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 is on its final leg. first stop, birmingham s jewellery quarter, where the medals that they will be competing for tomorrow have been made. and this is where it will finish tonight, at the alexander stadium, where they are making final preparations for the opening ceremony. they have released these pictures from the dress rehearsals. the show s director is peaky blinders creator stephen knight, so it will celebrate both the west midlands and the commonwealth. one of the stars is dance school owner laurel. i m from birmingham, so for my family and for myself, it is history in the making. the city has put on its gladrags. everywhere, there are banners and logos, new floral displays and the smell of fresh paint. the commonwealth teams have arrived and are taking it all in.
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 is on its final leg. first stop, birmingham s jewellery quarter, where the medals that they will be competing for tomorrow have been made. and this is where it will finish tonight, at the alexander stadium, where they are making final preparations for the opening ceremony. they have released these pictures from the dress rehearsals. the show s director is peaky blinders creator stephen knight, so it will celebrate both the west midlands and the commonwealth. one of the stars is dance school owner laurel. i m from birmingham, so for my family and for myself,
the games run until 8 august with 6,500 athletes competing in 280 medal events. the games will mark a huge moment for birmingham. from funding for sports, to hospitality and potential legacy what do these games mean for the people in the city at the heart of britain s midlands? our correspondent nesta mcgregor has been finding out. this time around, at least, by polo isn t one of the 26 ports being showcased. but across birmingham, projects like this one are benefiting from funding allocated to the host city. benefiting from funding allocated to the host city- the host city. there s probably 8-10 cities across the host city. there s probably 8-10 cities across the the host city. there s probably 8-10 cities across the uk the host city. there s probably 8-10 cities across the uk that player. - cities across the uk that player. we ve spent money on equipment, facilities, ourtime. we ve spent money on equipment, facilities, our time. we hope to have a tournament at the end which
the past two decades was, in part, fuelled by anger at aggressive raids and the killing of civilians by international forces and the afghan army. here in andarab and the surrounding areas, despite recruiting some locals, many see the taliban as outsiders, and they risk repeating the same mistakes as their old opponents. secunder kermani, bbc news, andarab. now to the english city of birmingham, where final preparations are taking place for the 2022 commonwealth games. over 11 days, more than 5000 athletes from 72 nations and territories will compete in 19 different sports that s 280 medal events.
lam here i am here at the early venue that has been i am here at the early venue that has been purpose built for the commonwealth games. it has taken two years to commonwealth games. it has taken two years to build, at a cost of around £90 mittion years to build, at a cost of around £90 million and today it officially opened £90 million and today it officially opened with the first swimmers and divers opened with the first swimmers and divers take opened with the first swimmers and divers take into the behind me. the countdown divers take into the behind me. the countdown to the games is very much on. countdown to the games is very much on 23rd countdown to the games is very much on 23rd is countdown to the games is very much on. 23rd is the opening ceremony be before on. 23rd is the opening ceremony be before it on. 23rd is the opening ceremony be before 11 full days of competition 19 different sports. it is the first time 19 different sports. it is the first