Let the Games Begin, 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games

The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games will commence this week, starting on the 28 July through to 8 August 2022.  The Games Opening Ceremony is set to take place at Alexander Stadium on Thursday 28 July, this will include the 72 Commonwealth countries including Norfolk Island.

We wish our Norfolk Island team all the best and know they will all do us proud.  I look forward to watching our Norfolk Island team, led by Shae Wilson and Tim Sheridan proudly carrying the Norfolk Island flag, at the Opening Ceremony. 

Lawn Bowls competitions start Friday 29 July, the Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls events will be held at the bowling club located at Victoria-Park, Royal Leamington Spa, located in the heart of Warwickshire.

Our Norfolk Island team have settled in at the Games’ Village, ready for the Commonwealth Games.  The journey from Norfolk Island to Birmingham took

over 50hrs.  The Village accommodation is at the Warwick University Campus and the official Flag Raising Ceremony was held early in the week, The Norfolk Island Flag Raising was held the same time as the Fijian and Samoan Teams who were also celebrating the 2022 Birmingham Games with wonderful dancing and songs.  The Norfolk Island representatives gifted a wonderful colourful artwork of a cow to David Moorcroft OBE, ex-5,000m World Record Holder and local Coventry lad.  He was delighted to meet the bunch from Norfolk Island. 

Mal Tarrant, the Norfolk Island Chef de Mission and President of Norfolk Island Amateur Sports and Commonwealth Games Association, spoke at the Flag Raising Ceremony and on behalf of the Norfolk Island representatives he thanked the Village Mayor, Games officials, staff and volunteers and the entertainers for making everyone feel welcome.  Mal Tarrant also attended the 2022 Birmingham General Assembly Commonwealth Games official meeting at the start of the week.  Thank you, Mal Tarrant and Jac Grundy and the Norfolk Island Committee, for all you do to support and promote the Norfolk Island sports teams.

Norfolk Island Chef de Mission for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games is Sheryl Yelavich, also supported by Mal Tarrant.

Lawn Bowls Women teams:

Shae Wilson (singles & pairs), Carmen Anderson (pairs & fours), Petal - Christine Jones (triples & fours), Essie - Ester Sanchez (triples & fours), Ellie Dixon (triples & fours)

Lawn Bowls Men’s team:

Ryan Dixon (singles & triples), Tim Sheridan (pairs & fours), Moochie - John Christian (pairs & fours), Teddy -Hadyn Evans (triples & fours), Trev Gow (triples & fours).

Officials Team Mangers for the trip are

Carla Miles, Tanya Randall, Barry Wilson & John Groat.

For more 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games information, check out the official Games page, check out this link

https://www.birmingham2022.com/

Check out channel 7 for updates and sports streaming.  The bowlers have said that there are a couple of bowls rinks with broadcasting cameras, if they are lucky, they may play games on these greens.

Remember England is half a day behind our time zone.

https://7plus.com.au/commonwealth-games

Follow the Norfolk Island Bowling Club Facebook page and the Norfolk Island Amateur Sports and Commonwealth Games Association, plus Team Norfolk Island Facebook page. The Norfolk Island representative team and officials are posting photos and updates from 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

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

Norfolk Island Bowling club

https://www.facebook.com/teamnorfolkisland

Team Norfolk Island

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

Norfolk Island Amateur Sports and Commonwealth Games Association

Here are a few photos of the team and officials attending the Village Flag Raising Ceremony earlier this week.  They are all proudly wearing their Norfolk Island uniforms and flying the Norfolk Island flag.  It was also wonderful to see Dr Sam Jones and his family, they also attended the Village Flag Raising Ceremony and joined the celebrations with our Norfolk Island representatives.

We wish our Norfolk Island team all the best and know they will all do us proud.  I look forward to watching our Norfolk Island team, led by Shae and Tim proudly carrying the Norfolk Island flag, at the Games’ Opening Ceremony. 

Go Team Norfolk !!!!

Betty Matthews

July 2022