BIRMINGHAM 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Presented by Joseph Kizza
(Scroll down this page for earlier updates)
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10:00 pm  |   Good night!

The action continues in Birmingham, but I will end this commentary here. It's been a truly exciting opening day of action. And there is every ounce of indication that there is more where that came from, so let's catch up again on day two.
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9:57 pm  |   An embarrassment of riches for Aussies

The Australians brought along a huge broom to Birmingham . . . to sweep medals into their huge bag. They are appearing at almost every medals ceremony in the indoors events.

Canada's Summer McIntosh takes gold medal in the women's 400m individual medley.

In that medley, Australia's Kiah Melverton (L) takes silver as Scotland's Katie Shanahan is the bronze medallist.

Australia's Ariarne Titmus is the gold winner in the women's 200m freestyle.

It is an Australian clean sweep in the women's 200m freestyle final: Ariarne Titmus (gold), Mollie O'Callaghan (silver) and Madison Wilson (bronze).

One of the night's many Australian one-two-three podium finishes is in the men's 400m freestyle. From left, Sam Short (silver), Elijah Winnington (gold) and Mack Horton (bronze).

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9:30 pm 

At the Lee Valley VeloPark, Gold medalists Australia's Leigh Hoffman, Matthew Richardson and Matthew Glaetzer (C) pose flanked by team England (L) and team New Zealand.

Silver medalists team England (L), gold medalists team New Zealand (C) and bronze medalists team Australia celebrate on the podium during the medal presentation ceremony for the men's 4000m team pursuit.

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8:45 pm 

New Zealand take gold in the men's 4000m team pursuit.

Gold medalists Australia's Jessica Gallagher (R) and pilot Caitlin Ward celebrate on the podium with silver medalists Scotland's Aileen McGlynn (2L) and pilot Ellie Stone during their the medal presentation ceremony for the women's para-sport sprint B tandem race.

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8:30 pm 

At the beginning of this commentary in the morning, I warned you that you would be spoilt for choice around this rich sporting platter of today's Games menu.

We have seen all sorts of events, including the men's team final artistic gymnastics, in which New Zealand's Mikhail Koudinov competed in the floor exercise (below) at the Arena Birmingham.

Here, Australia's Clay Mason Stephens competes on the Rings during the men's team final artistic gymnastics event.

And Canada's Felix Dolci competes during the men's team final artistic gymnastics event.

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8:18 pm  |    🥇 GOLD FOR BERMUDA 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧🇧🇲

This happened earlier in the day. Bermuda's Flora Duffy delightedly crossed the finish line to win and take the gold medal in the women's individual sprint distance triathlon.

It is already a gold rush in Birmingham!

England's Georgia Taylor-Brown (L) took silver, as Scotland's Beth Potter bagged bronze.

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8:12 pm  |   FYI . . .

The 1994 Games in Victoria, Canada saw South Africa return to the Commonwealth Games after the end of apartheid.

Australia leads the medals tally across all editions of the Games through 2018, with a total of 2,416 medals, including 932 golds, followed by England, Canada and India.

Then, the first time there was a Games mascot was in 1978 in Edmonton. It was called Keyano, a swan hills grizzly. This year's mascot is Perry the Bull.

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7:58 pm  |   Track cycling winners

Scotland's Neil Fachie (L) and pilot Lewis Stewart won the men's para-sport 1000m B time trial tandem to take gold.

In the men's para-sport 1000m B time trial tandem, Wales' James Ball and pilot Rotherham (L) took silver while England's Stephen Bate and pilot Latham (R) bagged bronze.

Meanwhile, Team Australia beat Team New Zealand in the women's 4000m team pursuit final to take gold.

Team New Zealand bagged silver while Team England settled for bronze in the women's 4000m team pursuit final.

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5:23 pm  |   Women's rugby sevens opening pool games

In Pool A, hosts England beat Sri Lanka 57-0, as New Zealand brushed aside Canada 45-7.

England's Emma Uren is tackled by Sri Lanka's Charani Liyanage

Canada's Olivia apps passes the ball against New Zealand

Australia saw off South Africa 38-0 in Pool B, as Fiji defeated Scotland 31-12.

Australia's Faith Nathan is tackled against South Africa

Scotland's Evie Gallagher vies with Fiji's Laisani Moceisawana

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5:04 pm  |   Men's rugby sevens opening pool games

In the men's rugby seven's opening games, New Zealand beat Sri Lanka 63-5, as Samoa stunned hosts England 34-0 in Pool A.

Sri Lanka's Mithun Hapugodage is tackled by New Zealand's Che Clark

Samoa's Steve Onosai scores a try against England

In Pool B, South Africa thrashed Malaysia 46-0 in a one-sided affair, as Scotland did the same against Tonga in a 41-0 victory.

South Africa's Christie Grobbelaar is tackled by Malaysia's Mohamad Shah Izwan Nordin

Scotland's Jordan Edmunds is tackled by Tonga's John Ika

In Pool C, Canada brushed aside Wales 31-0, as Fiji thumped Zambia 52-0.

Fiji's Elia Canakaivata is tackled by Zambia's Edmond Hamayuwa

Australia easily beat Jamaica 62-0 while next-door neighbours Kenya and Uganda faced off, with the former winning 27-14 in Pool D.

Jamaica's Lucas Roy-Smith passes the ball

Uganda's Desire Ayera is tackled by Kenya's Anthony Omondi

Uganda's Adrian Kasito runs with the ball against Kenya

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4:26 pm 

By the way, the first official Commonwealth Games was held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930. At that time, it was called the British Empire Games.

For that maiden competition, a total of 11 countries sent 400 athletes for a programme of athletics, lawn bowls, boxing, rowing, swimming and wrestling. The English team emerged with the largest share of medals.

Women competed in only the swimming events. And this is where I need to remind you that this 22nd edition is featuring more women than men for the first time in the Games history.

Canadian triple jumper Gordon Smallacobe won the first ever gold medal of the Commonwealth Games.
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4:18 pm 

Meanwhile, Australia are leading Barbados in Group A as action goes on in the second quarter.
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4:13 pm 

England beat Trinidad and Tobago 74-22 in the opening game of Group B in a dominant display in front of a vociferous home crowd inside the NEC Arena.

The Roses scored 74 of their 88 goal attempts while Trinidad and Tobago scored 22 of their 28 attempts. England had 10 turnovers while their opponents had 25.
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3:57 pm 

One of the highlight's of the opening day has been England's Alex Yee winning the men's triathlon to take the first gold of this 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games, New Zealand's Hayden Wilde's taking silver and Australia's Matthew Hauser bagging bronze.

South African swimmer Lara Van Niekerk set a new Games record (29.82) when she took part on the heats of the women's 50m breaststroke.

In women's hockey, Scotland beat South Africa 4-2.

In the men's rugby sevens, Scotland made quick work of Tonga in a 41-0 victory, after South Africa doing the same earlier in a 46-0 thrashing of Malaysia.

Samoa beat England 34-0 in the men's rugby sevens, Pool A.
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3:47 pm 

In netball, England are leading Trinidad & Tobago 57-13 at the end of the third quarter, the hosts proving dominant and feedng off the vocal backing from the home crowd.

The final quarter will be only be a formality as England look strong enough to keep on rising in this game.
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3:01 pm 

At the NEC Arena, hosts England are taking on Trinidad and Tobago in Group B.

Uganda are in this group, which also features New Zealand, Northern Ireland and Malawi.

Team Uganda:

- Proscovia Peace
- Mary Nuba Cholhok
- Joan Nampungu
- Jesca Achan
- Shaffie Nalwanja
- Stella Oyella
- Norah Lunkuse
- Margret Baagala
- Sandra Ruth Nambirige
- Shadiah Ssegujja Nassanga
- Irene Eyaru
- Muhameed Nakaate Haniisha

Reserves:
- Viola Asingo
- Faridah Kadondi
- Alice Wasagali
- Shakirah Nakanyike
- Conchepta Desiree Birungi
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2:47 pm 

Team Uganda finish fifth in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, clocking 3:51.75 in heat two. They have an outside chance of making it through.

Therefore, it is a wait for the results of the next heats.
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2:40 pm  |    🥇 GOLD FOR ENGLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Earlier at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield, England's Alex Yee crosses the finish line to win and take the gold medal in the Men's Individual Sprint Distance Triathlon event.

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2:34 pm  |   Elsewhere . . .

It is a busy opening day of action in Birmingham at the different venues hosting the different sports.

At the NEC Arena, Singapore's Jian Zeng returns to England's Maria Tsaptsinos in their table tennis teams match. 

England's Maria Tsaptsinos returns to Singapore's Jian Zeng.

At the Lee Valley VeloPark, Team England compete in the men's 4000M team pursuit qualifying round on.

Team Canada compete in the men's 4000M team pursuit qualifying round.

At Edgbaston,  India's Shafali Verma (L) is caught behind by Australia's Alyssa Healy during the women's Twenty20 cricket match between Australia and India.

At Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield, Trinidad and Tobago's Jason Costelloe competes in the Men's Individual Sprint Distance Triathlon event.

India's Adarsh Muralidharan Nair competes in the Men's Individual Sprint Distance Triathlon event.

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2:22 pm  |   Women's 100m butterfly semifinalists

1. Emma McKeon (Australia)
2. Margaret Macneil (Canada)
3. Brianna Throssell (Australia)
4. Alex Perkins (Australia)
5. Katerine Savard (Canada)
6. Rebecca Smith (Canada)
7. Alys Margaret Thomas (Wales)
8. Harriet Jones (Wales)
9. Erin Gallagher (South Africa)
10. Holly Hibbott (England)
11. Helena Gasson (New Zealand)
12. Jing Wen Quah (Singapore)
13. Keanna Louise Macinnes (Scotland)
14. Tain Bruce (Scotland)
15. Dune Coetzee (South Africa)
16. Trinity Hearne (South Africa)
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2:10 pm 

Earlier, England obliterate Sri Lanka 57-0 in the women's rugby sevens Pool A.
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2:08 pm  |   Men's 100m backstroke semifinalists

1. Pleter Coetze (South Africa)
2. Bredie Paul Williams (England)
3. Bradley Woodward (Australia)
4. Luke Greenbank (England)
5. Srihari Nataraj (India)
6. Andrew Jeffcoat (New Zealand)
7. Mitchell Larkin (Australia)
8. Joshua Edwards-Smith (Australia)
9.Javier Acevedo (Canada)
10. Marlyn Walton (Scotland)
11. Craig McNally (Scotland)
12. Joe Small (Wales)
13. Zheng Wen Quah (Singapore)
14. James David McFadzen (England)
15. Liam White (Wales)
16. Harry Shalamon (Jersey)
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2:00 pm  |   Atuhaire tops men's 100m backstroke heat one

Uganda's Atuhaire Ogola Ambala touches the wall first in heat one of the men's 100m backstroke. His time of 1:01.68 is off the fast times for semifinal spots, but he will be energized by his heat performance in which he has beaten five others in the first of five heats.


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1:55 pm  |   Women's 50m breasttroke semifinalists

Uganda's Kirabo Namutebi competes in heat four and finishes in seventh place, clocking 33.87, which was not enough to take her through to the semis.

Here is the semifinal list:

1. Lara van Niekerk - new Games record (South Africa)
2. Imogen Louise Clark (England)
3. Chelsea Hodges (Australia)
4. Tatjana Schoenmaker (South Africa)
5. Jenna Strauch (Australia)
6. Kara Aline Hanlon (Scotland)
7. Kaylene Corbett (South Africa)
8. Abbey Harkin (Australia)
9. Sophie Angus (Canada)
10. Sarah Vasey (England)
11. En Ti Letitia Sim (Singapore)
12. Laura Kinley (Isle of Man)
13. Lanlhel Connolly (Cool Islands)
14. Jinq En Phee (Malaysia)
15. laura le Cras (Guernsey)
16. Lillian Louise Higgs (Bahamas)
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1:43 pm  |   Men's 50m butterfly semifinal list

1. Kylo Chalmers (Australia)
2. Benjamin Proud (England)
3. Dylan Carter (Trinidad and Tobago)
4. Jacob Thomas Taylor Peters (England)
5. Matthew Temple (Australia)
6. Lowls Fraser (Wales)
7. Mikkel Lee (Singapore)
8. Chad le Clos (South Africa)
9. Joshua Liendo Edwards (Canada)
10. Cody Simpson (Australia)
11. Tzen Wel Teong (Singapore)
12. Gregor Swinney (Scotland)
13. Adam Barrett (England)
14. Cameron Gray (New Zealand)
15. Finlay Knox (Canada)
16. Clayton Jimmie (South Africa)
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1:33 pm 

India's Smriti Mandhana (R) bats during the women's Twenty20 cricket match between Australia and India on day one of the Commonwealth Games at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

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1:27 pm   |   Kukundakwe falls short

Uganda's Husnah Kukundakwe (1:19.01) misses out on a final spot in the women's 100m freestyle S9.

Here is the final list:

1. Sophie Pascoe (New Zealand)
2. Toni Shaw (Scotland)
3. Ellie Cole (Australia)
4. Emilly Beecroft (Australia)
5. Ashleigh McConnell (Australia)
6. Katarina Roxon (Canada)
7. Alice Tai (England)
8. Tupou Neiufi (New Zealand)
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1:20 pm   |   Elsewhere . . .

The races may be coming in thick and fast at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, but there is equally exciting action at the Lee Valley VeloPark, where there is track cycling action.

Below, the Australia team compete in the women's 4000m team pursuit qualifying round.

And Scotland's Aileen McGlynn (R) competes in the women's para-sport sprint B tandem qualifying round.

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1:19 pm   |   Women's 200m freestyle final list

England's Freya Anderson (L) and Australia's Ariane Titmus react after the women's 200m freestyle heats

Four heats have produced the finalists of the women's 200m freestyle:

1. Ariarne Titmus (Australia)
2. Molle O'Callaghan (Australia)
3. Madison Wilson (Australia)
4. Freya Anderson (England)
5. Erika Fairweather (New Zealand)
6. Katrina Bellio (Canada)
7. Victoria Catterson (Northern Ireland)
8. Lucy Hope (Scotland)
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1:03 pm   |   Women's 400m individual medley finalists

After two heats of the women's 400m individual medley, we now know which swimmers will compete in the final. Here they are:

1. Summer McIntosh (Canada)
2. Kiah Melverton (Australia)
3. Ella Jansen (Canada)
4. Freya Colbert (England)
5. Tessa Cieplucha (Canada)
6. Mya Rae Rasmussen (New Zealand)
7. Katie Shanahan (Scotland)
8. Jenna Forrester (Australia)
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12:50 pm   |   Men's 400m freestyle finalists

Australia's Mack Horton competes in the men's 400m freestyle heats

After the three heats, here is the list of the finalists:

1. Daniel Wiffen (Northern Ireland)
2. Mack Horton (Australia)
3. Elijah Winnington (Australia)
4. Sam Short (Australia)
5. Luke Thomas Turley (England
6. Matthew Sates (South Africa)
7. Hoe Yean Khiew (Malaysia)
8. Daniel Jervis (Wales)
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12:47 pm  

In the third and final heat, it is an Australia one-two as Elijah Winnington (3:48.32) and Sam Short (3:48.46) power through.

South African Matthew Sates is third, clocking 3:49.69.
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12:42 pm  

In heat two, Daniel Wiffen, comes out on top, setting a new Irish record (3:47.43).

2. Isa Mack Horton (3:47.54)
3. Luke Thomas Turley (3:49.61)
4. Kieran Bird (3:50.30)
5. Jeremy Bagshaw (3:52.62)
6. Stephen Milne (3;54.35)
7. Andrew Ross (3:58.44)
8. Wesley Tikiariki Roberts (4:00.62)
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12:36 pm  

Botswanan James Freeman takes heat one, touching the wall in 3:57.56.

2. Isaac Dodds (4:01.50)
3. Luke-Kennedy Thompson (4:04.90)
4. Graham Irvin Chatoor (4:05.50)
5. Samuel Lowe (4:14.62)

Botswana's James Freeman competes in the men's 400m freestyle heats

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12:32 pm   |   All set for swimming heats

Attention to the aquatics, as the swimmers for the  men's 400m freestyle are about to race in heat one. Five swimmers will do eight laps of the 50m-long pool.

In the mix is Botswana's James Freeman, Graham Irvin Chatoor of Trinidad & Tobago, Isaac Dodds (Jersey), Luke-Kennedy Thompson of The Bahamas and Samuel Lowe of Guernsey.
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12:00 pm   |   Too easy for England

It is a walk in the park for host nation England against Sri Lanka in the women's rugby sevens - Pool A opener. And you don't have to look very far for the source of this dominance: English winger Ellie Boatman has made four tries in a dominant opening half by the Wasps. And I gather this is a historic performance.

It is 33-0 at half time.
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11:53 am   |   Fiji beat Scotland in opening 7s game

Fiji have come out on top against Scotland in their women's rugby sevens Pool B game. It was five tries for Fiji as they comfortably saw off Scotland. 

England, who took bronze at the 2018 Games at the Gold Coast, are up against Sri Lanka.
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11:40 am 

Across over to Victoria Park, New Zealand are having a field day - quite literally - against India in the lawn bowls.

They are leading 12- 1 after end (round) 9.
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11:33 am   |   Badminton going on

We also have badminton action taking place inside the National Exhibition Centre in Solihull, where England's Toby Penty is about to take on Barbados' Kennie Maarten King in the second match of the Mixed Team Group B duel.

The National Exhibition Centre will also be the venue for five other sports: boxing, netball, para powerlifting, table tennis, and weightlifting.
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11:21 am   |   Uganda squash players find good company in UK

Uganda's squash players in Birmingham have found good company in the UK as they warm up for their competition.

Uganda is going to be represented by experienced players Michael Kawooya and Paul Kadoma, who had a chance to test themselves against Kenya and Zambia players Muqutadir Nimji and Kundanji Kalengo, whom they had met in previous tournaments.

Read more here.


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11:14 am   |   Para swimmer Kukundakwe targets PB

Paralympian and national para swimmer Husnah Kukundakwe is aiming for personal bests as she competes in the Commonwealth Games for the first time.

Just like she did when she made her debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games with a 1:34.35 in the 100m breaststroke race, the 15-year-old Ugandan swimmer is looking forward to further improvement.

Read more here.

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11:07 am   |   Three Ugandan boxers receive byes

Meanwhile, three Team Uganda boxers will start their Games campaigns in the quarterfinals, following Wednesday evening's draws that were held at the Solihull National Exhibition Centre, where boxing action will take place.

The three quarterfinalists are flyweight Teddy Nakimuli, welterweight Owen Kibira, and middleweight Yusufu Nkobeza.

Read more here.

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10:56 am  

After end 3 in one of the oldest sports in the Commonwealth Games, New Zealand have reestablished their lead.

Oh, I forgot to tell you that lawn bowls is played in four formats - singles, pairs, triples, and fours. Only two teams can compete in a single game.
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10:50 am  

In case lawn bowls is not your cup of tea, there is plenty of action in other disciplines on the menu. Uganda, meanwhile, has representation in Birmingham in various events: track and road, netball, badminton, boxing, cycling, para powerlifting, Rugby 7s, squash, swimming, weightlifting, table tennis and wrestling.

Some of the athletes from the Oregon championships will be on their next flight to Birmingham to compete for more global glory.
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10:46 am  

Lawn bowling action continues at Victoria Park against a backdrop of soothing instrumentals - great way to calm nerves and steady the bowling hand.

It is 1-1 between New Zealand and India after end 2.
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10:42 am   |   A memorable opening ceremony

Meanwhile, in case you missed the opening ceremony inside a filled Alexander Stadium, I must admit you missed out on one of the most exciting opening ceremonies of any Games.

But we have got you covered. Check out how it happened ON THIS PAGE.

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10:37 am   |   Understanding lawn bowls

A game starts with a team rolling ‘the Jack’ from one end towards the opposite end. The Jack must travel at least 23 metres. The point where it settles, is the ultimate target for the players for that end.

The teams then take turns to roll their bowls towards the target. The number of attempts per team from each end depends on the format. A team gets four attempts in the singles format. On the other hand, in the multi-player formats, a team gets two throws per player.

The scores are calculated when the total number of allocated throws are completed. This marks the completion of that particular end, or round, and the game moves on to the next end.

For scoring, the team which manages to place its bowls closer to the target wins the points for the end. The number of points awarded is determined by the number of bowls a team has managed to place closer than its opponent.
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10:35 am   |   Lawn bowls under way

The opening event of this 22nd edition of the Games is the lawn bowls on the lush green of Victoria Park. New Zealand (red balls) are battling India (blue balls) in the first contest.

This sport has featured in all but one of all the Games, and this edition's will take place between today and August 6, with the 11 events including three parasport events.

In this sport, players attempt to place their team's bowl closer to the yellow-coloured Jack - or the target - than the opponent. So far, New Zealand are leading India.
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10:30 am   |   Welcome to Day One

Hello and welcome to our text commentary of the first day of action of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, central England. We shall be updating you on key highlights from the various sporting disciplines spread out across these next 11 days, including today of course.