After 11 days of epic sport, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham have come to an end. With 4 total medals, Sri Lanka ranked 31st place.
“Birmingham has much to be proud of, breaking records for being the greenest and most inclusive Games ever. They have brought together athletes to celebrate sporting success as well as our Commonwealth connections. I am delighted that Sri Lanka won 4 medals for weightlifting, wrestling, athletics, and the 100 meters. And I am very proud of the UK teams, including England who came 2nd place in the medal standing” British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Sarah Hulton, said.
The journey began in October last year, as the Queen’s Baton Relay launched from Buckingham Palace with a message from The Queen. As part of its epic journey, the Baton visited Sri Lanka, touring 3 cities in 3 days. The Baton travelled across the Commonwealth, demonstrating the spirit of friendship that connects member countries. It finally arrived in Birmingham for the Opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
Birmingham 2022 has been the greenest Games ever, and the first ever carbon-neutral Games. It was also the most inclusive, with the biggest ever para-sports programme, and more women’s medals than men’s for the first time at a major multi-sport event. 6,500 athletes and officials attended, with 72 teams taking part from across the Commonwealth nations, including Sri Lanka.
Birmingham and the West Midlands is home to over 190 nationalities speaking more than 200 languages, and one of the most diverse regions in the UK. Birmingham has a high percentage of young people compared to other major UK cities, with a third of the population aged under 25. Feeding this younger generation are the West Midlands’ world-class universities, attracting a vibrant community of over 170,000 students, and producing nearly 60,000 graduates per year.
British Council’s Country Director, Maarya Rehman said:
The British Council team have enjoyed watching the Games and cheering on the teams from Sri Lanka! I’m particularly proud that Sri Lanka was one of the selected countries for Commonwealth Connections which provides a unique opportunity to build sports, arts, and citizenship connections among 60 schools in the West Midlands. As part of this programme, six Sri Lankan Schools have built partnerships with six schools in Birmingham and have engaged in collaborative activities over the past year. Our Camara Chica (Little Camaras) programme also provided an exciting chance for young people in Sri Lanka to make documentaries on the Queen’s Baton Relay.”
