Birmingham 2022 gives UK cause for celebration - report
Nearly half the UK tuned in or turned up to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, new polling shows - with eight in 10 people saying it gave the country the chance to celebrate.
The findings, in a survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of DCMS, means the Games drew an estimated overall UK audience on TV, online and in person of more than 20 million.
Birmingham 2022 drew an estimated global TV audience of hundreds of millions as the city shone on the world stage.
The survey also reveals that two in three people from Birmingham and the surrounding area engaged with the Games, with a quarter of those polled saying they turned out to watch the Queen 's Baton Relay as it travelled through the city.
The statistics are published in a new report Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games: The Highlights which shows the positive benefits the event has had on sport and cultural participation, job creation and the regional economy.
Ian Reid, CEO of Birmingham 2022, said: “These results are testament to a lot of hard work by an incredibly dedicated team.
“Birmingham and the West Midlands did itself proud and there was a real feeling of renewed opportunity right across the city and region.
“Venues were packed, spectators had a fantastic experience, and local businesses felt the real-time economic benefits as tills were ringing thanks to increased visitor numbers.
“The legacy of these Games is just getting started and these results demonstrate the positive impact and benefits that major events deliver. ”
A record 1.5 million spectators bought tickets for the event, making it the most popular Commonwealth Games ever to be hosted in the UK.
More than five-million people came to Birmingham city centre during the two-week period of the Games - a 200 per cent increase on the same period in 2021.
The opening ceremony attracted 5.2 million viewers and a total of 28.6 million tuned into the Games on the BBC.
The event was also streamed 57.1 million times on the BBC - a record for a Commonwealth Games.
Pictured: The opening ceremony was watched by 5.2 million people