through commonwealth countries. athletes will compete in 19 sports and 280 medal events, which will include for the first time women s t20 cricket, 3 on 3 basketball and 3 on 3 wheelchair basketball. also for the first time, there are more medals for women than for men, and para events are all part of the main games. 0ur sports reporterjoe lynsky explains what s in store. they have waited four years for these 11 days. now the city in the centre is braced for the spotlight. birmingham is all set to stage 72 nations, fourfrom close to home. commentator: england have done it! they have snatched the gold medal. yes, he has got it. duncan scott from scotland. gold here in brisbane for wales. rhys mcclenaghan from northern ireland. well done, son. it s a bit unusual in that we are all used to competing in the same team and, all of a sudden, we are split up
the show will include performances from local music and dance groups, emphasising the city s diversity. more than 5,000 athletes are set to compete over a packed 11 days. they will be representing 72 nations and territories. the queen s baton will also be a key part of that ceremony, after being carried for 294 days through commonwealth countries. athletes will compete in 19 sports and 280 medal events, which will include for the first time women s t20 cricket, three on three basketball, and three on three wheelchair basketball. also for the first time, there are more medals for women than for men and para events are all part of the main games. this report from tim allman. birmingham is ready to party. a veteran british comedian and local boy to boot, sir lenny henry was among those
and although we don t entirely know the themes of the opening ceremony, you get hints of how they want to celebrate birmingham, with a mock canal and brickwork heralding its industrial past and graffiti and skateboard ramps celebrating its gritty present. 0rganisers say it s the biggest in the event s history. prince charles will represent the queen tonight and performances will include local music and dance groups, emphasising birmingham s diversity. more than 5,000 athletes from 72 nations and territories will take part over the next 11 days. athletes will compete in 19 sports and 280 medal events and for the first time there will be more medals for women than for men and the para events will be included as part of the main games. phil mackie reports. cheering and applause. the queen s baton
they want to celebrate birmingham, with a mock canal and brickwork heralding its industrial past, and graffiti and skateboard ramps celebrating its gritty present. and we ve also been told to watch out for exactly how the royal guests arrive. 0rganisers say it s the biggest in the event s history. prince charles will represent the queen tonight and performances will include local music and dance groups, emphasising birmingham s diversity. more than 5,000 athletes from 72 nations and territories will take part over the next 11 days. athletes will compete in 19 sports and 280 medal events and for the first time there will be more medals for women than for men and the games will include a fully integrated para sport programme. phil mackie reports. cheering and applause. the queen s baton is on its final leg. first stop, birmingham s jewellery quarter, where the medals that they ll be competing
dominique. that has a population of around 70000 and he said there were just be no way that he could ever qualify for a worlds or an 0lympics. so it was a huge opportunity for him to compete in the commonwealth games, to be able to represent his country and to take a pride in that as well. and that is one of the biggest reasons that the commonwealth games are so relevant at the moment. that many, many athletes from across the globe deal relevant and feel that their nation can be represented in a way that it might not otherwise be able to be. prince charles is representing the queen tonight and, jane, i think we rejust going to queen tonight and, jane, i think we re just going to cross to the opening ceremony because we are just a few moments away from that. we are expecting a fly past as well. just talk us through the important of the sporting events though because there are para athletes taking centre stage with able bodied as well. and i think more female medal events than male this