reasons for the successful registration of this first seminar.

“We have done a lot of promotion of this virtual activity so that everyone has the possibility to register and receive all the information we offer in the seminar”, commented the person in charge of this initiative, Eduardo Álvarez.

On Tuesday, August 11, starting at 2:20 pm Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 1:20 pm Mexico time, the seminar will begin with the words of President Luis Mejia. Next, Keith Joseph from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Lorena Novoa and Fabio Ramirez from Colombia, will be the experts who will complete the first day of teachings.

This video is a summary of the press conference of the CACSO Education Commission held on August 6, 2020.

Number Registered by Country

Argentina 20; Aruba 3; Bahamas 3; Barbados 6; Belize 4; Bermuda 1; Bolivia 20; Bonaire 1; Bosnia and Herzegovina 2; Brazil 1; British Virgin Islands 2; Canada 1; Cayman Islands 2; Chile 19; Colombia 200; Costa Rica 23; Cuba 8; Curacao 2; Ecuador 25; El Salvador 36; Spain 5; United States 12; Ghana 1; Guadeloupe 3; Grenada 1; Guyana 3; Guatemala 69; Haiti 5; Honduras 17; Jamaica 2; Mexico 186; Nicaragua 49; Panama 85; Paraguay 1; Peru 55; Poland 1; Puerto Rico 36; Qatar 2; Saint Lucia 1; Dominican Republic 156; St Kitts And Nevis 1; US Virgin Islands 3; St. Vincent and the Grenadines 2; Trinidad & Tobago 1; Suriname 1; Venezuela 492; and Uruguay 3.
Total: 1572

Schedule of Activities

Tuesday, August 11:
2:20 pm, Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 1:20 pm Mexico
Welcoming remarks
Luis Mejía Oviedo, CACSO President (DOM)
2:45 pm, Venezuela and Dominican Republic / 1:45 pm Mexico
Structure of the Olympic Movement,
Keith Joseph (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
3:40 pm Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 2:40 pm Mexico time
Management of the Environment of Olympic Sports Organizations: Legal aspects
Lorena Novoa (Colombia)
4:30 pm Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 3:30 pm Mexico time
Basic principles in the Organization of Sporting Events
Fabio Ramirez (Colombia)
Wednesday, August 12:
2:00 pm, Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 1:00 pm Mexico time
Values, Ethics in Sport and the Olympic Charter
Christopher Samuda (Jamaica) and Guillermo González (Colombia)
2:45 pm, Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 1:45 pm Mexico time
Women in the Olympic Movement
Nicole Hoevertsz IOC Member (Aruba)
3:30 pm, Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 2:30 pm Mexico time
Strategic Planning
Salman Brache (DOM)
4:15 pm, Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 3:15 pm Mexico time
Events of the Olympic Cycle
Mario Cilentti (Argentina)
Thursday, August 13:
2:00 pm, Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 1:00 pm Mexico time
Communication and Information Technology in Sports
Alejandro Goycoolea (Panam Sports)
2:45 pm, Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 1:45 pm Mexico time
Structure and Operation of the NOCs
Sara Rosario, (Puerto Rico)
3:30 pm, Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 2:30 pm Mexico time
Leadership in Sports Organizations,
Brian Lewis, President of Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC)
4:15 pm, Venezuela and Dominican Republic time / 3:15 pm Mexico time
Sports Marketing
Jimena Saldaña (México) and Jackie Guerra (México).
For more information on the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, please contact any of our Executives.
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Athlete Activists Discuss Olympic Movement & Rule 50

Olympic legend Dr. John Carlos, Olympic Champion Kikkan Randall and four-time Olympian and Panam Sports Athlete Commission President Aliann Pompey will join moderator and three-time Pan Am Games Champion Alexandra Orlando for an intriguing conversation about the future of the Olympic Movement and the important role athletes must play in shaping that future. Possible solutions to the scrutinized Rule 50 of the IOC barring athlete protests from the Games will be the main topic up for debate, featuring Dr. John Carlos as one of the men who shed light on this controversial issue with his podium protest at the Mexico 1968 Olympics.

Register now to join this unmissable conversation and submit your questions to these four great Champions and athlete activists.

July 29, 2020 – As professional sports leagues and international competitions begin to gradually return, it is vital that the voice of the athlete is elevated not only to safeguard their health and wellbeing, but also to ensure that policies and practices are created that benefit the athletes who make these competitions possible.

But the voices and actions of athletes can also be used to create positive social change outside of the field of play. Today more than ever, athletes are using their platforms to advocate for these changes throughout the world, from issues of racial or gender equality to human rights and everything in between.

Continuing with its commitment to amplify the athlete voice, Panam Sports and its Athlete Commission organized the first virtual discussion on July 9 about the future of sport, including the return to competition, changes to anti-doping and the future of Rule 50.

More than 65 athlete leaders from throughout the Americas and the world participated in the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, with the majority of that time spent discussing the benefits and drawbacks of athlete protests at international Games, as well as potential solutions to this controversial issue.

This week, Panam Sports is proud to provide a platform for athletes to continue this conversation with a special program called “Athletes Connect: Leaders of the Americas Look Towards the Future”. The session will be moderated by former Panam Sports Athlete Commission President and three-time Pan Am Games Champion in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Alexandra Orlando, who will be joined by an incredible panel of athlete activists, live this Thursday, July 30 on the Panam Sports Channel. 

Current Panam Sports Athlete Commission President and four-time Olympian in Athletics, Aliann Pompey, will lead the conversation by first providing a recap of the outcomes from the athlete meeting on July 9. Since her election following the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games, Aliann has worked hard to increase athlete representation throughout the Olympic Movement in the Americas and create opportunities for athletes to make their voice heard.

The first guest of honor is Olympic legend Dr. John Carlos, known best for his podium protest at the Mexico 1968 Olympics where he raised his fist in protest of racial inequality in the United States alongside teammate and Olympic Champion Tommie Smith. Both John Carlos and Tommie Smith were expelled from the Games despite winning the bronze and gold medals respectively in the Men’s 200m in Athletics. John also became the Pan American Games Champion in the 200m at Winnipeg 1967 and continues his role as an activist for social change to this day. His iconic protest at Mexico 1968 has been immortalized in the Olympic Hall of Fame and continues as a symbol for the power athletes have more than 50 years later.

Joining Aliann and John is Olympic and World Champion in Cross-Country Skiing, Kikkan Randall. Kikkan is often considered the best Cross-Country Skier in U.S. history, competing in five Winter Olympics and winning the gold medal in the Team Sprint with teammate Jessica Diggins at PyeongChang 2018, in addition to her 17 National Championships and World Championship gold medal in 2013. Kikkan is now an IOC Member representing the U.S. on the IOC Athlete’s Commission, a Board Member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and a “Get-Active”ist who promotes healthy and active lifestyles to youth audiences.

Do not miss this exciting conversation with these four great athletes and social advocates, only available on the Panam Sports Channel, live this Thursday at 5pm (ET).

Register now to join the conversation and submit your questions or ideas for a Rule 50 resolution. 

ABOUT PANAM SPORTS 

The Pan American Sports Organization (Panam Sports) is the leader of sport and the Olympic Movement in the Americas. We propel the development of sport and support our 41 member National Olympic Committees to inspire more participation in international competitions as well as participation of the youth to prepare the generation to come in our region.

Panam Sports works closely with athletes, National Olympic Committees (NOC), Organizing Committees of all regional games, Pan American Sport Confederations, International Federations (IF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to secure the success and celebration of our main event, the Pan American Games.

For the latest news and updates about Panam Sports, visit our website www.panamsports.org. Follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @PanamSports

For more information, please contact:

Alejandro Goycoolea | Communications Director
 | alejandro@panamsports.org
+56 994 081 884

Kevin Nutley | Communications Manager | 
knutley@panamsports.org
+1 678 262 6612

For more information on Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, contact any member of our Executive.

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Birmingham 2022 Unveils Venue to Mark 2 Years to Go

  • 730 days to go until the opening ceremony for the biggest sports event to be held in the UK since the London 2012 Olympics
  • City centre venue unveiled for 3×3 basketball, 3×3 wheelchair basketball and beach volleyball 
  • The Minister for Sport, Games Partners, Team England hopefuls and local basketball players come together to celebrate the two-year countdown to the Games

July 28, 2020 – In exactly two years’ time, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will begin, and organisers are marking this major milestone on the countdown to the Games by unveiling Smithfield, with its impressive city-scape backdrop, as the chosen location to create two bespoke arenas side by side to stage the 3×3 basketball and beach volleyball competitions.

Smithfield, previously the site of Birmingham’s Wholesale Markets, is located at the heart of the city centre and will be a crucial venue, for the host city, creating an urban hub that’s just a short walk from Birmingham’s famous Bullring shopping centre, with views of the Rotunda and Selfridges building. 

The new venue announcement has been warmly welcomed by the sports that will play there, and comes on what would have been the fourth day of sporting action at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with the prospect of a major multi-sport home Games providing a positive point on the sporting horizon for Team England hopefuls to set their sights on over the next 24 months.

Temporary courts for the two sports have been set up at the site as part of the two years to go celebrations, giving current and future stars of both sports, and young basketballers from the City of Birmingham Basketball Club the first chance to try out the location and to provide just a flavour of the sporting action that spectators can expect in 2022.

Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage, who is visiting the site today, said: “2022 will be a fantastic year of celebration for the UK, with a number of major events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Festival 2022. 

“With two years to go until Birmingham 2022, we’ve reached another major milestone. The site at Smithfield will be right at the heart of that, acting as a powerful focal point in making this a Games for everyone and helping to create a real buzz in the heart of the city.”

Birmingham 2022 finalised using the Smithfield site after working closely with the host city and the national governing bodies and international federations for the sports. 

Chief Executive Officer for Birmingham 2022, Ian Reid, said: “Today marks exactly two years to go until the official opening ceremony for Birmingham 2022 and we’re on track with our plans to host a spectacular event which will not only put Birmingham and the West Midlands centre stage but will also be an integral part of the region’s recovery plan following the global pandemic, bringing jobs for local people and contracts for local businesses.

“Smithfield is a fantastic location for these two sports, allowing us to bring together thousands of local people and spectators from further afield and enabling us to create a key hub for the Games in the heart of the city centre. It’s currently a blank canvas which will allow us to transform this location into a vibrant venue for two exciting sports that will no doubt bring a festival atmosphere to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

The 3×3 version of basketball is making its debut as a Commonwealth Sport in Birmingham. It will also be the first time that wheelchair basketball in any format has featured at a Commonwealth Games, a sport which is expected to be one of the highlights of the integrated para sports programme – the biggest in history for the multi-sport event, with eight sports set to feature at Birmingham 2022. 

Beach volleyball will be making its second appearance at a Commonwealth Games after the sport was added to the Birmingham 2022 programme last summer. The Smithfield site, at the heart of the landlocked city of Birmingham, will provide an interesting contrast to the sport’s first Commonwealth Games appearance on Australia’s Gold Coast, however organisers revealed that its popularity with a younger audience was one of the main reasons for choosing to add the sport, identifying this as a good fit for a city that is one of the youngest in Europe, with 60% of its residents aged 30 or under. 

The Smithfield site is owned by Birmingham City Council and its Deputy Leader, Councillor Brigid Jones, said: “We are delighted to be able to make available a prime piece of city centre land in the council’s ownership as a Commonwealth Games venue – making it a focal point of Games-related festivities in the city in the summer of 2022.

“It offers a stunning backdrop that depicts the very best of Birmingham’s past, present and future, showing off a key part of the city’s skyline to a massive global audience.

“And for the people of Birmingham, the Games-time plan gives a fantastic purpose and use to this land before we bring forward our plans to redevelop the site into a thriving hub of residential, commercial and leisure developments, including a new home for our retail markets.”

The Commonwealth Games Federation is also joining the other Games Partners in celebrating the countdown to Birmingham 2022 and CGF President, Dame Louise Martin DBE, said: “Today marks two years to go to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. It only feels like yesterday that the Commonwealth Games Federation awarded the city the right to stage the XXII edition of the competition, when in reality, that announcement was back in December 2017!

“Birmingham and the West Midlands are making excellent progress towards staging a fantastic competition for athletes, fans and spectators, alike, across the Commonwealth.

“Birmingham is one of the most culturally diverse cities of the UK, home to 187 nationalities which makes the 2022 Commonwealth Games really feel like a home Games for all of our 71 nations and territories. It is truly a Commonwealth city. We are looking forward to welcoming the world to the West Midlands in just two years’ time.”

More information about all of the venues for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which are located in the host city and across the West Midlands region, is available at www.birmingham2022.com where you can also sign-up to receive regular updates about the Games over the next 24 months.

Ends
  • A slight change to the start and finish dates for Birmingham 2022 was announced in June with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games now starting on 28 July and finishing on 8 August, with the event sitting at the heart of an exciting summer of sport

 

For more information please contact:

Sarah Dickson, Media and PR Manager, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on 07494 671 802 or email sarah.dickson@birmingham2022.com

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Panam Sports Presents the Short Film “¡Gracias Perú!”

July 25, 2020 – In commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the inauguration of the XVIII Pan American Games of Lima 2019, Panam Sports is proud to present a 12-minute short film on YouTube and on the Panam Sports Channel. Watch never-before-seen footage telling the story of the best Pan American Games in history, beginning with the selection of Lima as the Host City in Toronto, Canada in 2013 and following the journey to the unforgettable Closing Ceremony on August 11, 2019, where more than 35 million Peruvians chanted “Contigo Peru” before the eyes of more than 400 million viewers throughout the globe who all witnessed an exciting end to Lima 2019’s spectacular festival of sport.

SANTIAGO, CHILE  – It seems like it was just yesterday when the President of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic, declared the Lima 2019 Pan American Games officially closed in front of more than 40,000 spectators, but not without first thanking everyone who made this incredible continental sports celebration possible with a declaration that could be etched in bronze and will forever remain in the memory of millions of Peruvians: “When we started 15 days ago, we dreamed of having great Games, and today I tell you, it was a great reality… We had the greatest Pan American Games in history!”

 

Tomorrow, 365 days since the most important sporting event ever held in Peru began, Panam Sports will premiere the short film “¡Gracias Perú!”. This incredible 12-minute film shows the most important milestones of these Games, beginning with Lima being named the Host City at the ODEPA General Assembly in Toronto, Canada in 2013, and concluding with the Closing Ceremony at Peru’s National Stadium in Lima on August 11, 2019. The premiere launched Sunday, July 26 at 12pm (ET) through the Panam Sports Channel as well the Panam Sports YouTube channel.

 

We invite you to subscribe to our YouTube channel with the following link, not only to view “¡Gracias Perú!”, but also to stay up to date with the latest from Americas’ Olympic Movement.

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmog4_vCltSRHUWeiHlYjYw?view_as=subscriber

 

We also invite you to visit the official Panam Sports Channel to access exclusive content, Games highlights, full matches and finals from Lima 2019, as well as the successful editions of the Expert Connection series and the virtual training courses offered as a service to the Pan American Family.

 

www.panamsportschannel.org

ABOUT PANAM SPORTS 

The Pan American Sports Organization (Panam Sports) is the leader of sport and the Olympic Movement in the Americas. We propel the development of sport and support our 41 member National Olympic Committees to inspire more participation in international competitions as well as participation of the youth to prepare the generation to come in our region.

 

Panam Sports works closely with athletes, National Olympic Committees (NOC), Organizing Committees of all regional games, Pan American Sport Confederations, International Federations (IF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to secure the success and celebration of our main event, the Pan American Games.

 

For the latest news and updates about Panam Sports, visit our website www.panamsports.org. Follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @PanamSports

 

For more information, please contact:

Alejandro Goycoolea | Communications Director
 | alejandro@panamsports.org
+56 994 081 884

Kevin Nutley | Communications Manager | 
knutley@panamsports.org
+1 678 262 6612

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Tokyo 2020: One year to go to the Olympic Games

July 22, 2020 – Tomorrow will mark one year to go until the start of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. As part of this major milestone, an event will be held at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. The Organizing Committee will premiere a video showcasing support and cheers for all the athletes around the world.

The event is not open to the public but can be watched via an online live stream at the time that the Opening Ceremony is due to begin next year (5:00AM Belize Time):
11:00 UTC | 04:00 PST (UTC-7) | 13:00 CEST (UTC+2) | 20:00 JST (UTC+9).

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