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The 2022 Commonwealth Games, to be held from 27 July – 7 August, will feature the largest Para-sport program in history after Para-table tennis was added to the event schedule.
This exciting announcement comes after the 71 Commonwealth Games Associations voted by the required majority to accept the proposal from Birmingham 2022 to add Para-table tennis, as well as women’s T20 cricket and beach volleyball, to the existing program.
The addition of these sports means Birmingham 2022 is expected to surpass the previous Commonwealth Games record for women’s medal events, set at the 2018 Commonwewalth Games, by two.
With the inclusion of Para-table tennis, the Games will have more Para-sports on a Commonwealth Games program than ever before, with eight Para-sports now confirmed for the multi-sport competition.
The announcement also confirms that there will be up to 4,500 athletes competing in Birmingham across 19 sports.
The President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Dame Louise Martin, said: “Today is a historic day for the Commonwealth Games and I am delighted that we can now confirm that Birmingham 2022 is set to have the largest ever female and Para-sport program in history.
“I would like to congratulate and formally welcome women’s T20 cricket, beach volleyball and Para-table tennis to the official sports program for Birmingham 2022, and I know they will all help enhance what will be a spectacular and vibrant multi-sport event.
“I would also like to thank our Commonwealth Games Associations for recognising the benefit that these three exciting sports will add to Birmingham 2022 and voting to include them to the sports program.
“We are passionate advocates of women’s sport and Para-sport, so I am thrilled we are able to make this special announcement today.”
Thomas Weikert, President of the International Table Tennis Federation President (ITTF), said: “The ITTF is delighted to learn that the Commonwealth Games Federation has accepted the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee’s recommendation for the inclusion of Para-table tennis. We wish to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Table Tennis England in preparing the submission.
“This will hopefully provide us with an opportunity to build upon the successes of the Gold Coast Games, to further the development of our Para-athletes across the Commonwealth and provide an impetus for activity on the local and national scene in England.
“The inclusion of Para-table tennis in multi-sport competitions that are not exclusively ‘Para events’ is also clear proof of how popular table tennis is and how viable it is for local organising committees to stage our sport.”
By the Commmonwealth Games Federation and International Paralympic Committee
Posted: 14/08/2019
Photo with thanks to Jono Searle / Getty Images
