One year on from the announcement that the Commonwealth Games will be coming to Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick District Council is making preparations for a district wide programme of anniversary events to get the whole community involved in the big count-down to Birmingham 2022.

Starting this summer the Council’s Commonwealth Games project team is planning to stage an annual ‘Countdown Celebration’ on 27 July each year until 2022, the day when the opening ceremony of the Birmingham Games will take place. These events will involve a variety of sporting, arts and cultural activities and be rotated across the district’s four towns (Warwick, Whitnash, Kenilworth and Royal Leamington Spa) with the first being hosted in Warwick in July 2019 and the grand finale taking place in Leamington Spa around the official Games opening in July 2022.

Warwick District Council’s Project Manager and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Christina Boxer commented: “To reflect Birmingham2022’s focus on youth we are keen to create some exciting opportunities for families and our young people across the district linked to the Commonwealth Games. “

The Council’s Portfolio holder for Business Councillor Noel Butler added: “Having the Commonwealth Games in our district will be exciting for everyone, not just sports enthusiasts. Celebrating the countdown to the opening ceremony at the start of the summer school holidays each year will really bring the Commonwealth Games and all of its cultural and sporting opportunities to life. We hope to get as many local groups and organisations as possible involved.”