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.
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.