2022 Commonwealth Games To Be First Multi-Sport Event To Award More Medals To Women

Kylie Masse: Photo Courtesy: Ian MacNicol

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will make history by being the first major multi-sport event to award more medals to women than men.

The publication of the Birmingham medal event programme confirms there are 136 medal events for women and 134 for men.

It follows the 2018 Games on Gold Coast, Australia, where there an equal number of medals for women and men.

The BBC will broadcast the competition from the city in the English midlands for the 18th consecutive Games.

There are 13 – a record number – of mixed events including swimming relays, diving – including synchronised 3m and 10m platform – and para-athletics relays along with the biggest integrated para-sport programme in history.

The Birmingham sports programme includes T20 cricket for women for the first time at a Commonwealth Games, with eight teams competing at Edgbaston Stadium.

Photo Courtesy: Birmingham 2022

Also added to the athletics programme are 10-kilometre race walks for men and women, which will take place at the redeveloped Alexander Stadium.

The Games will also feature more para sport than any previous Commonwealth Games, with wheelchair basketball 3 x 3 included in the integrated programme for the first time, and the 100m breaststroke SB6 event added alongside para athletics, para cycling track, para table tennis, para triathlon, para lawn bowls and para powerlifting.

Ian Reid, CEO of Birmingham 2022, said:

“Our event programme has been specifically designed to reach new audiences and champion the growth of women’s sport. I am certain that fans will come in their droves to cheer on the most diverse range of events ever held at a Commonwealth Games, showcasing more female and para athletes than ever before.

“With this programme, we are seizing the opportunity to raise the profile of the Games and the West Midlands and celebrate the diversity that the region and the Commonwealth Games movement is known for.”

Dame Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said:

“It is very special that the Commonwealth Games will be the first major multi-sport event in history with more medals for women than men.

“It will also be the largest ever integrated para sport programme which will ensure that Birmingham 2022 will be a truly historic, inclusive and unforgettable 11 days of sport.

“We remain on track to host one of the world’s greatest sporting competitions and deliver a Games that will leave a lasting legacy for Birmingham, the West Midlands, the country and the Commonwealth.”

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