Artists are preparing to showcase our city to an estimated 1 billion people across the globe as Birmingham accepts the Commonwealth Flag from the Gold Coast at the handover ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Sunday (15th April).
The event will feature local artists, young people and buildings and will be the first in the history of the Commonwealth Games to feature a fully choreographed segment performed live between two continents.
Birmingham’s handover is entitled Go the Distance, after Birmingham rapper Lady Sanity’s song, which she will perform live in the Gold Coast in Australia during the event.
 The heart of the city, its diversity, youth culture, energy and the people and places that make it unique, has been showcased in a short film called We’re From Birmingham by local film-maker Daniel Alexander. The film is soundtracked with Birmingham (Anthem) by local band Lotto Boyzz. |
 MC Lady Sanity will perform her track Go the Distance – about being persistent and tackling challenges head on – live in the Carrera Stadium, Gold Coast. Also performing will be her Birmingham-based band ‘Role Models’ featuring George Patrick Foley, Ryan Browne, Ashley Allen and Carl Gordon Browne. |
 Birmingham poet Amerah Saleh will perform an especially-commissioned short spoken word piece, Tourist in My City, about the notion of the Commonwealth and what it represents for young people. Amerah’s performance represents the voice of young people in Birmingham inviting the world to join them in four years’ time. |
 2022 young people from the across the region will stage a live dance performance, also featuring Birmingham Royal Ballet and the People’s Orchestra. The performance has been created by award-winning Northfield based choreographer Rosie Kay and will be set to ELO’s classic Mr Blue Sky. |
Birmingham City Council’s Corporate Director of Place, Jacqui Kennedy, said: “It is amazing to think that the time is finally here for Birmingham to start counting down to hosting the Games in 2022. I can’t think of a better way to show the world what to expect from our city than this handover event. It has been brilliant to see how all our friends and partners in the cultural sector has come together to help show off what fabulous talent we have. I’m very excited about what we are going to be doing and the stage we’ve given our young artists.”
CEO of Culture Central – the development organisation for culture in the Birmingham city region – Gary Topp said: “We can’t wait for everyone to enjoy our unique handover event, Go The Distance. Our artists are certainly stepping up to the challenge delivering a fully choreographed segment live between two continents, a first for this kind of handover event.
“Go The Distance is about celebrating the talent of our communities as well as the young and diverse artists who are taking part, I look forward to a global audience tuning in on Sunday 15 April as we welcome the world to Birmingham.”
You can watch the handover ceremony live on BBC2 at 11am on Sunday 14th April 2018.
