Biggest Commonwealth Games Para sport programme in history confirmed

Para table tennis brings total Para sport events at Birmingham 2022 to eight 14 Aug 2019
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Australian table tennis player Melissa Tapper competing at Gold Coast 2018
Australian table tennis player Melissa Tapper competing at Gold Coast 2018
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By Commonwealth Games Federation and IPC

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is set to have the largest Para sport programme in history after Para table tennis was added to the event schedule.

It was also confirmed that the addition of women's T20 cricket and beach volleyball to the able-bodied programme means the multi-sport event will feature more women's (135) than men's (133) medal events for the first time.

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a female powerlifter celebrates on the bench
Birmingham 2022 will feature more women's events than men's for the first time at the Commonwealth Games

This exciting announcement comes after the 71 Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) voted by the required majority to accept the proposal from Birmingham 2022 to add these three sports to the existing programme.

The addition of these sports means Birmingham 2022 is expected to surpass the previous Commonwealth Games record for women’s medal events in Gold Coast 2018 by two.

With the inclusion of Para table tennis, the Games will have more Para sports of the programme at a Commonwealth Games 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 at Birmingham 2022 across 19 sports. The Games will take place from 27 July to August 7 in 2022. 

CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: “Today is an 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 programme in history.

“I would like to congratulate and formally welcome women’s T20 cricket, beach volleyball and Para table tennis to the official sports programme 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 programme.

“We are passionate advocates of women’s sport and Para sport so I am thrilled we are able to make this special announcement today.”

International Table Tennis Federation President (ITTF) President Thomas Weikert 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 a clear proof of how popular table tennis is and how viable it is for local organising committees to stage our sport.”