COMMONWEALTH Day was celebrated in Warwick district on Tuesday.
With less than five months to go until the start of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, representatives from the district, town and county councils were joined by school children and former England Lawn Bowls player Georgina Dark to mark Commonwealth Day.
Bright spring sunshine shone over Victoria Park for the raising of the Commonwealth Flag and the chance for year 7 and 8 students from Stratford-on-Avon School to take part in a bowling demonstration on the greens that will host the Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls competitions in July.
Warwick District Council (WDC) chairman Coun Neale Murphy said: “The raising of the Commonwealth flag is an important symbol of the connection we have with the countries of the Commonwealth – we can’t wait to make this a reality when we welcome players and spectators from many of these nations to our district this summer.”
Coun Heather Timms, Warwickshire County Council culture spokeswoman, added: “We are very excited that there are little more than five months to go until the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games come to Warwickshire and very proud that our county is hosting three such exciting events in the Cycle Road Race, Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls.
“The Games coming to our region is truly a once in a lifetime event and I hope our residents seize every opportunity to get involved with what promises to be an exciting summer of sports.”
Georgina Dark, Disability Bowls England ambassador and former visually impaired bowls nationals champion, said: “Even though I’m not participating myself, I’m delighted that the players will get the once in a lifetime opportunity to take part in a Commonwealth Games at the home of lawn bowls in Leamington.”
Ahead of the Games, Warwick District Council is inviting people to share their Commonwealth Connections, with the aim of finding a local link to all 54 countries of the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth Connections can be submitted online at www.warwickdc.gov.uk/commonwealthconnections. Written submissions must less than 500 words, and videos should be no more than two minutes long. Photos can also be included. Commonwealth Connections do not need to be sports-related and could describe experiences of a holiday, work or education or involvement with a charity or to friends and family living in the Commonwealth.
Visit Warwick District Councils Commonwealth Games website at www.warwickdc.gov.uk/cg2022 for further information on the latest preparations for Birmingham 2022 in the district.
