All eyes of the sporting world will turn its attention to Birmingham, England today inside the Alexander Stadium for the grand opening ceremony of the long awaited Commonwealth Games.
The second largest city in the United Kingdom is fully prepared to host the 22nd multi-sport event for the first time. Inclusive of local sporting standouts, over 5000 athletes are set to compete in the Games in different sporting events.
According to reports, around 30,000 persons will be present at the stadium for the event which is set to commence at 19:00hrs local time.
The City of Birmingham is pulling all the stops in an effort to deliver an unforgettable 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening ceremony on July 28, at the Alexander Stadium from 2:00pm (Guyana Time).
Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, according to reports, will not be in attendance at any of the events at the Commonwealth Games this year; Prince Charles will be representing The Queen at the opening ceremony.
Prince Charles will give a speech during the opening ceremony and he will also read The Queen’s message for the Commonwealth Games.
Steven Knight, the creator of the famous Netflix series, Peaky Blinders, is producing the event, and has promised “it is going to be mind blowing.”
A pop band Duran Duran, and Indigo Marshall, a singer from Birmingham, will perform in front of the mass of people at the Alexander Stadium.
The hosts of the previous Commonwealth Games, Australia will enter first in the Parade of Nations, followed by other countries of the Oceania region Commonwealth Games Association (CGA). The rest of the countries will then enter in alphabetical order.
Guyana will be represented by 32 athletes, competing in Badminton, Track and Field, Squash, Cycling, Boxing and Table Tennis. Olympians, Aliyah Abrams (Track and Field) and Keevin Allicock (Boxing), will be Guyana’s Flag-Bearers at the opening ceremony.
For Allicock, the 2022 event will mark his second appearance at the Commonwealth Games following his participation at the 2018 games in Australia.
The 23-year-old Allicock, in 2017, won silver at the Youth Commonwealth Games in The Bahamas.
For Abrams, one of the country’s most consistent track athletes, particularly over the distance of 400 metres, this will be her first outing at the Commonwealth Games.
The 25-year-old Abrams is heading to the Commonwealth Games after her performance at the World Athletics Championships in the Women’s 400m where she had reached the semi-finals.
At the World Indoor Championships this year, Abrams finished 5th in the 400m.
