Collins excited by 2022 Birmingham plans

Collins, the current Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association chef de mission and vice-chair, visited Birmingham last week and liked what he saw as the 2022 Organising Committee and Commonwealth England hosted the European Group for the two-day event, which included a general tour of the city facilities and the proposed Commonwealth village site.

They were the first group to see the site and detailed plans.

‘The village is already starting to take shape, old buildings are coming down and the space is being cleared to start the new builds,’ said Collins.

‘What is excellent about the Games is that the local council had plans for this area anyway, but they are now bigger and better, and thanks to the central investment Birmingham, the second biggest city in England, will have an overdue boost to its economy,’ he added.

John Crabtree has been appointed chairman of the 2022 Games. Appointed by the Prime Minister, Theresa May, his background is as a very successful businessman and lawyer.

‘John is very nice man and he was very interested in Guernsey and our athletes,’ added Collins.

The tour was followed by an all-day meeting which discussed what worked well and didn’t for the 2018 Gold Coast Games, the issues regarding sport quotas and numbers for 2022.

‘The new process will be formalised at the general assembly next year and Guernsey is expected to have reduced numbers as shooting is still not been included in the official Games programme.

‘The 2022 organising board is undertaking a review and considering including some additional smaller sports.

‘They have confirmed that no sport will be dropped from the announced programme, but they might add one shooting discipline as an off-site camp at Bisley wouldn’t increase numbers at the main village.’