The 2022 CWGs will bring people together, be they athletes from countries far and wide, or communities from across the city and region. As we prepare for this iconic celebration of sport, we embrace the Commonwealth values of humanity, equality and destiny in everything we do.

• Bring people together: these Games will embrace and champion the youth, diversity, humanity and pride of the region and the Commonwealth.
• Improve health and wellbeing: inspire, engage and connect communities and athletes to realise their full potential and live happier, healthier lives.
• Help the region to grow and succeed: drive sustainable growth and aspiration; creating opportunities through trade, investment, jobs and skills.
• Be a catalyst for change: transform and strengthen local communities, working together to deliver new and improved homes, facilities and transport links.

Sport England have invested £2m into the School Games legacy project as the centrepiece of its Commonwealth Games legacy investment. Youth Sport Trust are co-leading this piece of work with funding through the existing England-wide School Games network that includes 450 School Games Organisers (SGOs) and 41 Active Partnerships, including London Youth Games (LYG). SGOs and Active Partnerships will work together locally to bring to life the vision and mission of Birmingham 2022 by running a series of inspiring, engaging and accessible sport and physical activity opportunities and events for school aged children and young people.

The Stevenage Sporting Futures Team have celebrated the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 in the following exciting ways:

• Commonwealth School Games Values – each SSFT event has been allocated a Commonwealth School Games Value. Schools that show this value, for example self-belief, will receive a certificate and stickers. Most excitingly, schools will have the opportunity to take Perry, the Commonwealth Mascot, back to their school for the week. For more information click here.
• Cultural Commonwealth – each Stevenage primary school has been allocated their very own Commonwealth country. They have also received a poster where they can research their county flag, cuisine and famous landmarks. Lots of schools have already started embracing their country, with one school even practicing the hacker. For more information click here.
• Perry’s Personal Challenges – this is an Inspire and Engage themed resource. Inspire and Engage events focus on participation, fun and trying new activities and skills. Perry’s Personal Challenges have been developed by the Hertfordshire School Games Organisers. The challenges incorporate skills that are used in all of the sports which will be taking place at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. In this pack there are 19 different challenges for you to try. Please visit the Google Drive folder to view these challenges.
• Commonwealth Celebration Day – on Friday 24th June, SSFT will be hosting a Commonwealth Celebration Day at Fairlands Valley Lakes. This will provide disengaged students with leadership qualities the opportunity to take part in a range of fun activities. Students will then receive an activity pack to lead the activities back at their school, ensuring the Commonwealth Legacy is strong.
• Design your own flag competition – SSFT are inviting students to submit their own flag design linked to their Commonwealth Country. The top three designs will be made and students will be able to keep their designs. To view the competition sheet, please click here.
• Student Voice – primary and secondary schools within Stevenage and the surrounding areas were sent a Student Voice Google Survey: Birmingham Commonwealth 2022 to complete with their school sports organising committees or leadership groups, encompassing all of the student’s opinions within the school. This information has been collated and used to influence the Stevenage Commonwealth plans.
• Educational resources – flexible, cross-curricular resources packed full of lesson ideas, whole school activities, presentations, and films – click here.
• Assemblies – deliver your own Commonwealth themed assemblies using two different designs and templates: National Active Assembly and Schools Commonwealth Assembly.

INFANT SCHOOLS COMMONWEALTH MINI OLYMPICS COMPETITION

During the week commencing 28th February 2022, the Stevenage Sporting Futures Team visited all of the infant schools to deliver Commonwealth-themed Mini Olympics competitions.

Year 1️ and 2️ students across the infant schools took part in fun activities such as curling, speed bounce and target throw. Scores have been collected from each of the schools and will be collated to find out the winning Year 1 and 2 classes in Stevenage.

It was fantastic to be able to visit schools again and deliver activities which students haven’t completed before – giving them an additional opportunity they wouldn’t usually receive.

Across the week, SSFT delivered to 351 children. Each student received a Commonwealth themed sticker to congratulate them for their participation and effort.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES DESIGN YOUR OWN FLAG COMPETITION

Following on from all of the exciting events and opportunities Stevenage Sporting Futures Team have led through the Commonwealth Games funding, we are delighted to release the winners of the design your own flag competition.

Schools were tasked with asking their children to design their own flag linked to their allocated Commonwealth country. We were overwhelmed by the numbers of entries.

Schools were asked to submit their top three designs with the overall top three designs in Stevenage being specially made.

1st Place – St Ippolyts – Sophie
2nd Place – Official-Round-Diamond – Isabelle
3rd Place – St Nicholas – Chloe

Three fantastic designs and the HUGE flags look AMAZING. Well done to our winners and all who entered. A special thank you to Laura Burrows Illustration who brought the children’s designs to life.

STEVENAGE COMMONWEALTH GAMES DAY 2022

On Friday 24th June 2022, the Stevenage Sporting Futures Team led the Stevenage Commonwealth Games Day at Fairlands Valley Park, inspired by Birmingham.

• 244 children
• 9️ activities
• 1️9 schools

The aim of the day was to inspire participation through different activities. Children all left with an activity booklet they can use to lead the activities back at school, promoting the Commonwealth legacy.

A HUGE thanks must go to our session leaders who led: water sports, aerobics, frisbee, athletics, cycling, martial arts, fitness, healthy eating, CPR, football and golf. Fantastic to be joined by community emergency services too who the children enjoyed seeing Stevenage Fire Station Herts Police Hearts Services Herts Limited.

Absolute pleasure to welcome Deputy Mayor of Stevenage, Councillor Myla Arceno today – great to see how passionate she is about the opportunities for children within the area.

Thank you to IWL Contractors and Global Maritime for supporting our event. IWL took it one step further by supporting on the day – their staff were a great support and ensured it ran smoothly. All children left with a water bottle too.

We hope everyone who joined us had a fantastic day.

The Stevenage Commonwealth Games Day also featured in the local press – The Comet newspaper – with a gallery from the day. Read the article by clicking here.