Commonwealth Games 2022

In early 2021, the SGSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Birmingham City Council to support the delivery of the Commonwealth Games 2022 as the strategic safety partner.

The Commonwealth Games 2022 took place between 28 July and 8 August, covering 27 sports using a mixture of new, existing and temporary venues across 10 local authority areas.

As a multi-sport, multi-venue event, the Commonwealth Games posed distinct safety and security challenges. This is complicated further by the UK ‘reopening’ following the COVID restrictions, with numerous large events taking place across the summer.

The SGSA provided strategic advice to Birmingham City Council, as the host city, and the other local authorities hosting events as well as the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. Two Inspectors, provided a dedicated resource to this work.

Our work involved attending safety advisory group meetings held by each local authority for each venue as well as assisting to review the venue specific comprehensive safety management documentation prepared by the Organising Committee.

The SGSA provided advice to DCMS and Birmingham City Council regarding the designation of the rebuilt Alexander Stadium, host venue for the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics competition.

The competition venues were a mix of certificated sports grounds, indoor multi-purpose venues as well as non-certificated outdoor sports grounds. Through the high-level strategic Safety Management Group, the guiding principles of the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Green Guide) and its relevant supplementary guidance were adopted as the standard for all venues. This ensured a consistent approach, uniform safety management plans and allows for interoperability of staff across the venues. Each venue was operated as though a safety certificate is in place.