Tom Daley didn't compete in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, leaving many wondering has Tom Daley retired?

Olympian Tom Daley has been missing from Team England's diving squad this Commonwealth Games - though they seem to be coping without him, having won a number of gold medals in the sport. Daley opted instead to get in amongst the Commonwealth countries in a different way, and is the host of an new BBC documentary, 'Illegal to Be Me', which explores how gay athletes are facing extreme persecution across the Commonwealth.

Ever since Daley came out as gay in 2013, his fans have wanted to know more about the diver's private life, from who he's married to, his surrogacy decision and even his Olympic knitting project that captivated the nation. But as the Olympian declined to take part in this year's Commonwealth Games, the question on everyone's lips is: has Tom Daley retired?

Tom and Dustin have recently welcomed a secret second son.

Has Tom Daley retired?

Tom Daley has not retired from diving, but he is taking a year out from the sport. The 27-year-old recently won a gold and a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021, but speaking on Lorraine in December the same year he said "I always said I was going to take a little break after the Olympics, probably a year."

But despite the rumours circling of his retirement, Daley has dropped some hints that he'll be returning to the aquatics centre for the Paris Olympics in 2024. Speaking to GQ in November 2021, he said "I always said that I’ll keep going until my body gives up or until I get the gold medal. And I’ve got the gold medal. But my body’s getting better. So there are lots of decisions to be made in the next year or so. This time that I’ve had since the Olympics, when I’ve not been diving, I’ve realised, you know what? I actually miss it."

Tom Daley: Commonwealth Games 2022

Tom Daley announced he would not compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games on his Instagram in June 2022. He said that the year-long break was so that he could get some rest and be with his family.

However, the Olympian hasn't been completely absent during the Games. At the Opening Ceremony in Birmingham, he carried the Queen's Baton into the stadium, along with six other LGBTQ+ athletes and advocates.

He shared a photo of himself holding the Baton alongside his fellow flag bearers, writing in the caption "In over half of the Commonwealth countries, homosexuality is still a crime and in 3 of those countries the maximum penalty is the death sentence. These laws are a legacy of colonialism. This opening ceremony for us is about showing LGBTQ+ visibility to the billion people watching."

How many medals has Tom Daley won?

Tom Daley's international and national gold medal total combined is currently at 36. This includes four Olympic medals and a combined total of 11 World, Commonwealth and European Championship gold medals. 

The diver won his first and only Olympic gold to date at the Tokyo 2020 Games, in the 10m synchro event with his diving partner Matty Lee. He won bronze in the 10m platform event at the same games, and has won two other Olympic bronzes: for the 10m synchro in 2016 and the 10m platform in 2012. 

Daley was first crowned World Champion in 2009, at just 15 years old, and has since won two more gold medals at the World Championships. He has won gold at the European Championships five times and is currently the defending champion in the synchro event.

Daley also won gold in the synchro at the previous Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast in 2018. Despite Daley not returning to defend the title this year, England have still snapped up a few diving golds at Birmingham 2022, with Noah Williams and Andrea Spendolini Sirieix crowned the winners of the mixed synchro. 

Tom Daley: Career stats

• Daley has won medals at every level of diving, from national competitions to the World Championships and the Olympics
• He won his first international gold medal in 2008 - when he was just 14 years old - at the European Championships
• That same year, he competed in his first Olympics in Beijing, where he came 7th in the 10m platform event
• Daley has won gold medals at the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the World Cup, the European Championships, the Commonwealth Games and the World Series
• He won his first Olympic medal at London 2012, where he came third in the 10m platform, a dream he had shared with his dad, who passed away just a year earlier
• Daley was crowned overall 10m Platform champion at the FINA Diving World Series in 2019

Tom Daley: Net worth

According the The Mirror, Tom Daley's net worth is estimated to be around £3m. This figure is from a combination of his success in his diving career, as well a his appearances on TV and his YouTube channel.

Daley has amassed over 1m subscribers on his channel, where he posts vlogs, knitting tutorials and challenges. 

After the 2012 Olympics, Tom was approached to appear in ITV’s new diving TV show Splash!, as a mentor to the celebrities taking part. He is also a brand ambassador for Adidas and has released four books: his memoir, called 'My Story' in 2012; 'Tom's Daily Goals', a recipe and fitness book that was released in 2016; 'Coming Up for Air', his new autobiography released in 2021; and 'Made with Love', a kitting manual.

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Following Birmingham's success as this year's host nation, many are eager to know when are the next Commonwealth Games and where will they be held?

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are coming to an end. On 8 August the closing ceremony sees all the athletes and the Games presenters come together, as the Queen's baton is passed on to the next host nation.

There's been a lot to celebrate over the past 11 days, from Adam Peaty finally winning gold in the 50m breaststroke to Katarina Johnson-Thompson's heptathlon success, with people all over the country and the world keeping up with the daily schedule. It's no surprise then that so many people are asking the question: when are the next Commonwealth Games?

When are the next Commonwealth Games?

The next Commonwealth Games will take place in 2026, from 17 - 29 March, and will be held in Victoria, Australia. It is the sixth time that the Games will be held in Australia, but the first time that a state or region will be the host. 

Victoria is a state in the south east of Australia, and its capital is Melbourne. Melbourne hosted the Games in 2006 and will once again be playing a big role 20 years later, alongside four other cities in Victoria: Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland. Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said: "It’s a great honour to have Victoria chosen as the host venue for the 2026 Commonwealth Games – we can’t wait to welcome the world to all of our state."

As well as the 2006 Games in Melbourne, Australia has hosted the Commonwealth Games in Sydney in 1938, Perth in 1962, Brisbane in 1982 and most recently in the Gold Coast in 2018.

Commonwealth Games Australia President Ben Houston said: "Commonwealth Games Australia is thrilled to welcome the athletes of the Commonwealth back to Australia and we look forward to working with both the CGF and the Victorian Government to bring the Games to life across Victoria in 2026."

Commonwealth Games 2026: All the details so far

The Commonwealth Games Federation said in a statement that Victoria won the 2026 Games bid because of its alignment with the 2026/30 Strategic Roadmap, which invites hosts to explore innovative concepts, including co-hosting and mass participation events.

Victoria has embraced this concept with the plan to host different sports in four different cities across the state, and has so far confirmed the inclusion of 16 sports. 

• Geelong: Will host aquatics, beach volleyball, gymnastics, hockey, table tennis, para table tennis, triathlon and para triathlon
• Ballarat: Will host athletics, para athletics and boxing
• Gippsland: Will host badminton, cycling and rugby sevens
• Bendigo: Will host cycling, lawn bowls and para lawn bowls, netball, squash, weightlifting and para powerlifting

All four cities will part-host cricket T20.

The Opening Ceremony for Victoria 2026 will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground and will showcase the best of what the state has to offer, ensuring a 'uniquely Victorian' experience for the athletes and spectators. 

Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin said: "Commonwealth Games Australia and the Victorian Government have set out a bold and innovative vision for hosting our major multi-sport event. In Victoria, we believe we have found the perfect partner for the next stage of our journey."

How often are the Commonwealth Games held?

The Commonwealth Games are held every four years. The Games always take place the same year as the FIFA Men's World Cup, and on an alternative cycle to the Olympic Games.

The Commonwealth Games were first held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930, and have taken place every four years since, with the exception of 1942 and 1946. Australia is the most successful nation in the history of the Games - having topped the medal table 13 times - and is one of only six countries to have competed in every Commonwealth Games held so far.

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If you've been keeping up with the Games over the last couple of weeks, you're probably starting to wonder when is the closing ceremony and when do the Commonwealth Games end?

The athletes and Commonwealth Games presenters alike have been putting on a spectacular show this summer - from Adam Peaty finally winning gold in the 50m breaststroke to Katarina Johnson-Thompson's heptathlon success - and we'll certainly be sorry to see it end. For those wondering how long are the Commonwealth Games, the answer is 11 days, which means it's not long now until the event leaves our screens for another four years.

But there's still plenty to look forward to in the last few days of scheduling, and if you want to know where to watch the last few days of events, we've got all the details on when the Commonwealth Games ends and how to watch the closing ceremony.

When does the Commonwealth Games end?

The Commonwealth Games ends on Monday 8 August, after 11 days of sports. The event kicked off on Thursday 28 July with a spectacular opening ceremony at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, featuring Duran Duran, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

The final event of the Games will be the men's finals of the hockey, which finishes at 3pm that day. It's not yet confirmed which teams have reached the final, but England will be hoping to secure a place when they play Australia in the semi-final on Saturday 7 August. England's women's team are doing equally well, and are set to play defending champions New Zealand in their semi-final on the Friday.

This year's Games have been one to remember, with the home nations bringing in a total of 54 gold medals so far, and the 2022 Games featuring the largest ever female and para sport programme in history. The international sporting event will be going out with a well-deserved bang at the closing ceremony in the second week of August.

When is the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony?

The Commonwealth Games closing ceremony will run from 8pm - 10pm on Monday 8 August, and takes place at the Alexander Stadium - the same venue that hosted the opening ceremony and the athletics events.

While the opening ceremony took place a day before the sport kicked off, the closing ceremony will commence after a day of finals. England's Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith will be hoping to bag a medal in the badminton first thing in the morning, while Singapore are the favourites for the women's doubles event.

The final two diving events will conclude in the afternoon, with England featuring in both - but Scotland's James Heatly and Grace Reid are the favourites for the mixed 3m springboard title.

The women's and men's squash doubles finals also take place on the final day - with New Zealand and Australia the favourites respectively - followed by the hockey.

Where to watch the closing ceremony and the details we know so far

The Commonwealth Games closing ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One, and as well as being a spectacle for the audience and viewers at home, it's an opportunity for the athletes who've worked so hard to relax and have some fun.

The organisers have been keeping pretty quiet about what the ceremony will entail, though it will likely include more musical and dance performances, and plenty of references to Birmingham's culture and history. 

Also during the ceremony, the Queen's Baton will be passed on to the next hosts of the games, which will take place in 2026. The Queen's Baton travels all over the 72 countries that participate in the Commonwealth Games, before arriving at the next host nation.

There are still a few tickets left to see the closing ceremony live, ranging from £30 to £260. Find out more by visiting - www.birmingham2022.com/tickets

Where are the next Commonwealth Games being hosted?

The next Commonwealth Games will be hosted by Melbourne, a city in the south east of Australia. Australia also hosted the Games prior to the 2022 event, at the Gold Coast in 2018.

The next Games will run from 17 - 29 March 2026, with the opening ceremony taking place at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Dame Louise Martin, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said "Commonwealth Games Australia and the Victorian Government have set out a bold and innovative vision for hosting our major multi-sport event. In Victoria, we believe we have found the perfect partner for the next stage of our journey. 

"This a very special moment for the Commonwealth Sport Family and on behalf of the entire Movement, I would like to congratulate Commonwealth Games Australia and Victoria on their successful Games submission."

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The Commonwealth Games have finally arrived and all eyes are on host city Birmingham. For those who haven't got their hands on tickets, here's where to watch the Commonwealth Games on TV.

There's a sense of excitement mounting as we gather round to watch Britain's most impressive athletes at Birmingham 2022, with many familiar faces such as Adam Peaty and Katarina Johnson-Thompson competing. Though some may be disappointed that one of Team England's biggest names, Dina Asher-Smith, won't be running, there's still plenty of talent representing Britain this year.

And if you're planning on hunkering down to watch the action over the next couple of weeks, we've got everything you need to know, from how long are the Commonwealth Games to when is the opening ceremony and where to watch the Commonwealth Games on TV.

Where to watch the Commonwealth Games on TV

The BBC will be showing over 200 hours of live coverage on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Three, as well as additional coverage on the red button and up to 11 live streams on the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer.

The coverage is free in the UK and will typically begin at around 9am each day and continue until night time. BBC Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Sports Extra will also be covering the action, hosting live commentary on athletics, swimming, netball, cricket and boxing and providing updates on all the latest news across the daily programming.

The BBC Sport website and app will also feature live text, video clips, reports, analysis and results, while every night on BBC One there will be a highlights show, called Tonight at the Games.

Olympic gold medallists Michael Johnson, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Sir Chris Hoy are just a few of the pundits and experts who will be commentating, as well as Commonwealth winners Max Whitlock and Beth Tweddle and Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds.

Was the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on TV?

The Opening Ceremony was broadcast live on BBC One, running from 7pm-10.30pm BST on Thursday 28 July. Those that missed it will be able to catch up with it on BBC iPlayer now. 

Duran Duran returned to their home town to headline the event at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, while other talent included Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi and vocalists Indigo Marshall and Gambini. Samantha Oxborough - a graduate of The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - also performed the national anthem with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Singer Simon Le Bon said in a statement "The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is a momentous event for the great city of Birmingham. And we in Duran Duran are honoured to be a part of it in our home town."

A live audience of 30,000 people was expected, alongside a predicted one billion viewers tuning in from home.

The Alexander Stadium will also host the closing ceremony - which will be broadcast from 8pm on BBC One - where the Queen's Baton will be passed on the the host nation of the next Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Day by day schedule

Thursday 28 July

BBC One 7pm-10.30pm

On 'day zero' of the Commonwealth Games, coverage of the opening ceremony will be hosted by Clare Balding. Spectators can expect the Parade of Nations, where the athletes walk behind the flag of their country, and the conclusion of the Queen's Baton Relay, which will have travelled between all 72 Commonwealth nations and territories before arriving in host city Birmingham.

Friday 29 July

BBC One: 9:15am – 1pm, 1:45pm – 6pm, 7pm – 10pm 

BBC Two: 1pm – 1:45pm, 6pm – 7pm 

BBC Three: 7:05pm – 10:30pm

• Badminton
• Gymnastics
• Hockey
• Rugby Sevens
• Table tennis and para table tennis
• Cycling, track and para track - Scotland's Olympic gold medallist Neil Fachie and silver medallist Aileen McGlynn will be competing.
• Swimming and para swimming
• T20 cricket
• Triathlon and para triathlon - Alex Yee in the men's event and Georgia Taylor-Brown in the women's event were both Olympic silver medallists in 2021.
• Boxing
• Netball - Commonwealth champions England will play Trinidad and Tobago in their opening game.
• Squash
• Basketball 3x3 and wheelchair basketball 3x3

Saturday 30 July

BBC One: 9:15am – 1pm, 1:15pm – 5pm, 5:20pm – 10pm 

BBC Two: 7am – 9:15am 

BBC Three: 7:05pm – 10:30pm

• Athletics (marathon) 
• Lawn bowls and para lawn bowls 
• Badminton 
• Gymnastics - Four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Claudia Fragapane will lead the English team, alongside Tokyo Olympic team bronze medallist Alice Kinsella.
• Hockey 
• Rugby Sevens 
• Weightlifting 
• Table tennis and para table tennis 
• Cycling, track and para track - England's Charlie Tanfield will be defending his 2018 title in the men's individual pursuit.
• Swimming and para swimming 
• T20 cricket 
• Boxing 
• Netball 
• Squash
• Beach volleyball 
• Basketball 3x3 and wheelchair basketball 3x3

Sunday 31 July

BBC One: 9am – 1pm, 1:15pm – 3:35pm, 7:45pm-10pm 

BBC Two: 3:35pm – 7:45pm 

BBC Three: 7:05pm – 10:30pm

• Lawn bowls and para lawn bowls
• Badminton 
• Gymnastics 
• Hockey 
• Rugby Sevens 
• Triathlon and para triathlon - Scotland's Alison Peasgood, a Rio Paralympic silver medallist in 2016, will be competing, as well as four-time paratriathlon world champion Dave Ellis for England.
• Weightlifting 
• Table tennis and para table tennis 
• Cycling, track and para track
• Swimming and para swimming - Three-time Olympic champion Adam Peaty will be looking to defend his Commonwealth title in the 100m breaststroke.  
• T20 cricket 
• Boxing 
• Netball 
• Squash 
• Beach volleyball 
• Basketball 3x3 and wheelchair basketball 3x3

Monday 1 August

BBC One: 9:15am – 1pm, 1:45pm – 6pm, 7:30pm – 10pm 

BBC Two: 1pm – 1:45pm, 6pm – 7:35pm 

BBC Three: 7:05pm – 10:30pm

• Lawn bowls and para lawn bowls 
• Badminton 
• Gymnastics - England's Courtney Tulloch will be looking to defend his 2018 gold on rings.
• Hockey
• Rugby Sevens 
• Triathlon and para triathlon 
• Weightlifting 
• Judo 
• Table tennis and para table tennis 
• Cycling, track and para track - Tokyo omnium gold medallist Matt Walls will be competing for England.
• Swimming and para swimming 
• T20 cricket
• Boxing 
• Netball
• Squash 
• Beach volleyball 
• Basketball 3x3 and wheelchair basketball 3x3

Tuesday 2 August

BBC One: 9:15am – 1pm, 1:45pm – 6pm, 7:30pm – 10pm 

BBC Two: 1pm – 1:45pm, 6pm – 7:30 

BBC Three: 7:05pm – 10:30pm

• Athletics and para athletics - Olympic bronze medallist Holly Bradshaw will compete for England in the pole vault and  world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson will defend her heptathlon Commonwealth title from 2018.
• Lawn bowls and para lawn bowls
• Badminton 
• Gymnastics 
• Hockey 
• Rugby Sevens 
• Triathlon and para triathlon 
• Weightlifting 
• Judo - European champion Gemma Howell will compete in the women's -63kg class.
• Table tennis and para table tennis
• Cycling, track and para track 
• Swimming and para swimming - Adam Peaty will be competing in the 50m breaststroke, while defending Commonwealth champion Alys Thomas of Wales will take on the 200m butterfly.
• T20 cricket 
• Boxing 
• Netball 
• Squash 
• Beach volleyball 
• Basketball 3x3 and wheelchair basketball 3x3

Wednesday 3 August

BBC One: 9:15am – 1pm, 1:45pm – 6pm, 7pm – 10pm 

BBC Two: 1pm – 1:45pm, 6pm – 7pm 

BBC Three: 7:05pm – 10:30pm

• Athletics and para athletics - Katarina Johnson-Thompson will continue in the heptathlon.
• Lawn bowls and para lawn bowls 
• Badminton
• Hockey 
• Weightlifting
• Judo
• Table tennis and para table tennis 
• Cycling, mountain bike - World champion Evie Richards is the favourite in the mountain bike cross-country.
• Swimming and para swimming - There's plenty of GB athletes within grasp of a medal, with England looking to Tokyo champion Reece Dunn in the S14 200m freestyle and world champion Ben Proud in the men's 50m free, and Scotland have Tokyo silver medallist Duncan Scott in the men's 200m individual medley. Wales will be behind 2018 silver medallist and Olympic finalist Daniel Jervis in the men's 1500m free, and  world champion Bethany Firth, from Norther Ireland, is favourite in the women's S14 200m freestyle.
• T20 cricket 
• Boxing 
• Netball 
• Squash 
• Beach volleyball 

Thursday 4 August

BBC One: 9:15am – 1pm, 1:45pm – 6pm, 7pm – 10pm 

BBC Two: 1pm – 1:45pm, 6pm – 7pm 

BBC Three: 7:05pm – 10:30pm

• Athletics and para athletics 
• Lawn bowls and para lawn bowls 
• Badminton 
• Hockey 
• Para powerlifting 
• Table tennis and para table tennis 
• Cycling, time trial
• Diving - England's Jack Laugher is the favourite for the 1m springboard.
• T20 cricket 
• Boxing
• Rhythmic gymnastics 
• Netball 
• Squash 
• Beach volleyball 

Friday 5 August

BBC One: 9:15am – 1pm, 1:45pm – 6pm, 7pm – 10pm 

BBC Two: 1pm – 1:45pm, 6pm – 7pm 

BBC Three: 7:05pm – 10:30pm

• Athletics and para athletics 
• Lawn bowls and para lawn bowls 
• Badminton 
• Hockey 
• Table tennis and para table tennis
• Diving - Jack Laugher will compete in the 3m synchro, which he has won at the past two Commonwealth Games.
• Wrestling 
• Rhythmic gymnastics 
• Netball 
• Squash 
• Beach volleyball 

Saturday 6 August

BBC One: 9am – 12pm, 1:15pm – 4:30pm, 5:30pm – 10pm 

BBC Two: 12pm – 1:15pm 

BBC Three: 7:05pm – 10:30pm

• Athletics and para athletics - Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson will be competing in the 800m. 
• Lawn bowls and para lawn bowls 
• Badminton
• Hockey 
• Table tennis and para table tennis 
• Diving 
• Wrestling 
• Boxing 
• T20 cricket 
• Rhythmic gymnastics
• Netball
• Squash 
• Beach volleyball 

Sunday 7 August

BBC One: 9am – 1pm, 1:15pm – 5pm, 5:30pm – 10pm 

BBC Two: 7:45am – 9am, 5pm – 5:30pm 

BBC Three: 7:05pm – 10:30pm

• Athletics and para athletics - Matthew Hudson-Smith will return to his home town Birmingham to compete in the 400m.
• Cycling, road race - Olympic and Tour de France superstars Geraint Thomas for Wales and Mark Cavendish for the Isle of Man will be competing.
• Badminton
• Hockey
• Table tennis and para table tennis 
• Diving 
• Boxing 
• T20 cricket
• Netball 
• Squash 
• Beach volleyball 

Monday 8 August

BBC One: 9am – 1pm, 1:45pm – 3:45pm, 8pm – 10pm 

BBC Two: 1pm – 1:45pm

• Badminton - Lauren Smith, who has won five Commonwealth medals for England, will be competing.
• Hockey 
• Table tennis and para table tennis 
• Diving 
• Squash
• Closing ceremony 

Commonwealth Games 2022: Tickets

Tickets for the Commonwealth Games are available at Birmingham2022.com, and while 1.25m tickets have already been sold, there are some still available.

Those local to the West Midlands may even be able to see some of the action for free, such as the triathlon in Sutton Park, the cycling time trial which starts and finishes in West Park in Wolverhampton and the cycling road race which starts and finishes in Warwick. The marathon route also starts and finishes in Birmingham city centre and is free to watch.

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The 2022 Commonwealth Games are nearly upon us, leaving many wanting to know how they can get tickets, which countries are involved and how long are the Commonwealth Games?

As one of the biggest international sporting events, the Commonwealth Games draws in audiences from all over, as we gather to watch some of the world's most impressive sporting stars. 

We're all eager to know more about the people we're cheering on, whether it's who is Sarah Storey, does Adam Peaty have children or when is Katarina Johnson-Thompson competing? And with tickets still remaining to many of the events, there's a chance to watch some of these famous faces in person. Read on to find out how you can get your hands on them, and everything else you need to know about the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

How long are the Commonwealth Games?

The Commonwealth Games are 11 days long and will see more than 5,000 athletes representing 72 nations and territories compete in 19 sports and 280 medal events.

The event takes place every four years and this year it is hosted by Birmingham, making it the biggest sports event to be held in the UK since the London 2012 Olympics. The competition schedule is the biggest ever sports programme in Commonwealth Games history, and more medals will be awarded to women than men for the first time ever at a major multi-sport event.

Dame Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said: “It is very special that the Commonwealth Games will be the first major multi-sport event in history with more medals for women than men.

"It will also be the largest ever integrated para sport programme which will ensure that Birmingham 2022 will be a truly historic, inclusive and unforgettable 11 days of sport."

When does the Commonwealth Games start?

The Games start on Thursday 28 July 2022 with the opening ceremony and finish on Monday 8 August with the closing ceremony. July 29 will be the first day of sport, with highlights including gymnastics, cycling, swimming and para swimming.

For those wondering where to watch the Commonwealth Games, the BBC have exclusive rights to broadcast  in the UK, and BBC Sport will show more than 200 hours of action across up to 11 live streams. Coverage and analysis will be provided by many famous sporting faces, including Sir Chris Hoy, Max Whitlock, Beth Tweddle, Michael Johnson, Denise Lewis, Jess Ennis-Hill, Rebecca Adlington and Ellie Simmonds.

Birmingham 2022 CEO Ian Reid said: "This is a significant moment for Birmingham 2022 and we are very proud to be working with the BBC as the Domestic Broadcast Rights Holder for the Games. The BBC’s record in covering major sports events is truly outstanding and we can’t wait to work with them on our edition of the Commonwealth Games."

Where is the opening ceremony for Commonwealth Games 2022?

The opening ceremony will take place at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, and Duran Duran will be returning to their home town to headline the event.

Other talent taking part includes Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi and vocalists Indigo Marshall and Gambini, under the musical direction of rapper, artist and educator Joshua ‘RTKal’ Holness. Samantha Oxborough, a graduate of The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, will perform the national anthem with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

The stadium will hold a live audience of 30,000 people for the event, and it's expected that around a billion people will be watching the event on TV, which will be broadcast on BBC One.

The Alexander stadium will also be the venue for the closing ceremony, where the Queen's Baton will be passed on to the host nation for the next Commonwealth Games.

Which countries are in the Commonwealth Games?

• Anguilla 
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Botswana
• British Virgin Islands
• Brunei
• Cameroon
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Cook Islands
• Cyprus
• Dominica
• England 
• Eswatini
• Falkland Islands
• Fiji
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Grenada
• Guernsey
• Guyana
• India
• Isle of Man
• Jamaica
• Jersey
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Montserrat
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Niue
• Norfolk Island
• Northern Ireland
• Pakistan 
• Papa New Guinea
• Rwanda
• Saint Helena
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa
• Scotland
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore 
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Wales
• Zambia

The Commonwealth was established in 1949 and has 56 member states, most of which are former territories of the British Empire. For the Commonwealth Games, all 56 member states of the Commonwealth are invited to participate alongside other territories who do not compete separately in the Olympics but compete in the Commonwealth Games under their own flags. 

As of July 22, all 72 Commonwealth Games Associations have confirmed they will send athletes to the 2022 games in Birmingham. 

Commonwealth Games 2022: Tickets

Tickets for the Commonwealth Games are available at Birmingham2022.com, and while there are still some sessions available, tickets are selling fast and there's limited availability for medal sessions and ceremonies.

The events that are currently sold out are: swimming, mountain biking, cycling time trial, cycling road race, artistic gymnastics and triathlon and para triathlon.

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The Queen will not be making an appearance at this year's Commonwealth Games, instead sending Kate Middleton and Prince William in her place.  

• Public appearances from the Queen may now become scarce following the Jubilee weekend and health setbacks
• Her Majesty is believed to be relying on Kate and Prince William more and more to take a lead in the monarchy as she takes on less responsibility
• The royal news follows confirmation that the Cambridges' are moving to Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate to be closer to the Queen.  

The Queen has pulled out of her appearance at this year's Commonwealth Games, which run from 28 July to 8 August, due to her episodic mobility issues, royal sources have confirmed. In her place, other members of family will be attending to show their support.

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will visit the sporting venues, attend a range of fixtures, and meet athletes, volunteers and support staff helping at the event.

The royals will also attend events and engagements celebrating the Games, such as the opening and closing ceremonies, and pre-ceremony receptions.

The Commonwealth Games is an international sporting event involving various different sports and sees athletes from the Commonwealth nations go head-to-head in all sorts of sports from badminton, beach volleyball and boxing to lawn bowls, cricket and squash. The event takes place every four years and this year will be held in Birmingham. 

Although the Queen will be absent from the sporting event, she will be present in another form. In October last year, The Queen wrote and placed an as-yet-unread message in a baton during the Queen's Baton Relay event. The note is expected to be revealed and read aloud at the launch of the games on July 22 as part of Prince Charles' speech. 

Taking to the Royal Family’s official Instagram page, the Queen shared a rare clip of her signing her the message. The caption read, "The Queen signing her message to the Commonwealth, which will be read at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next year. Today, the message was placed inside The Queen’s Baton before it began its journey to Birmingham via 72 Commonwealth territories and nations, connecting communities over 90,000 miles." 

The Queen has sparked a few health concerns throughout recent months. Her mobility issues have caused her to skip some royal engagements, and changes have been made to her transport to ensure optimum comfort during royal engagements. 

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