My Commonwealth Games - Birmingham Shines in the Spotlight
It’s pretty fair to say that in 2022, Birmingham had one of its busiest years ever! Without doubt, the absolute pinnacle was the Commonwealth Games. It was an incredible display of sport, community, entertainment and a whole lot more. I’m very pleased to say I was (a very, very small) part of it. One year on, I’m taking a look back at a crazy couple of weeks!
The excitement in Birmingham had been brewing for months. Everybody knew that something big was coming. All of the ‘Perry the Bull’ banners and colourful decor couldn’t quite prepare us for what was about to happen in our incredible city.
I had been contacted by Birmingham City Council to see if I would be interested in photographing the games. This was probably one of the quickest decisions I’ve ever had to make as a freelance photographer. ‘Yes’ had practically spilled out of my mouth before the sentence had even finished.
Plans were made, requirements laid out and all I had to do was get ready for the start of the games. I would mostly be photographing the festival sites and some of the street events. This all sounded good to me and even though I wouldn’t be at Alexander Stadium, I was happy just to be a part of it.
Birmingham is Abuzz…
In the days leading up to the games, there was a strange swelling feeling in the city. I spent some time walking around Victoria Square & Centenary Square to soak up the atmosphere. One thing that struck me was seeing all the different nationalities descending on the city. ‘How incredible;’ I thought.
Birmingham has always been known as a diverse and welcoming city. I was sitting on the tram going from Jewellery Quarter to Edgbaston and I couldn’t ignore the loud, humourful conversation between German & Jamaican visitors and a group of local football fans. Usually, this might be an anxious encounter but this was full of laughter, joy and excitement.
This was my first glimpse at how the next few weeks would go, a true celebration of community and togetherness. That evening, I sat on Centenary Square and it was clear that even the most hardy locals, to whom all of this must have been one big inconvenience, we’re getting washed up in the overwhelming feeling of joy.
Showtime…
My first assignment came and went in a flash. I was photographing a traditional New Zealand blessing. It was a fantastic mix of formal greetings, traditional acts of generosity and a healthy dose of humour. I was also terrified of getting something wrong and I remember feeling exhausted at the end of it.
Later that day, the Queen's Baton Relay was reaching Victoria Square and even though I wasn’t formally photographing the event (BCC had a team of photographers, all of which played their part in capturing different events) this was the first time I’d seen the crowds really gather. Victoria Square was heaving!
“By the time the Opening Ceremony came around, the word was out - the City Centre was the place to be!”
By the time the Opening Ceremony came around, the word was out - the City Centre was the place to be! Thousands had gathered to watch the big screens and the ground swell of excitement even managed to block out the noise of the Red Arrows passing over the city, having shot over the stadium moments earlier.
The jubilant crowds watched on as a raft of celebrities, artists, dancers and of course, athletes had their moment on the big screen and the feeling that the nation was watching suddenly dawned on me. What started as mildly humorous, ‘Plucky Birmingham having a go’ was soon replaced with ‘Wow, this is incredible’ as the opening ceremony came and went - so much so I watched it again when I got home!
The Real Work Begins…
Over the course of the next two weeks, I was in a constant state of either taking photos, editing photos, checking emails and trying to sleep! Everyday I would get home between 10-12pm, edit all of the photos from the day and wake up early the next morning to check to see where I was meant to be that day!
It’s not that there wasn’t a plan - there was a huge plan with pretty much every waking hour scheduled across the two week spectacle. I think it soon became apparent to everyone involved that this was going to be even more special than anyone could have imagined! And it all needed documenting!
Emails that had previously started with the typical ‘Hi Ross, I hope you are well’ soon descended into ‘Is there any chance you can..’ and even ‘I’m so sorry, can you make it to…’ Of course, I was more than happy to play my [art and rushing from location to location quickly became the norm.
Relationship Building…
One striking thing about the games was the sheer organisation that had gone into it. A workforce of thousands spread across the city and the suburbs were unanimously on top of their game and everyone you spoke to was completely washed up in Games Fever.
I was fortunate to meet so many great people from volunteers, to athletes and even the Major herself. There was no time for too many pleasantries though, the schedule wouldn’t allow for that. However, after the third or forth shoot with the Major, the nerves had subsided and the cheeky comments soon started landing, it was all good fun!
Even the security at the Council House quickly relaxed from wanting to see every shred of ID I owned to first name basis and fist bumps! I pride myself on my Council upbringing but having the balcony overlooking Victoria Square as my own, personal photography platform was a world away from the ‘Council House’ I grew up in - and I was loving every opportunity I got!
All Good Things Come to an End…
The weeks flew by in a blur and before I knew it, we were on the count down to the closing ceremony. I was going to be shooting Victoria Square and I remember feeling a little bit sorry that it was all coming to an end.
In truth, I was exhausted. Long days and hours of editing every night had meant that sleep had been at a premium for too many days in a row! I’d also not really had much opportunity to watch any of the events and I was looking forward to some genuine TV bingeing!
The closing ceremony ended up being a strangely emotional event - there were heaps of joy and laughter but I was surprised by how many people were clearly shedding a tear. I distinctly remember one lady, shrouded in a Union Jack, was in floods of tears and my instant reaction was to check if everything was OK, fearing the worst! She smiled through the tears and said ‘Oh yes, my daughter is one of the athletes and this has been the most beautiful Games, I’m so proud’...
A proud legacy…
As I sit and write this, a year to the week since the games started, I can’t help but feel incredibly proud. However, the pride is not for myself, far from it. I am absolutely blown away by how well Birmingham did as a city! Every single person played their part and proved to the world what we all know - this is a special place!
Twelve months on and with a strange uncertainty over the future of the Games, I can’t help but feel it would almost be fitting if Birmingham 2022 was the last ever. Without getting too political, the Games have certainly had their critics over the years and not completely without justification. But Birmingham embraced them like it does everyone and welcomed everyone with a huge smile and a hug!
I regularly joke that the weather made the Games special, two weeks of uninterrupted sun seem very alien as I sit in the middle of a huge downpour with multiple layers on - it’s July!! However, that’s a lie. Birmingham made it special and I’m so proud to have had a very, very minor part in it.
I’ll finish with a strange thought. As the committee hurriedly tries to find a new host for the upcoming Games, I know many would love to see it come back to Birmingham. I don’t. I honestly don’t see how we could top what was achieved in 2022. That said, those two weeks proved to me more than ever that if you can count on something, it’s that Birmingham will always surprise you!
About the Author - Ross Jukes is a professional Photographer and Videographer with over a decade of experience. Working in both Digital and Analogue formats, Ross has worked with international clients, had his worked published numerous times and exhibited his work extensively. With a passion for all things photographic, Ross combines his experience, enthusiasm and dedication to his art form to create engaging and educational content for the photographic community.
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