Birmingham 2022 setting new standards for accessibility

Midlands event will be the largest sport and culture event to be held in the UK since the 2012

THE ORGANISERS of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are outlining their ambitious commitment to accessibility as they develop a brand-new A to Z of access and inclusion standards.

The Birmingham 2022 Inclusive Games Standard or The BIG Standard, is part of the strategic intent of the organisers of Birmingham 2022 and the hope is that it will become a blueprint for future editions of the Commonwealth Games, and future events held across the West Midlands.

The BIG Standard is part of Birmingham 2022’s Accessibility and Inclusion Commitment, which is published by the organisers. It takes current legislation, existing regulations, and best practice as a baseline and builds on this to create a new set of clear and practical guidelines, to be introduced across the Games.

Improvements

The BIG Standard focusses on making improvements in areas such as wheelchair bays and accessible seating, specifications for accessible rooms in the athletes’ accommodation, and the provision of accessible and changing places toilets.

Ian Reid, Chief Executive Officer for Birmingham 2022, said: “We want to organise the most accessible edition of the Commonwealth Games in history and publishing our Accessibility and Inclusion Commitment, which incorporates our plans for the BIG Standard, provides a clear indication of our intentions. Part of this commitment will be to ensure that our venues are accessible and barrier free and that they meet the requirements and needs for everyone that will visit them.”

This new set of standards, and the Accessibility and Inclusion Commitment as a whole, has been developed with the support of the Birmingham 2022 Accessibility Advisory Foruma group that includes accessibility specialists, along with representatives from charities, official competition venues and some of the Games Partners.

Current members of the forum include: Guide Dogs, RNIB, Disability Rights UK, Sense, Midlands Mencap, Level Playing Field, Disability Resource Centre, B.I.D Services, The Lisieux Trust, West Midlands Combined Authority, NEC Group, Coventry Arena, Birmingham City Council, DWP Sandwell Borough and The National Deaf Children’s Society.

Positive

Birmingham-based, Sarah Rennie, a highly experienced accessibility specialist who has worked to drive positive change across the accessible transport sector, has been selected as the independent chair and will lead the Accessibility Advisory Forum in its task of providing expert advice and guidance to the Birmingham 2022 team over the next two years.

Working closely with the Birmingham 2022 organising committee team and its partners, the Accessibility Advisory Forum will help ensure that delivery and plans for the Games are as inclusive as possible.  They are tasked with helping to deliver a safe, independent and dignified experience for everyone attending the Games. This includes athletes, officials, spectators, media, and the Games’ workforce.

The Forum will review services, processes, and operations to consider whether appropriate standards and levels of accessibility are being delivered. Members of the Forum will also be asked to analyse venue design, transport and technology and provide guidance to make sure that information provided in the build up to and during the Games, is accessible in both its presentation and content.

Possible

Sarah Rennie, chair of Birmingham 2022’s Accessibility Forum said: “I am really proud to play my part over the next two years in what is a hugely important and credible Forum, providing guidance to help ensure that the Games is as accessible as possible. The Forum brings together representatives with expertise and passion and our joint vision is to make Birmingham 2022 the most accessible Commonwealth Games in history.”

Birmingham 2022 will be the largest sport and culture event to be held in the UK since the 2012 Olympics and it will feature eight para sports – the biggest para sports programme ever for a Commonwealth Games. These sports will be integrated into the main programme.

The Accessibility and Inclusion Commitment is available to download at www.birmingham2022.com where you can also find more information about the sports programme for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and sign-up for ticketing and volunteer updates.

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