King Edward’s School has been selected as the rhythmic gymnastics, discus and hammer training venue for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The only school to become an official Birmingham 2022 training venue, KES will welcome gymnasts, athletes and para athletes in the run up to and during the Commonwealth Games, which will take place from 28 July to 8 August 2022.
The Andrew Brode Sports Centre, which opened on its main campus in 2019, will host rhythmic gymnastics training, while its sports ground off Eastern Road will be the venue for discus and hammer training.
Additionally, the University of Birmingham’s international-standard athletics tracks, which is shared with King Edward’s School and King Edward VI High School for Girls and is part of the school site, will host athletics and para athletics training.
King Edward’s School has a rich sporting heritage, with a number of Old Edwardians and current and former staff having competed at the Commonwealth Games, and various current pupils being on national pathways to international representation.
Dr Katy Ricks, Chief Master, said: “The organisers of Birmingham 2022 were looking for world-class venues that would replicate each sport’s competition venue, and we are delighted to have been selected as the training venue for rhythmic gymnastics, discus and hammer. A global outlook is central to the ethos of our school and we are eagerly anticipating welcoming international competitors from all parts of the Commonwealth next year. Not only will they benefit from use of our facilities, but they can be assured of a very warm King Edward’s welcome.”
Teacher Ian Connor, who is leading on the school’s engagement with the Commonwealth Games, said: “Birmingham 2022 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our city to host world-class competition across such a broad range of sports, and we are looking forward to our pupils experiencing and engaging in both the sporting festival and the parallel Birmingham 2022 Festival, which will shine a global spotlight on creativity in the West Midlands.”
In addition to King Edward’s School, the other training venues are: Wyndley Leisure Centre (hockey, triathlon and para triathlon); Moseley Cricket Club (women’s cricket T20); University of Birmingham (swimming, para swimming, athletics and para athletics); NEC (netball and boxing); University of Warwick (judo, wrestling and rugby sevens); and Broadstreet Rugby Football Club (rugby sevens).
Commonwealth Games Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “I hope that having world-class athletes training in schools, universities and sport clubs on their doorstep will inspire West Midlands residents to get active and involved in the Games next summer.”
