The 2022 Commonwealth Games are officially under way after a spectacular opening ceremony on Thursday night lifted the curtain on the multi-code extravaganza.
Birmingham, the second biggest city in England by population, will play host to the XXII Games for the next 11 days and nights, with the closing ceremony also being held in the Alexander Stadium on 8 August.
Between now and then though is a sporting feast, with over 70 countries coming together and competing in front of crowds that have been starved of attending live sport because of the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years.
South Africa entered the stadium as the 28th country in the parade, with netball captain Bongi Msomi and para-swimmer Christian Sadie having the honour of carrying the country’s flag.
Team SA athletes and support staff soaked up the atmosphere as Birmingham put on a show to signal the opening of these Games.
Team SA will be in action in nine different sports on Friday’s first day of competition, with the women’s sevens rugby players coming up against Australia in the morning. Expectations are high for Team SA to finish in the top six on the medals tally.
With the opening ceremony out of the way, it’s all systems go. Let the Games truly begin!
Photo: Roger Sedres/TeamSA