Home

Commonwealth Games 2022: Birmingham Games close with spectacular ceremony and an Australian twist

Headshot of Jackson Barrett
Jackson BarrettThe West Australian
VideoThe Governer of Victoria is handed the Commonwealth Games flag as the event in Birmingham came to a close.

Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games have gone out with a bang in a closing ceremony as colourful as the event itself, including a tinge of green and gold.

As the sun set on the final day of what was a golden Games for Australia, the athletes let their hair down in a spectacular final fling, featuring iconic artists from the host nation and some from a bit closer to home.

On a set inspired by the booming factories and trades of the West Midlands’ industrial heartland, the night was opened by Birmingham favourites Dexys Midnight Runners and their iconic pub hit Come on Eileen, flanked by hundreds of performers depicting war-time workers.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: Dexys perform during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony at Alexander Stadium on August 08, 2022 on the Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Camera IconDexys Midnight Runners opened proceedings. Credit: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: Athletes celebrate with their flags during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony at Alexander Stadium on August 08, 2022 on the Birmingham, England. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Camera IconThen the athletes took centre stage. Credit: Tom Dulat/Getty Images

The City’s strong Asian population and its close relationship with its music scene was represented with Naleem Gill’s performance alongside DJ Panjabi MC, reminiscent of the famous ‘daytimers’ raves in Birmingham.

The Game AFL 2024

There was also a tribute to global sensation Peaky Blinders, the television series about Birmingham’s most notorious gangs, while Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath, a regular performer at the City’s Broad Street music scene also made an 80’s inspired cameo.

Australian diving great Melissa Wu carried the country’s flag into Alexander Stadium as thousands of athletes made the customary march into the arena as one.

The host nation were the final team to enter, greeted by a huge roar from a packed and feverish Birmingham crowd.

Wu was afforded the honour after winning a third gold medal off the 10m platform at her fifth and final Games.

Australia comfortably topped the medal count with a dominant Games, where they also passed the momentous 1000 gold medal landmark.

Aussie athletes finished with 67 gold, 57 silver and 54 bronze medals ahead of hosts England, Canada and India.

Hosting rights were then handed back to Australia for the second time in three Games and the third time since 2006, with regional Victoria to hold the event in 2026 — just 20 years after the State’s last event in Melbourne.

Aboriginal elders from the lands on which the 2026 event will be held also bore witness to the handing over of the flag.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: Barrie Lester of Team Australia hands the flag to Her Excellency, the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony at Alexander Stadium on August 08, 2022 on the Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Camera IconVictorian Governer Linda Dessau takes possession of the flag. Credit: Alex Davidson/Getty Images
Vanessa Amorosi, center, performs during the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony at the Alexander stadium in Birmingham, England, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Camera IconGreen and gold clad performers support Aussie Vanessa Amorosi. Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: Baker Boy performs during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony at Alexander Stadium on August 08, 2022 on the Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Camera IconBaker Boy takes to the stage. Credit: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

To mark the occasion, Aussie artists Baker Boy and Vanessa Amorosi performed to a backdrop of performers clad in fluro green and gold outfits, while Linda Dessau, the Governer of Victoria, was handed the Commonwealth Games flag.

After growing her tally to 13 medals with three more at these Games, the David Dixon award was won by Singapore table tennis sensation Geng Tianwei.

The closing ceremony came just hours after Australia’s Kookaburras thumped India 7-0 to win hockey gold, the final medal handed out at the Games.

The Diamonds had the honour of claiming the country’s 1000th gold with a netball final win over Jamaica on Sunday and were on hand to celebrate with the Kookaburras.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails