News
Good Luck Team Wales!
27/07/2022 00:00, In Blog / Commonwealth Games /
After the most challenging periods of preparation in the history of Welsh Athletics, it is finally time to cheer and celebrate our Athletes as they compete at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Our World, and our sport has changed dramatically since the last Games in 2018, yet despite the challenges our athletes have sacrificed and dedicated themselves to performing at their best in Birmingham.
The athletes will be supported by a large team of support staff, led superbly by National Coach Chris Jones. He along with the whole Performance team have left no stone unturned to ensure our athletes arrive in Birmingham in the best shape possible. The athletes are making their final preparations in the Holding camp at the Vale Hotel, a late change from the original overseas camp, another challenge that the team have had to deal with due to the pandemic.
Our athletes would not have achieved the performances to date without the support and dedication of the wonderful network of volunteer coaches across Wales. On behalf of everyone at Welsh Athletics, I would like to thank the personal coaches and families of our athletes, who have been alongside the athletes every step of the way.
It is the pinnacle of any athletes career to perform at a Major Championship, the same can also be said for many of our Officials – and we are delighted that 5 Welsh Officials will be part of the Technical official cohort at the Games. A number of other officials and club volunteers will also be at the Games as volunteers – it goes without saying that any Major Championship could not take place without them.
The Athletics component of the Games begins with the Marathon on the 30th of July, and I am sure there will be a small army travelling to Birmingham from all parts of Wales to support our athletes. Don’t forget that Wales is taking over a small part of the Course – so please get your flags out and cheer our athletes on for the 26 miles around the street of Birmingham. We are running a subsidised coach trip from Cardiff to help supporters - book a seat here.
The action at Alexander Stadium begins on the 2nd, and Wales will have representation in every session throughout the Games.
I look forward to seeing the Welsh flag flying proudly in the stadium, and for us all to get behind our athletes and cheer them all on to seasons bests, personal bests and hopefully medals.
Pob Lwc!
James William, CEO at Welsh Athletics