Commonwealth Games
Embattled UK Prime Minister Johnson set to miss Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony today
United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to miss the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The UK Government is set to be represented at the event at Alexander Stadium by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries.
The Games are due to be opened by Prince Charles, accompanied by The Duchess of Cornwall, who will be representing the Queen.
It will be the third time in four Commonwealth Games that Charles has performed the role having also done it at Delhi 2010 and Gold Coast 2018.
Johnson announced his pending resignation as Prime Minister earlier this month following a series of scandals but will remain as Prime Minister until a new Conservative Party leader is elected in September.
The two contenders to replace Johnson, former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, are both expected to attend Birmingham 2022 during the Games.
Johnson had visited Alexander Stadium in May shortly after the revamped venue was handed over to Birmingham 2022 organisers.
Johnson and Dorries met with volunteers and medal designers and also watched young athletes from Birchfield Harriers train at the Stadium which is due to host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as the athletics events.
Johnson described the Alexander Stadium – which has undergone a £72 million ($90 million/€83million) renovation – as a “global venue” and claimed the “world will be tuned into the West Midlands” during the Games.
Birmingham band Duran Duran will be headlining the Opening Ceremony in front of more than 30,000 spectators.
Johnson has instead sent a message on the eve of the Games.
“The UK rightly has an outstanding reputation for hosting major sporting events, and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will be another fantastic opportunity to showcase the best of Britain on a global stage,” he said.
“Not only will we be celebrating sporting success, we will also be strengthening the crucial ties between our 72 nations and territories – bringing businesses and Governments from across the world together to encourage trade and boost economic growth that will leave a lasting legacy for years to come.
“Good luck to all the athletes competing – let the Games begin.
The then-UK Prime Minister David Cameron also skipped the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which was attended instead by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond.
But Tony Blair did attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester when he was Prime Minister.
In recent Games, Australian and Indian Prime Ministers John Howard and Manmohan Singh did attend the Opening Ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne 2006 and Delhi 2010, respectively.
A spokesperson for Number 10 Downing Street told insidethegames that Johnson’s “attendance is not confirmed.”
-insidethegames
Commonwealth Games
Nigeria Steps Up Bid to Host 2030 Commonwealth Games as Delegation Arrives London
A high-powered Nigerian delegation has arrived in London, United Kingdom, for the decisive phase of the country’s campaign to host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030.
The team is led by Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, and the Commission’s Director General, Bukola Olopade, who are set to present Nigeria’s final case before the Games’ decision-makers on Wednesday.
Dikko had delivered Nigeria’s preliminary pitch last month, laying the foundation for this week’s crucial engagements. If successful, the bid would make Nigeria the first African nation to host the Commonwealth Games since the event’s inception in 1930.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeatedly reaffirmed the Federal Government’s full backing for the bid, assuring the international sporting community that Nigeria is ready to deliver a world-class Games.
Only last week, the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, joined other senior government officials in welcoming the Commonwealth Games Bid Evaluation team during their inspection visit to Nigeria.
Further demonstrating the administration’s commitment, the President’s Special Assistant on Public Communication and Presidential Spokesperson, Sunday Dare, is part of the London delegation.
Other members of the Nigerian contingent include Bid Coordinator Mainasara Ilo; President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel; Minister of Arts and Culture, Hannatu Musawa; five-time Olympian and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Mary Onyali; and current para-badminton world number one, Eniola Bolaji.
Nigeria’s 2030 bid is anchored on themes of inclusivity, legacy, and development, with promises to stage a Games that not only reflects the Commonwealth spirit but also creates lasting opportunities for sport, culture, and youth empowerment across Africa.
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Nigeria’s push to become the first African country to host the Commonwealth Games gained momentum on Tuesday as the National Sports Commission (NSC) received the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee in Abuja.
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director General Bukola Olopade reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to secure the hosting rights for the 2030 Games, describing the bid as a landmark opportunity for Africa and a historic milestone for Nigeria.
Dikko stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has thrown his full weight behind the bid, highlighting it as a platform to showcase Nigeria’s growing influence in global sports.
“We are delighted to welcome the Evaluation Committee to Abuja as a sign of our seriousness,” Dikko said.
“President Tinubu sees the Commonwealth Games as more than just an event; it will be a celebration of Africa’s sporting passion and Nigeria’s role as a continental leader.”
Olopade added that Nigeria’s bid is built on four critical pillars—modern facilities, political will, private sector support, and strong public enthusiasm.
He noted that the Bid Committee, led by veteran sports administrator Mainasara Illo, has prepared a “robust document” to strengthen Nigeria’s case.
“With our preparations, engagements, and strong government backing, we are confident Nigeria can win the right to host the Games,” Olopade said.
Underscoring government commitment, the delegation was hosted at the Presidential Villa by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside nine Federal Executive Council members, including Minister of Youth Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa, and Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.
The visiting delegation, led by Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance at the Commonwealth Sport, included Ann-Louise Morgan, CS Director of Sport, and Ezera Tshabangu, Regional Development Manager for Africa and Europe.
Nigeria’s bid, if successful, would make the 2030 Commonwealth Games the first ever to be hosted on African soil, fulfilling a long-standing call for inclusivity in the Commonwealth sporting family.
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Nigeria may have a major African challenger in the bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. South Africa is preparing to join the competition. The Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) had announced a Nigerian bid in April. This follows the failed bid in 2007 for the 2014 Games.
The earlier bid was made to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the amalgamation. This amalgamation joined the Northern and Southern Protectorates with the Lagos Colony to form Nigeria.
Sports Village Square has gathered that South Africa, through its Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), is making a bid and is merely waiting for cabinet approval.
The country intends to use the Commonwealth Games of 2030 as a dress rehearsal for the bigger Olympic Games.
According to the SASCOC president, Barry Hendricks, the 2030 Commonwealth Games hosting will be part of the learning curve for the Olympics. “… it teaches us what we can do over the next eight years to get to 2040.”
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