Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to transform accessibility for upcoming & future events
Wheelchair bays, Changing Places toilets and assistive technology are just some of the improvements planned for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham as organisers commit to accessibility with a new A to Z of access and inclusion standards.
It is hoped that the Birmingham 2022 Inclusive Games Standard – also known as The BIG Standard – will provide unparalleled levels of accessibility and become a blueprint for future editions of the Commonwealth Games, as well as future events held across the West Midlands.
Part of Birmingham 2022’s Accessibility and Inclusion Commitment, the BIG Standard uses current legislation, existing regulations and best practice as a foundation to build a new set of clear and practical guidelines to be introduced across the Games.
Improvements such as the creation of wheelchair bays and accessible seating, specifications for accessible rooms in the athletes’ accommodation, provision of accessible and changing places toilets and the use of assistive tech to improve access to information and ticket systems have currently been identified to be delivered at the event.
“We want to organise the most accessible edition of the Commonwealth Games in history and publishing our Accessibility and Inclusion Commitment, which incorporates our plans for the BIG Standard, provides a clear indication of our intentions,” commented Ian Reid, Chief Executive Officer for Birmingham 2022.
“Part of this commitment will be to ensure that our venues are accessible and barrier free and that they meet the requirements and needs for everyone that will visit them.”
This new set of standards and the Accessibility and Inclusion Commitment as a whole has been developed with the support of the Birmingham 2022 Accessibility Advisory Forum – a group consisting of accessibility specialists, along with representatives from charities, official competition venues and some of the Games Partners.
Current members of the forum include Guide Dogs, RNIB, Disability Rights UK, Sense, Midlands Mencap, Level Playing Field, Disability Resource Centre, B.I.D Services, The Lisieux Trust, West Midlands Combined Authority, NEC Group, Coventry Arena, Birmingham City Council, DWP Sandwell Borough and The National Deaf Children’s Society.
Sarah Rennie, a highly experienced, Birmingham-based accessibility specialist who has worked to drive change across the accessible transport sector, has been selected as the independent chair and will lead the Accessibility Advisory Forum in its task of providing expert advice and guidance to the Birmingham 2022 team over the next two years.
“I am really proud to play my part over the next two years in what is a hugely important and credible Forum, providing guidance to help ensure that the Games is as accessible as possible,” commented Rennie.
“The Forum brings together representatives with expertise and passion and our joint vision is to make Birmingham 2022 the most accessible Commonwealth Games in history.”
In particular, the forum is tasked with helping to deliver a safe, independent and dignified experience for everyone attending the Games, including athletes, officials, spectators, media, and the Games’ workforce.
According to the organisers, all aspects of the event will be reviewed to ensure services, processes, and operations meet appropriate standards and levels of accessibility, including the design of the venue and suitability of transportation.
Birmingham 2022 is set to be the largest sport and culture event held in the UK since the 2012 Olympics and will feature eight para-sports – the most ever hosted at a Commonwealth Games.
