Five new and returning sports will be featured at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Cricket will return after a 24-year absence, with 3×3 basketball featuring prominently and para-athletes taking part in table tennis for the first time.
Sports news takes a look at the latest events to be included in the games.
T20 Cricket (Women)
Cricket is returning to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the form of the Women’s Twenty20.
The 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur was the last time cricket was represented, with a List A men’s tournament being held.
Now it’s the women’s turn, with eight nations – Australia, Barbados, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka – taking part in the inaugural event in Birmingham.
The teams are divided into two groups before the top four teams advance to the semi-finals.
Australia are heavy favorites for gold, with England and India seen as their most likely rivals.
Judo
After being left out of the 2018 edition in Gold Coast, judo will once again feature in the Commonwealth Games.
This is the fourth time it has been held as a sport at the Games, following appearances in 1990, 2002 and 2014.
Japanese in origin, judo is a unique combat sport that prohibits punches, kicks and punches.
However, the gentle nature of the sport does not prevent it from being fast and physically demanding.
The skill required in the sport has led to a number of former judokas moving on to the UFC.
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3×3 basketball
The frenetic game of 3×3 basketball will make its Commonwealth Games debut this year.
Played on a half court, teams of three players (with one extra substitute) compete for 21 points or play until the clock reaches 10 minutes.
The shot clock is also faster than a standard basketball game, with teams only being given 12 seconds to make a scoring play.
Baskets made from inside the scoring arc count for one point, while shots made outside the arc count for two.
12 nations will take part in women’s, men’s and wheelchair sports.
3×3 wheelchair basketball
A 3×3 wheelchair basketball format will also be introduced to Birmingham for the first time.
Most of the same rules apply to wheelchair games and disabled games.
However, there is no double dribble rule in the wheelchair format.
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Pair of table tennis
While table tennis has been a regular event in previous editions, para table tennis will be included for the first time in Commonwealth Games history.
The rules are generally similar to table tennis, with matches played in a best-of-five format.
Para events will be held along with men’s and women’s singles and doubles, mixed doubles, men’s and women’s team events.
Sports unique to the 2022 Commonwealth Games
This year’s Commonwealth Games will include some sports that are not included in the Olympic Games.
For 2022 these events are T20 cricket (women), bowling, netball and squash.
Full list of events – Commonwealth Games 2022
| Athletics – marathon |
| Athletics and para-athletics |
| Water sports – swimming and para-swimming |
| Water sports – Diving |
| Badminton |
| 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball |
| Beach volleyball |
| Boxing |
| Cricket |
| Cycling – mountain bike |
| Cycling – road race |
| Cycling – timing |
| Cycling – track and para-track |
| Artistic gymnastics |
| Artistic gymnastics |
| Hockey |
| Judo |
| Lawn bowls and lawn bowls |
| Netball |
| Para Powerlifting |
| Rugby 7 |
| squash |
| Table tennis and steam table tennis |
| Triathlon and Paratriathlon |
| Weight lifting |
| Struggle |