makes me proud to be a brummie.s in europe and it's also one of the most diverse, with large asian, african and caribbean communities. and for some, the occasion hasn't lived up to its motto of games for everyone. for example, the organising board was accused of lacking diversity. changes have been made since. newsreel: we, all loyal subjects of his majesty, | will take part in the games- in the true spirit of sportsmanship. then there are those who say its colonial origins are still being felt today. at a sensitive time, when the windrush scandal hasn't been fully resolved yet, families torn apart, people who spent all their lives here, people who were born in caribbean countries and african countries and parts of asia, when the union flag flew over those countries, being told, "you have no right to be here," and then we're saying, "yes, but we embrace our commonwealth family," it does say double standards. the commonwealth games organisers say they are committed to the event reflecting the region. the city of birm

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"it makes me proud to be a brummie." are the words of a birmingham resident on the games being hosted here. but from funding for sports to hospitality and potential legacy, what do these games mean for the people of birmingham? nesta mcgregor has been finding out. this time round at least, bike polo isn't one of the 26 sports being showcased, but across birmingham, projects like this one are benefiting from funding allocated to the host city. there's probably eight to ten cities around the uk that play it. we've spent our money on some equipment, the facilities, our time, we're hoping to do a little tournament at the end, will have refreshments, first aid. you know, we're trying to have a bit of a party at the end. more than 5,000 athletes from 72 nations and territories will experience the best in brummie hospitality. world champion gymnastjoe fraser already knows it well. it's not very often you get an opportunity to do a major competition in your back garden. everyone's buying tickets, everyone wants to support, but n

a beaming brummie. nesta mcgregor, bbc news.lth games that we'll see international sporting action this weekend, because attention is very much turning to the euro 2022 final at wembley stadium, where england's women will be taking on germany. our sports correspondent natalie pirks looks ahead to the match. commentator: lovely build-up. in the footballing lesson dished out to sweden, one goal will be remembered above all. oh! oh, wow! she might not have started a game yet, but supersub alessia russo's outrageous back heel has inspired a legion of copycats. come on, england! yeah! _ at charlton athletic, where russo learned her trade, they've all been having a go. here, she's always been a star. her audacious ability no revelation. i'm not surprised that she's done something as spectacular as that, because i know what she's capable of doing. you know, if we ever got to the cup final, or the knockout stages of a tournament, you know, alessia would always be the one to score the winning goals. commentator: germany are pressing... s

as you are saying in your introduction, brummies, - city?duction, brummies, when they are fully versed in exactly both diverse and how environmentally friendly these games are going to be, it will be really thrilled. as a local member of parliament, i am preparing myself for some of the teething issues, by transporting things. but we havejust teething issues, by transporting things. but we have just come from the earlier section at the baton relay session at birmingham university. the roads were clear, there were shuttle buses providing green energy going all round the city. it will be a cause for huge enthusiasm and a big sigh of relief when it gets under way. bud enthusiasm and a big sigh of relief when it gets under way.— when it gets under way. and there will be a huge _ when it gets under way. and there will be a huge number— when it gets under way. and there will be a huge number of - when it gets under way. and there will be a huge number of people, | when it gets under way. and there i will be a huge number of people, you are prepari

organisers say the brummie accent will be put on the world stage... in the uk since the olympics ten years ago, and there are hopes that it will provide a major boost for the city of birmingham and the surrounding region, asjoe lynskey reports. birmingham has builtjust one new venue for these commonwealth games and it's here in sandwell, one of the most diverse and densely populated parts of the city. this place has never had a resource like this before, but now, it's got an aquatic centre. it is a very diverse community and it's got a growing economy but there are still quite high levels of deprivation in the area and we are quite keen to use the games as a springboard to create opportunities and invite investment into the area. the centre has been stitched into smethwick in sandwell borough, by next year, it will be a multipurpose facility. for this community, it's a gateway to sport that without the games, wouldn't be here. i feel extremely lucky because i don't think it willjust affect us — it will affect future generations. in, like, 20 years' ti

and, for brummies, that is what is really important. it's good for the community.city in total. it's good for the next generation of people that want to get involved in athletics as well. i find it's really good. for your own children, because they get to experience i different types of sports as well. this is the start of 12 days of sporting and cultural events which it is hoped will live long in the memory. let's speak to our correspondent jane dougall, who's in birmingham. jane, the opening ceremony is under way. as phil was saying, the 72 nations. in terms of where the commonwealth games is, how relevant is it in the international sporting calendar, do you think?- is it in the international sporting calendar, do you think? well, the thin is, calendar, do you think? well, the thing is, tim. — calendar, do you think? well, the thing is, tim, there _ calendar, do you think? well, the thing is, tim, there are _ calendar, do you think? well, the thing is, tim, there are so - calendar, do you think? well, the thing is, tim, there are so many. thing is, tim, there are

my grandma was from birmingham and i love the fact you are making the brummie accent a central themeow. i am familiar with a view phrases because i went - show. i am familiar with a view phrases because i went to - show. i am familiar with a view. phrases because i went to college show. i am familiar with a view- phrases because i went to college in birmingham for three years so all of those phrases are very large in my head. we are trying to give a sense of some of the venues and my cash only one of the big venues but what they are talking about here is smaller community venues that can benefit and aimee is on one of them this morning. show us around. morning. i am at the cathlow centre in the heart of birmingham and we haveit in the heart of birmingham and we have it all going on. over to my right we have the boxing and behind me we have a little bit of badminton. guy's, i me we have a little bit of badminton. guy's, lam in, let's have a little go. boom. there you go. something that has really impressed me about the centre is that it impressed me about the centre is thatitis impres