Commonwealth Games organisers seek 2,022 young people to take part in live televised handover

Plans are well under way for the official Birmingham 2022 handover ceremony on Sunday, 15 April 2018, which will see young people and artists from the city perform as part of the Closing Ceremony of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Film maker Daniel Alexander, rapper Lady Sanity and choreographer Rosie Kay are the first artists to be announced as taking part in Birmingham’s handover ceremony, part of which will be performed live in the Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast, Australia and part live from Birmingham.

The global televised audience is estimated as one billion people.

Culture Central, on behalf of Birmingham 2022, is now calling for 2,022 young people aged 16 – 25 years to be part of a mass participation dance in Birmingham, which will form an integral part of the live celebrations. Interested young people should ideally live within one hours’ public transport of Birmingham city centre and feel comfortable moving to music – but no previous formal dance training is necessary.

Birmingham 2022 Games Partners have appointed Culture Central, the development organisation for culture in the Birmingham city region, to produce the city’s element of the Flag Handover Ceremony. Culture Central, working with Birmingham Hippodrome, will work with young artists from across the city to celebrate Birmingham’s status as one of the youngest and most diverse cities in the UK.

Film-maker Daniel Alexander, from Oldbury, who is producing a short film that will feature in the handover ceremony, said:

“This is an amazing opportunity for one of my films, celebrating my home town of Birmingham, to be viewed by a global audience. I want to showcase the people and the places that make our city so distinct and show the world that the only place they want to hang out in 2022 is Birmingham.”

Rapper Lady Sanity, from Erdington commented:

“This is a real moment for Birmingham to show the world who we are and what our city is about and to be asked to be part of that is huge. I hope I can be a voice for all the young people in Birmingham as we invite the world to join us in 2022.”

Northfield based choreographer Rosie Kay, added:

“I am hugely exited and inspired by what this Commonwealth Games can do and say about young people and Birmingham today. It’s a fantastic challenge and opportunity both for myself and for the young people that will sign up to be part of this welcome to Birmingham. Dance is about challenging perceptions and exciting audiences and what better way to bring Birmingham to life across the world than with a choreographed, fun, mass dance performance!”

Gary Topp CEO Culture Central, explained:

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for young people aged 16 – 25 to be part of a global celebration of Birmingham and to take the lead in introducing Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to the world.

“We urge young people to join Daniel Alexander, Lady Sanity and Rosie Kay in celebrating their city as they perform to an estimated audience of 1 billion people.”

Cllr Brigid Jones, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, whose portfolio includes arts and culture, said:

“Birmingham has a cultural sector up there with the very best in the world. I am sure the team behind our closing ceremony handover and the young people who take part in it will project this city’s youth, energy and creativity on the global stage for everyone in the Commonwealth and beyond to see.

“This is one of the first ways in which Birmingham citizens can get directly involved with the Games, and this opportunity sets the tone for an exciting four year-period in which there will be many varying ways for people of all ages from all communities to be a part of the Birmingham 2022 experience.”

The official Birmingham 2022 handover ceremony takes place on Sunday, 15 April 2018