With more than 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories due to compete across 15 venues, this will be the largest event ever to be held in the West Midlands and it will be an incredibly busy and exciting time for us all.

I’m delighted to report that we have now sold more than one million tickets, which demonstrates a clear appetite for the Games and a definite desire from sports fans to come and watch some of the world’s best athletes compete in 19 sports and eight Para sports this summer. 

And with the Birmingham 2022 Festival, our six month long cultural programme, starting in March, there’s no doubt that Birmingham will be the place to be in 2022, providing us with a fantastic opportunity to welcome the world and showcase the city and region to visitors from near and far.

We are using this moment on the countdown to Birmingham 2022, to highlight the scale of the event and to ask local businesses and residents to "Get Set for the Games" and we are encouraging them to plan ahead. 

We know a huge number of people will be involved in the Commonwealth Games in some way, whether that be working on the event or as a volunteer or spectator, but Birmingham 2022 will probably touch the lives of everyone who lives and works in the region, so we want them to be prepared.

To deliver the Games, we are working in close partnership with key regional organisations such as the West Midlands Combined Authority, West Midlands Police, Transport for West Midlands, Birmingham City Council and all of the other local authorities across the region who are hosting events and activities.

Together with these partners, we will be providing lots of information over the coming months, to ensure that everyone has the details they need and has an understanding of how the Games might have a temporary impact on their lives.

The Games has brought fantastic opportunities for businesses and residents alike. Our procurement programme is continuing at full speed and to support our ambition to involve as many local businesses as possible, and with the help of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, the Legacy Centre of Excellence, and the Black Country Chambers of Commerce, we have hosted our most recent supplier events which were attended by more than 150 businesses based in the region. 

We’ll continue to raise awareness of the opportunities associated with the Games and our business portal has all the details of current procurements.

There are also a variety of ways that people can get involved in the Games, to help ensure a successful event and to assist us with producing the best possible showcase of Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Despite employing around 800 people already, Birmingham 2022 continues to grow and we are looking to bring onboard hundreds more people in the next few months, plus there will be thousands of roles available through our contractors and suppliers.

Earlier this year we announced even more ways to be part of Birmingham 2022. We are looking for 2,000 volunteers for our Opening and Closing Ceremonies. These will be truly spectacular events and with Steven Knight and Iqbal Khan leading the creative team, we know they will be occasions that will create memories to last a lifetime. 

We are looking for people who are passionate about music and dance and can move to a beat. We are also encouraging established choirs based in the region to get in touch, as we are forming a truly one off, mass choir for these events. 

Finally, we are looking for athlete hosts to help out backstage and welcome the athletes that are participating in the ceremonies. Anyone interested can find out more and apply right now through our website.

With only six months to go until the Games begin we are now sprinting towards the finish line and we hope that everyone will embrace this remarkable moment in the host city’s history.