Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

The friendly games started a week ago in Birmingham UK. The Commonwealth Games Opening ceremony was on Thursday and the Norfolk Island bowler’s competition started on Friday. The games are being held from 28 July to 8 August 2022.

I enjoyed watching the opening on Channel 7, I set my alarm early to get up and enjoyed the wonderful entertainment, showing the history of Birmingham and wonderful graphics, dancing, acting and I also loved the cars, which formed the Union Jack flag.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II did not attend the opening ceremony and attending on her behalf was His Royal Highness Prince Charles and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, formerly Camilla Parker Bowles, HRH Prince Charles read the “Queen’s Message” which had been carried in the Baton which had travelled the countries and territories of the Commonwealth in recent months which also included Norfolk Island in March earlier this year.

Norfolk Island was one of the first countries to enter Alexander Stadium as one of the Oceania countries and territories. Tim Sheridan and Shae Wilson proudly carried the Norfolk Island flag, leading our Norfolk Island representatives into the stadium and the team with beaming smiles following the Commonwealth teams into the arena. The Norfolk Island team all looked smart in their Norfolk Island uniforms and all had matching shoes supplied by Monica and Ian Anderson from World Traders, the shoes were from sponsors Asics Oceania.

If you missed the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, this is a great clip from the UK broadcasting. You can watch this on

Facebook on the Norfolk Island Noticeboard or Norfolk Island Bowling Club.

Peter Hughson, Norfolk Island Noticeboard

Anyone who missed the broadcast my wife was kind enough to record it in the UK and sent it to me. Go Norfolk! Good Luck.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057514866306

The bowls matches were held at Victoria-Park, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, which is about an hour drive from Games Village to the bowling greens. The women teams had a fantastic first round, winning their section games, the Women’s Fours played the Quarter Finals and a great effort, especially for young Ellie Dixon at her first Commonwealth Games. The team lost the quarter final game, but we are all proud that they finished in the top 8 teams of the commonwealth. Shae Wilson had a fantastic first week, and a full report can be read on the Bowls weekly report. Shae won all section games, won her quarter finals, and lost to Australia on the semi finals and lost the bronze final game, finishing 4^th in the Commonwealth. A big Congratulations Shae, we are all very proud of your skills and the way you show up and play the bowls games with sportsmanship and proudly representing Norfolk Island.

The men’s team had a few tough games during the tournament, it is never easy at this level of competition and even though there were losses, the men’s pairs had a good win against Northern Ireland.

I will write more next week about the next round of Matches. The exciting news for these games the Women Pairs, Shae Wilson, and Carmen Anderson, are playing in the Quarter Finals tonight, Friday night Norfolk Island time. Good Luck Yorlie, Go Team Norfolk.

The Games Closing Ceremony is also still to come on the Monday 8^th August which is Tuesday on Norfolk Island time zone. It will include the formal handover to Victoria, Australia host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, to be held from 17 to 29 March 2026.

Thank you for everyone behind the scenes reporting the games scores for the community and the daily updates are broadcast on Norfolk Island local Radio Station with updates from Birmingham also from Mal Tallant. There are updates on Facebook follow the Norfolk Island Bowls Page, and Norfolk Island Amateur Sports, and Commonwealth Games Association Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057514866306

https://www.facebook.com/groups/406351273101583

Thank you to the organisers, to Mal Talent, Sheryl Yelavich, Jac Grundy and the Bowling team managers and bowlers from representing Norfolk Island.

Here are a few photos I took of the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony broadcasted on TV, plus a few images from Tim and Jac from Birmingham.

Good Luck Yorlie, Go Team Norfolk.

Betty Matthews

August 2022