Borobi is getting ready and so are Australia’s best athletes as 2022 heralds in the Commonwealth Games year in Birmingham.

The countdown hits another important milestone with just 200 days to go until the biggest Commonwealth Games in history.

An Australian team expected to number 425 athletes will compete in 21 sports at the Birmingham Games with the overall goal of being Bold | Brave | Brilliant.

If all teams qualify and spots are secured the team will be Australia’s largest at an overseas Commonwealth Games.

It’s anticipated the team will surpass the Glasgow 2014 team size of 415 athletes. The Gold Coast team in 2018 numbered 473 athletes.

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Fast Facts

Dates                                     28 July – 8 August 2022

Edition:                                 22nd Commonwealth Games.

Sports:                                  21 (put into a table of use picto screen grab from website)

New Sports:                       Women’s T20 cricket and Basketball 3×3 and wheelchair 3×3

Australian Team Size:     Expected to be 425 athletes

Medal events:                   136 medal events for women, 134 for men and 13 mixed events.  There are more medal events for women than men for the first time.

Australia has already secured qualification in women’s T20 cricket team and women’s and men’s 3×3 basketball for their Games debut and they have been joined by the Diamonds netball team.

The Australian summer will see qualifying events and nomination trials across many sports, along with camps and preparation programs funded by Commonwealth Games Australia’s Green2Gold2Great program.

The $13m sports and athlete funding program also includes Breakthrough2022 support directly to athletes, with $2m to assist Birmingham bound athletes with financial support to enable them to focus on their daily training environment and competitions leading into the Games.

The countdown to the Games will also feature Australia hosting the Queen’s Baton Relay from 17-20 March, with details of cities and venues to be announced shortly.

Australia’s team will be led by nine-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and three-time Olympic champion Chef de Mission Petria Thomas OAM, who will become Australia’s first female Chef de Mission.

Thomas will be joined by cycling legend Anna Meares OAM, netball gold medallist Sharelle McMahon, three-time Paralympic gold medallist and Melbourne 2006 silver medallist Katrina Webb OAM and Commonwealth Games Australia’s General Manager- Team Performance and Operation Tim Mahon on the Team Executive.

Four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Manchester 2002 flagbearer Damian Brown will head the Team Experience operation.

Thomas said the clock ticking over to 2022 brought the Games sharply into focus for athletes.

“Team qualifications and individual team member selections will be coming thick and fast in the coming months, as athletes aim to secure their spot on the team.

The Diamonds are currently in England for the Quad series against defending champions England, as well as South Africa and New Zealand, and we have nomination and qualifying events for a range of sports across January, February, March and April.

“We continue to work hard with our planning ahead of the Games as we want to make sure we can provide all of our team members with the best experience and performance environment possible in Birmingham.

“With COVID-19 continuing to have an impact, and athletes spread across five villages, it won’t be easy, however our mantra is ‘Greater Together’ and we certainly will be in Birmingham.

“Our goals for the team are simple… retain our status as the No.1 nation in the Commonwealth, ensure our team has a great experience, and make sure they are all safe,” Thomas said.

With the biggest integrated Para-sport programme of any Commonwealth Games, and more medals set to be awarded to women than men for the first time ever the 2022 Games will create history.

Birmingham 2022 is expected to draw over 4500 athletes from 72 Commonwealth nations and territories, and for the first time Australian families and fans will be able to access group tickets for all events at the Commonwealth Games.

The Family & Fans Tour ensures Australian families and fans can sit and cheer together, stay together and play together at the Birmingham Games.

Bookings are now open and the Family & Fans Tour brochure is available here.

Tour packages are available for all sports; however numbers are limited.

Learn more below.