The Commonwealth Games 2022 came to an end on August 8 and they were undoubtedly a roaring success. There were plenty of iconic moments, outstanding performances and all-out excitement throughout the games, which were well-attended by locals and international fans alike. And it’s unlikely that the games will fade into memory anytime soon.
The benefits of the Commonwealth Games will be felt for years to come in a wide variety of ways. More people will be watching athletics. People will have seen the outsiders win this time around and use a free bet offer in the future to back other outsiders for glory. And then there’s the whole matter of increased participation in athletics. Will a future running champion credit Birmingham 2022 as the reason they got into the sport? It’s possible.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the long-term benefits of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Casual fan increase
The Commonwealth Games, like the Olympics, always throws up inspiring moments that can turn non-believers into fans. And the 2022 edition of the games had plenty of such moments. There was George Miller becoming, at 75, the oldest person to win a gold medal; Adam Peaty giving a performance of a lifetime to take gold in the 50m breaststroke; a stunning finale to the 800 metre race, when Mary Moraa of Kenya gave a quite unbelievable performance; and Scotland’s Eilish McColgan becoming the 10,000m track champion.
All these moments are great for athletics and related sports. Because, after all, the more people who like watching these events, the more money they will have — and that can only be a good thing.
Participation boosts
There’ll be a lot of casual fans who get into the sports because of what they’ve seen on TV. But some people will take things even further. They’ll have been so inspired that they’ll decide to give some of the sports a try themselves. This will be beneficial in numerous ways.
For one thing, it’ll make the nation healthier, which can have plenty of knock-on effects (such as a happier nation). Plus, it might just unearth a future champion. Most gold medallists recall stories of watching a groundbreaking performance when they were younger. Perhaps the person who will win a gold medal in the years to come will credit some of the performances they saw in Birmingham.
Social impact
All sports can have a positive social impact. But some have more of an impact than others, such as the Commonwealth Games. Unlike other organised sports, the games operates on a platform of unity, togetherness and aspiration. It’s one of the more wholesome sporting events out there, especially since the driving message of the games is one of peace, progress, and diversity.
Part of what made this year’s event so special was that it brought together people from all backgrounds and from all corners of the world. If that has even a small impact on the direction of society, then we can say it’ll be a success!
Economic boosts
Finally, there’s the economic impact of the Commonwealth Games. It’s predicted that it’ll bring a lot of money to Birmingham, both during the games and in the years to come.
One study showed that, on average, cities that host the games could expect to generate around £1 billion thanks directly to the games. This isn’t just because of all the hotels that were booked up during the event; it’s something that’ll continue to generate money into the future.
Studies have shown that host cities typically notice a 25% increase in tourism for three years following the games. There’s also a long-term social impact, too, since much of the money spent goes into regenerating the city.
Final thoughts
Without a doubt, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has been a success story that has positively impacted the sport, the host city and the Commonwealth Games in general, which continues to go from strength to strength. Now that it’s over, it’s time to bask in the success and to look forward to the 2026 Victoria games.
