The Commonwealth Games Come to an End

The 2022 Commonwealth Games, the friendly games, started two weeks ago in Birmingham, UK. The games were held from 28 July to 8 August 2022. Last week I reported on the first week of the games and the opening week of competition. Norfolk Island representatives competed in Lawn Bowls, with men and women teams’ bowls matches being held during both weeks of the games.

The lawn bowls excitement continued this week as Shae Wilson and Carmen Anderson qualified for the quarter finals in the Women’s Pairs, playing Australia. The winners were the Australia pair who went on to win the Gold in a nail biting final against England. Norfolk Island Women Pairs, Shae Wilson, and Carmen Anderson, finished in the top 8 in the Commonwealth, congratulations, we are all very proud of you.

The youngest member of the Norfolk Island team, 17-year-old, Ellie Dixon was selected as Norfolk Island Flag Bearer for the Closing Ceremony. Congratulations Ellie, a proud achievement at her first Commonwealth Games, as a member of the Women’s Triples and Fours teams. The Fours competed in the Quarter Finals finishing in the top 8 teams in the Commonwealth.

The Games Closing Ceremony was on Monday 8^th August, which started early on Tuesday morning on Norfolk Island time zone. The friendly games finished with a party night at the Alexander Stadium. Entertainers filled the stage at the stadium, and music carried the crowd into the night with dancing and singing and choreographed acting and dance telling the history of Birmingham.

During the Closing Ceremony, the formal handover to Victoria, the Australian state will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from 17 to 29 March 2026. The evening finished with fireworks which delighted the crowd.

TV Seven and Seven plus have covered the games, thank you to the TV crew, the broadcasters, camera crew and photographers and media for covering the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Thank you to all of the workers and volunteers who made it possible for the countries and territories of the

Commonwealth and the world to enjoy the sports and entertainment during the past couple of weeks at the Games.

Thank you for everyone behind the scenes reporting the games scores for the community and the daily updates which were broadcast on Norfolk Island local Radio Station with updates also from Mal Tallant from Birmingham. 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 the bowlers from representing Norfolk Island. Team Norfolk will be heading home over the next few weeks. I am sure they will be excited to share their experiences of bowling at an international competition.

Here are a few photos taken during the week and a couple of the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony from the TV broadcast, plus a few images from Tim, John and Jac from Birmingham.

Travel Safe, Go Team Norfolk.

Betty Matthews

August 2022