Town centre Commonwealth Games sites were a huge success

"The Games brought a real feelgood factor with them and it was wonderful to see our businesses enjoying some of that."

Between July 28th and August 8th the attention of the Nation, the Commonwealth and further beyond fell on Birmingham, the West Midlands and Warwickshire with the hosting of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.  

A series of festival sites across the region saw big screens installed at the Pump Room Gardens, Royal Leamington Spa and in Market Square, Warwick, offering a space to spend time with friends and family and a chance to take in the atmosphere of The Games. 

Both sites, hosted by Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council in collaboration with the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee, proved popular with locals and tourists travelling from outside the area for the Games.  

At Warwick, a range of family friendly activities offered something different to visitors including crazy golf, circus skills and arts and culture. In Leamington there were performances ahead of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the opportunity to practise a spot of lawn bowls. Over the course of the event, volunteers were able to join the fun by assisting residents, day visitors, those on holiday and sports clubs who visited Warwickshire. 

Both Leamington and Warwick sites received positive comments from visitors who noted the fun and friendly atmosphere, welcoming the chance to spend time in our safe and clean public spaces, whilst seeing what our towns have to offer. Business and organisations from the region have commented on the positive impact of the activities. Further details from an economic impact assessment for the region are awaited.

On August 7th, tens of thousands of spectators lined the streets of Warwick to see some of the world’s top cyclists battle it out in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cycling Road Races. In the preceding nine days, Leamington’s hosting of the Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls competition at Victoria Park in Royal Leamington Spa offered a very different kind of excitement. The two festival sites provided a fantastic spot to take in the action for these key events hosted by Warwickshire and the wider games.

Cllr Martin Watson, WCC Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, said:  “The festival sites brought a vibrancy to the town centres where they were hosted and, as well as the businesses that were part of the entertainment, local hospitality venues received a welcome boost from the large crowds that gathered.

"The Games brought a real feelgood factor with them and it was wonderful to see our businesses enjoying some of that. By all accounts, Warwickshire stepped up to the mark, offering a warm welcome to all travelling to the region and witnessing the ‘friendly Games’, with a global audience getting a glimpse of what the county has to offer."