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Commonwealth Games live: Australia finishes atop Birmingham 2022 medal tally as closing ceremony hands over to Victoria 2026

Commonwealth Games live: Australia finishes atop Birmingham 2022 medal tally as closing ceremony hands over to Victoria 2026

The closing ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has officially begun after 11 days of history-making sporting moments.

It comes after the Kookaburras won their seventh consecutive Commonwealth Games gold in the men’s hockey final, beating India 7-0 to give Australia its 67th and final gold of the Games.

Follow the closing ceremony live, see our athletes’ personal reflections of the Games and share your top moments from Birmingham 2022 by hitting the blue “leave a comment” button below.

live updates

By Kelsie Iorio

Our athletes: Clay Mason Stephens

Clay’s unwaveringly positive attitude (and incredible cork hat) really stood out to me these Games.

He said after his all-around final that despite missing out on a medal, he “enjoyed (it) regardless of the result because I chose to do so.” Something we can all take with us!

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By Kelsie Iorio

The athletes enter Alexander Stadium

Diver and Birmingham gold medalist Melissa Wu carried the Australian flag for us—this is her fifth Commonwealth Games.

Lots of athletes on Team Australia and from other nations have already gone home, so the closing ceremony is a little more casual. But it looks like they’re having fun.

By Jon Healey

Kashmir?

Sooooo, we have some more industrial workers doing some ‘Look down, look down’ type pushing and pulling of a very big metal structure. Looks like some sort of Mount Midoriyama.

But they’re playing Kashmir by Led Zeppelin, so all I can think of is this scene from Ocean’s 12.

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Ohhhhhhhhh, it’s a worker shortage. They couldn’t lift it by themselves, and then a huge influx of immigrant families have arrived to help them lift the big horizontal metal thing into a big vertical metal thing.

It lights up with the word “TOGETHER”, pointing to Birmingham’s famed multicultural diaspora.

Performers lift a metal structure at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games closing ceremony.
(Getty)

By Kelsie Iorio

Our athletes: Kaye Scott 🥈

Referees stopped the 38-year-old’s gold medal bout in the light middleweight boxing division, putting a quick end to her hopes for gold.

But her Birmingham silver is still one-up on her Gold Coast bronze since 2018, and as she says herself: “Silver isn’t too bad.”

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By Jon Healey

Come On Eileen kicks us off

After a recreation of Birmingham rebuilding and industrializing after World War II, Dexys Midnight Runners are out there doing their banger while dancers… work on an Amazon production line?

A man wearing unique attire sings into a microphone.
(Supplied: Seven Network)

Now they’re on the beers?! Lord Bezos won’t approve of that.

Performers hold up pints of beer during the Birmingham Commonwealth Games closing ceremony.
Rapidly, rapidly.(Getty)

By Kelsie Iorio

Our athletes: Tinka Easton 🥇

Tinka won Australia’s first gold medal in judo in two decades on her Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham.

She says herself there are still big things coming — so it sounds like this won’t be the last we see of her.

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By Kelsie Iorio

Our athletes: Cedric Dubler 🥉

Cedric made headlines in Tokyo for his selfless drive that helped Ash Moloney to a bronze medal—well, this time, he’s got one of his own.

He stood alongside teammate and silver medalist Daniel Golubovic on the podium and says he’s “hungry for more”… or will, be after a nap. I’d be going for a lie-down after that too, mate.

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By Kelsie Iorio

Your thoughts on the Games:

Hey Jon 🙂 Hey Kelsie 🙂 I can’t recall a Comm games more awesome to watch than 2022.

-Natty

It’s been a good one, hey?

australian cricketers give each other a double high five
(Getty Images)

By Jon Healey

Our athletes: Emma McKeon 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥈🥉

What more can be said about this woman?

The swimming may feel like a lifetime ago, but six gold medals, one silver and one bronze in Birmingham is a pretty timeless achievement.

It adds to her haul from Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018, giving her TWENTY Commonwealth Games medals. The most of any athlete in history.

And let’s not forget she’s also Australia’s most decorated Olympian, with five golds and 11 medals overall. to freak.

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By Kelsie Iorio

Our athletes: Isabella Vincent

One of the babies of the Australian team and still in high school, Birmingham was Izzy’s first Commonwealth Games — but likely won’t be her last.

She says it’s been “an honor to rep the green and gold”and we hope to see this SA-based Para-swimmer again in Victoria in 2026!

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By Kelsie Iorio

Your thoughts on the Games:

Well donate all Australian athletes. I am so proud of you all. Each of you have given your all for our wonderful country.

-Lesley

We’re with you, Lesley!

Tell us your favorite moments of the games by hitting the blue comment button above ☝️

two australian athletes smile and wave on a podium wearing gold medals
Getty Images

By Kelsie Iorio

One final look at the medal tally

commonwealth games medal table with australia at the top followed by england canada india new zealand

It ended up pretty close — but Australia retains its place at the top of the tally with an incredible 67 gold, 57 silver and 54 bronze.

By Jon Healey

Key Event

🥈 Table tennis: Australia falls short in women’s doubles final

Table tennis players Jian Fang Lay and Minhyung Jee smile with their hands on their hips on the podium at the Commonwealth Games.
(AP)

Jian Fang Lay and Minhyung Jee were beaten 3-0 by Singapore pair Tianwei Feng and Jian Zeng.

Singapore started how they intended to go on, winning the first game 11-1. The last two were more contested, but both ended 11-8 in the favor of the Singaporeans.

Jee and Lay won bronze in the women’s team event last week as part of a six-medal haul for our table tennis team.

By Jon Healey

Key Event

🥈🥉 Diving: Silver and bronze in mixed events

Shixin Li and Maddison Keeney grab the back of their legs as they flip during a synchronized dive.
(AP)

last night Shixin Li and Maddison Keeney picked up silver in the mixed 3m springboard synchronized event.

They finished just 1.98 points behind winners Scotland, as both Aussie divers picked up their third medals of this Games.

climbing higher, Cassiel Rousseau and Emily Boyd added bronze in the synchro off the tall tower.

It’s Boyd’s first medal in Birmingham, while Rousseau added to his 10m gold and men’s 10m synchro bronze.

Emily Boyd and Cassiel Roussea touch their toes during a synchronized dive.
(AP)

By Jon Healey

Key Event

🥇 Hockey: Kookaburras maintain Commonwealth dominance against India

An Australian hockey player smiles and pumps his fists while holding a hockey stick.
(Getty)

SEVEN!

The Australian men’s hockey team have won Commonwealth Games gold seven straight times.

This time they did it with a thumping 7-0 win (how fitting) over India.

Jacob Anderson and Nathan Ephraums scored doubles, usual suspects Flynn Ogilvie and Blake Govers got on the board too, as well as Tom Wickham.

It’s Australia’s 67th and final gold medal in Birmingham.

By Jon Healey

It’s almost over, fam

Hello and welcome to this, our final blog of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

We’ve got a couple of medals to wrap up before the closing ceremony, and we’ll also bring you some athletes’ reflections on the 2022 Games.

Leave a comment and have a chat with us using that button up there!

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Tahlia McGrath Covid test, Australia vs India cricket final, news, scores, gold medal, result

Go you good thing. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

Good luck trying to name any national sporting team on the planet as red-hot as the Australian women’s cricket team right now

The Aussies did it again on Monday morning (AEST) in the Commonwealth Games final when they showed extreme class in the nail-biting final overs to defeat India by 17 runs.

The win gives Australia a never-before-seen trifecta as ODI world champions, T20 world champions and Commonwealth Games gold medalists.

The drama at the death was almost matched by the drama at the start of the day’s play as it was revealed following the toss of the coin that Aussie allrounder Tahlia McGrath had tested positive for Covid-19 the morning of the match. Despite the test, McGrath was allowed to play, with the full support of the ICC, the Australian Commonwealth Games team and the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Best team in the world. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Jess Jonassen celebrates the wicket of Taniya Bhatia. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images

There were also reports the Indian team was not told about McGrath’s test result until the toss of the coin – causing a delay of more than 10 minutes for the game to start. Reports in India claimed the Indian team wanted McGrath to be stood down.

Photos of McGrath embracing teammates as they celebrated on the podium during the medal presentations showed what a farce the whole situation was.

McGrath was seen isolated from her teammates and wearing a face mask as Australia batted in the first innings. She had removed the mask as she walked out to bat.

Her innings only lasted four balls, but the bizarreness of her place in the game was seen in the second innings when she took a catch and had to tell teammates to back away from her as they ran to celebrate the wicket with her.

Tahlia McGrath with her teammates on the podium.Source: Supplied
Tahlia McGrath, Alana King, Jess Jonassen and Alyssa Healy of Team Australia. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images

Her batting cameo was a minor ripple as Australia reached 8/161 at the end of their 20 overs.

India’s run chase was looking good at 2/118 after 14 overs, however, that’s when Ash Gardner turned the contest with two crucial wickets as India lost 3/3 in two overs.

It left India needing 41 from the final four overs with five wickets in hand.

However, the wickets kept tumbling from there and India found themselves needing 16 runs from the final two overs.

India then lost four wickets in nine balls, crumbling at the finish line, bowled all out for 152 from 19.3 overs.

Earlier, McGrath presented with mild symptoms on the morning before the game and then returned a positive result after speaking to Aussie team officials.

The Australian Commonwealth Games team said comprehensive protocols have been put in place.

Tahlia McGrath isolated. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Tahlia McGrath isolated from teammates. Photo: Channel 7.Source: Channel 7

The Aussie Commonwealth Games team announced the decision to allow McGrath to play was made in consultation with the ICC and Australian medical staff.

“Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) can confirm that cricketer Tahlia McGrath has returned a positive test for Covid-19,” the CGA statement read.

“CGA clinical staff have consulted with the Commonwealth Games Federation RACEG (Results Analysis Clinical Expert Group) team and match officials, and McGrath is taking part in today’s final against India.

“McGrath presented to team management with mild symptoms on Sunday and subsequently returned the positive test. She was named in the starting XI at the toss and the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved her participation in the final.

Tahlia McGrath of Team Australia looks on whilst wearing a face mas. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Australia’s Tahlia McGrath walks back to the dressing room. Photo by Darren Staples / AFP.Source: AFP

“In consultation with the CGF and the ICC, CGA and Cricket Australia medical staff have implemented a range of comprehensive protocols which will be observed throughout the game and for post-match activity, to minimize the risk of transmission to all players and officials.

The CGA has maintained a comprehensive Covid-19 risk mitigation strategy for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with testing protocols over and above those required by the Birmingham 2022 Organizing Committee.”

Indian sport commentators were fuming about the ruling that has allowed McGrath to play.

Bloomberg News reporter Akshat Rathi described it as a “dereliction of duties”.

He posted on Twitter: “I don’t understand how the rules are allowing Tahlia McGrath on the field playing a cricket match after having tested positive for Covid-19. Dereliction of duty by authorities”.

Sports reporter Naveen Sharma said it was “shameless” by Australia.

“Australians always preach about right or wrong but they forget everything when it comes to them,” he posted on Twitter.

Other commentators said the ruling opens up Pandora’s Box.

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Commonwealth Games 2022: Australia vs India hockey final, Kookaburras win gold in bloodbath

Commonwealth Games 2022: Australia vs India hockey final, Kookaburras win gold in bloodbath

It was sheer, cold-blooded murder—everything you would expect of a team of champions.

It is only a penalty shoot-out loss to Belgium at the Tokyo Olympics in the gold medal match last year that stops the Kookaburras being in the same conversation as the Aussie women’s cricket team as our greatest national teams going around right now.

They have everything you can want.

Ruthless, silky ability to find goals in the final third. Check.

Brutal intensity off the ball. Check. Even ahead 7-0 in the fourth quarter, the Aussie defense was screaming and scrambling like their lives depended on it. “They have really had each other’s back,” former Hockeyroos star Georgie Parker said on Channel 7.

A humble, classy Aussie spirit that conceals a killer-instinct. Check. Veteran Eddie Ockenden was selected to carry the Aussie flag at the Opening Ceremony for a reason.

Ockenden, at the age of 35, didn’t rule out the possibility of playing through to the 2026 Commonwealth Games — admitting the lure of competing in Victoria had real appeal.

For all these reasons and more, poor India didn’t stand a chance in Monday night’s Commonwealth Games final at the University of Birmingham.

It ended 7-0 and the score was a fair reflection of the Kookaburras’ dominance.

It was a fourth Commonwealth Games gold medal for Ockenden — and the Kookaburras kept their perfect record of winning every gold medal since hockey was introduced at the Commonwealth Games in 1998. They are the only team to win every gold they have competed in since that time .

The first half was a surgical carve-up that quickly turned into a bloodbath.

India simply had no clue how to stop the onslaught and it was 5-0 at the half time break.

Australia was denied an early goal when Daniel Beale stumbled on the ball as he was running in to tap it past the goal keeper.

It didn’t matter as gun finisher Blake Govers got Australia’s opening goal when he converted on Australia’s third penalty corner. It was 2-0 before quarter time as Nathan Ephraums finished off a sweet mid-field run to leave Australia in a dominant position.

When Jacob Anderson tapped in the third goal early in the second quarter, Channel 7’s Alister Nicholson said the Kookaburras were looking “lethal”.

When the fourth goal came he said: “This is just looking like a clinical side, used to playing in big matches, asserting itself.”

He said it was a “state of despair” for India in the second half.

The Kookaburras made the final on the back of an epic comeback win over England in the semi-final where controversy surrounded Australia’s winning goal.

On Monday morning (AEST) the Hockeyroos fell just short in the final where hosts England won gold in hockey for the first time ever.

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Gold tussles in badminton, table tennis and hockey

Gold tussles in badminton, table tennis and hockey

4:30PM ET

  • ESPN staff

It’s the final day of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and India can win as many as five gold medals to wrap up the campaign.

On Monday, there will be three finals in badminton, a gold and bronze medal match in table tennis and the grand finale will be the men’s hockey team’s gold medal match. PV Sindhu can win her first CWG gold medal. Sharath Kamal can add to his already illustrious medal tally and the day can end with India breaking Australia’s hegemony in men’s hockey.

Catch all the LIVE updates from CWG Day 11 here

With eighteen gold, fifteen silver and twenty-two bronze medals earned so far, India can extend their overall tally to an impressive sixty-one medal haul in CWG 2022, despite the absence of disciplines such as shooting and archery.

Here’s a detailed schedule of all the Indian athletes involved on Day 11 of CWG 2022:

1:20 p.m. IST – BADMINTON (MEDAL EVENT): PV Sindhu vs Michelle Li in women’s singles final

2.10 PM IST – BADMINTON (MEDAL EVENT): Lakshya Sen vs Ng Tze Yong in men’s singles final

3:00 p.m. IST – BADMINTON (MEDAL EVENT): Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty vs Sean Vendy and Ben Lane in men’s doubles final

3.35 PM IST – TABLE TENNIS (MEDAL EVENT): G Sathiyan vs Paul Drinkhall in men’s singles bronze medal match

4.25 PM IST – TABLE TENNIS (MEDAL EVENT): Sharath Kamal vs. Liam Pitchford in men’s singles gold medal match

5:00 p.m. IST – MEN’S HOCKEY (MEDAL EVENT): India vs Australia in gold medal match

12:30 AM -CLOSING CEREMONY

Subject to changes based on the organizers and qualification of athletes.

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Watch as England’s ‘glittering’ moment spoilt as major error Forces heart-breaking ruling in 4x400m women’s relay at Commonwealth Games 2022

Watch as England's 'glittering' moment spoilt as major error Forces heart-breaking ruling in 4x400m women's relay at Commonwealth Games 2022

You couldn’t script it.

One of the most dramatic finishes to a race in Commonwealth Games history has had another post-race twist to shatter English hearts and strip their 4x400m women’s relay team of a gold medal.

Watch all the drama in the video above

Stream Seven’s coverage of the Commonwealth Games 2022 for free on 7plus >>

England thought they had hung on for a heart-stopping gold medal victory by 0.01 seconds over Canada when Jessie Knight just barely held off the fast-finishing Kyra Constantine in the very last athletics race for the Games.

The host nation had a massive lead heading into the last leg, but Constantine surged her way up to Knight, who looked gone.

But Knight had more fight left in her yet, creating one of the all-time great finishes to a race in Games history.

She mustered up everything she had to sprint to the line alongside Constantine in a finish that was far too close to call.

After waiting with bated breath, the stadium erupted when replays showed Knight had held on by the barst of margins to claim gold.

Then came the twist.

Constantine and Knight finished 0.01 seconds apart. Credit: 7Sport

After a protest, officials reviewed England’s changeover at the end of the first leg, when Jodie Williams received the baton from Victoria Ohuruogu.

During an awkward handover, Williams had inadvertently drifted over into the lane on her inside, lane two, as she was about to receive the baton and take off.

So disoriented were the two English runners that even Ohuruogu was standing in lane two as she watched her teammate run off.

The review found that the England team clearly infringed and, in such a close race, could have had a slightly unfair advantage that meant they hung on for gold, so they were stripped of their gold medal.

This was the moment England were disqualified for. Credit: 7Sport

EVERYEVENT: Check out the full Commonwealth Games schedule

TALLY MEDAL: Every gold, silver and bronze at Birmingham 2022

LATEST RESULTS: Detailed breakdown of every event at the Games

The England team completed a victory lap before having the bad news broken to them.

Athletics commentator Rob Walker said it was a clear-cut decision.

“It’s as clear as day; you cannot step on the inside,” he said.

“Possibly, because the gold, in the end, was determined by such an incredibly slender margin – maybe if they’d won it by 50 meters there wouldn’t have been a protest. But that was clear and away, and England’s glory turns to heartache.

“It was an incredible, incredible end to the race, but it is Canada’s gold in the end – and by a little more than a hundredth of a second.”

Desperate to hang on to their gold, England protested the decision, but were denied.

(From left): Ama Pipi, Victoria Ohuruogu, Jessie Knight and Jodie Williams celebrate what they thought was a gold medal-winning performance before the bad news was broken to them. Credit: David Ramos/Getty Images

Athletics commentator Tim Hutchings said they had no grounds on which to protest.

“Jodie took a couple of steps inside the lane which was Canada’s lane, ironically, lane two,” he said.

“And then, once she’d set off and righted herself in the correct lane, Victoria Ohuruogu was standing in the wrong lane – that’s how disoriented they were.

“She was standing in the lane inside England’s lane as she watched Jodie Williams head off on her second leg. That compounded the infringement.”

“It was, at the time, a glittering, glittering end – the perfect end – to a wonderful six-day, 12-session bonanza of athletics,” Walker added.

But it wasn’t to be, and Canada finishes with the medal, while Jamaica was elevated to silver, and Scotland took third.

Just like Tokyo 2020 on Seven, there will be one destination to watch every epic feat, every medal moment, every record attempt and every inspiring turn from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

7plus is the only place to watch up to 30 live and replay channels of sport, see what’s on when, keep up to date with the medal tally, create a watchlist to follow your favorite events and catch up on highlights.

In the video below: A wrap of all the action from Day 10

Australia’s golden Day 10 at Comm Games.

Australia’s golden Day 10 at Comm Games.

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Schedule, Aussies in action, medal tally, updates, results, scores

Schedule, Aussies in action, medal tally, updates, results, scores

Having added seven gold medals to the collection on the penultimate day, Australia has one last chance to secure a further four golds on the final day of the Commonwealth Games.

It’s been a tremendously successful Games for the Aussies as they reached the 1000 gold medal milestone and are 11 golds ahead of host nation England in the tally.

Follow all the action from the final day in our LIVE blog below!

It comes as a five-time Commonwealth Games representative Melissa Wu was confirmed as the flag bearer for Australia at the closing ceremony.

After winning gold in beach volleyball, cricket, diving (twice), road cycling, and javelin, the superstar Diamonds netball team that brought up the incredible milestone by beating Jamaica 55-51 in the women’s netball final.

DAY 10 WRAP: Aussie’s final dive wins gold, Poms RAGE after cycling duel

The Kookaburras are also in action in the men’s hockey, while an Aussie duo compete for the gold in the women’s doubles final in the table tennis.

Foxsports.com.au has you covered on who’s in action, what they’re competing in and when you can watch them!

TALLY LIVE MEDAL

HOCKEY

the kookaburras face India in the men’s end and is scheduled for 9.30pm.

The Aussies, who have not lost at the Commonwealth Games since 1998 along with six gold medals in the trophy cabinet, will look to continue their mind-boggling streak having beaten host nation England in the semi-final.

In the Kookaburras’ most recent clash against India, the Aussies got the better of them to the tune of 7-1 in a pool match at the Tokyo Olympics.

However, India will no doubt be seeking revenge having overcome South Africa in the other semi-final.

Barber claims gold with CLUTCH throw | 00:28

DIVING

Australia’s first medal event was the mixed synchronized 3m springboard final in the diving, with li shixin teaming up with Madison Keeney and Domonic Bedggood paired with Annabelle Smith.

Keeney and Li grabbed silver with a score of 304.02 — less than two points away from gold.

Bedgood and Smith, who’d already won the gold in the women’s synchronized 3m springboard, finish in fifth, only five points off a medal.

the mixed synchronized 10m platform final saw Cassiel Rousseau and Emily Boyd winbronze.

Rousseau was coming off an incredible gold in the men’s 10m platform.

PERFECT 1O in final gold medal dive! | 00:30

TABLE TENNIS

aussie pair Jian Fang Lay and minhyung jee lost their gold medal match to Singapore to take home silver medals.

SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES AEST)

7pm: Women’s doubles plate final, squash (Alex Haydon and Jess Turnbull)

7:05pm: Mixed synchronized 3m springboard final, diving (Li Shixin and Maddison Keeney, Domonic Bedggood and Anabelle Smith)

7:10pm: Women’s doubles final, table tennis (Jian Fang Lay and Minhyung Jee)

8:19pm: Mixed synchronized 10m platform final, diving (Domonic Bedggood and Melissa Wu, Cassiel Rousseau and Emily Boyd)

9:30 pm: Men’s Hockey Final (Kookaburras)

5am ​​(Tuesday): Closing ceremony

LIVE BLOG

Follow all the action live below! Can’t see the updates? Click here!

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Esports could be included in Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games, after inaugural pilot event in Birmingham

Esports could be included in Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games, after inaugural pilot event in Birmingham

Athletes like Emma McKeon, Georgia Godwin and Oliver Hoare have captured Australians’ attention at the Commonwealth Games, and the likes of “Rin”, “Jakino” and “Fern” could one day be up there too.

It is not as fanciful as it may sound. On the final weekend of the Games in Birmingham, the inaugural Commonwealth Esports Championships were held as a pilot to see whether it could be a part of the Games proper.

There are currently 16 sports already confirmed for Victoria 2026, with organizers looking to add three or four more to the final program by the end of September.

“We signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the Global Esports Federation which doesn’t stop after this Games,” Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive Katie Sadleir said.

“It’s a long-term commitment to learning, transferring knowledge.”

Ms Sadleir said the CGF would conduct an independent review after the Birmingham event to consider what the future of esports at the Games could look like.

“We will evaluate all options and look at what is the best win-win for the partnership,” she said.

“It’s not just about whether or not we would like esports in the Games, it’s also about whether or not esports wants to be inside the Games.”

Exorcisms and dragon slaying the new sporting frontier

People sit behind character avatars at the Commonwealth Esports Championships.
Australia lost to Singapore in the Dota 2 women’s bronze-medal match.(Supplied: Global Esports Federation)

Having watched rowdy crowds pack into venues all over Birmingham to cheer on athletes from Niue to Nigeria, in sports as diverse as weightlifting to rhythmic gymnastics, it feels a little strange stepping into the esports arena.

It is being held at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre, and there is a small crowd gathered to watch Australia and Singapore face off in the women’s Dota 2 bronze-medal match.

Two teams of five are placed on an impressive-looking stage, each player with their own computer and headset, while the multi-player battle arena video game is displayed on a big screen overhead.

There is even a live commentary, albeit pretty different from the typical sports event.

“A lot of Australia’s damage is coming on the exorcism,” one of the commentators says.

Cheers and applause break out when there’s a flurry of activity on the big screen. It is hard to tell what’s going on, but maybe a dragon slaying?

This is different, but that’s the point. The CGF wants to tap into a new, younger audience, who might not traditionally engage in mainstream sport.

And the potential money on offer does not hurt either — the global esports market is currently valued at about $2 billion, dominated by Asia and North America.

There are several different bodies that govern esports. This event is being looked after by the Global Esports Federation (GEF).

The players are not involved with the politics behind the scenes, but they are excited to be on a world stage, just like any athlete representing their country.

Five women wearing green and gold tracksuits stand arm in arm.
Five players represented Australia in the women’s Dota 2 competition.(ABC Sport: Amanda Shalala)

Adelaide’s Lynley-Ann Dodd, or Rin, is a member of the Australian women’s Dota 2 team.

The 29-year-old has been playing games for most of her life and she said the growth of esports meant a lot to people who were not interested in traditional sport.

“I wish I could turn it back and look at my younger self — 13, 14 — when I first started this game and be like, ‘You could do it,’ because I never felt like there was that possibility,” she said.

“I gave up on myself multiple times because there was not that possibility.

“And I think now being able to be a role model for… women, teenagers, children who actually enjoy games, who want to be able to take it seriously, that is the best gift of all from this.”

Women wear headsets while playing competitive esports.
The Australian women’s Dota 2 team enjoyed an opportunity to compete in a big international tournament.(Supplied: Global Esports Federation)

Another member of the Australian team, Sydney’s Antonia “Jakino” Cai, 28, also sees the market value in established sporting organizations engaging with esports.

“Esports is going to be getting bigger over the years as technology gets better, and all the young people will know about it,” she said.

“There’s going to be a lot of money invested into this. We already have tournaments that are [worth] millions of dollars.

“So this is going to be getting bigger and the next step is putting it into the Commonwealth Games or Olympics.”

Can esports be a sport for all?

Women celebrate at the Commonwealth Esports Championships.
Esports are still dominated by men, although women from Asia are leading the way for greater representation.(Supplied: Global Esports Federation)

The Commonwealth Games ethos is about being the friendly and inclusive Games, with a particular focus on women and people with a disability.

And esports has its challenges when it comes to being a truly welcoming environment for women.

“There is that perception that women aren’t as good, and for me I believe it’s since we don’t have that many women in the area,” Sydney’s Kanyarat “Fern” Bupphaves said.

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Commonwealth Games 2022 medal tally: Australia beats Jamaica in the netball, Peter Bol second in 800m and road race gold

Kelsey-Lee Barber prepares to launch her javelin

Australia has become the first country to rack up 1,000 Commonwealth Games gold medals on the second last day of competition in Birmingham.

Day 10 saw some impressive team victories, including the Australian Women’s Cricket Team’s win over India and The Diamonds’ close win over Jamaica in the netball.

The victories by green and gold athletes means Australia maintains its lead at the top of the standings by 11 gold medals.

You can check out how the action unfolded in our Commonwealth Games blog, or have a look at the medal winners and the top 10 medal standings by country below:

Day 10 medal standings:

Gold:

  • The Diamonds, netball
  • The Australian Women’s Cricket Team
  • Maddison Keeney, diving, 3m springboard
  • Kelsey-Lee Barber, athletics, javelin
  • Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett, beach volleyball
  • Georgia Baker, cycling, women’s road race
  • Cassiel Rousseau, diving, 10m platform

Silver:

  • Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Arcacho del Solar, beach volley ball
  • Kaye Frances Scott, boxing, light middleweight
  • Callum Peters, boxing, middleweight
  • Brooke Buschkuehl, athletics, long jump
  • Declan Tingay, athletics, 10,000m race walk
  • Peter Bol, athletics, 800m
  • mackenzie little, athletics, javelin
  • The Hockeyroos

Bronze:

  • Abbey Caldwell, athletics, 1500m
  • Sarah Roy, cycling, women’s road race

Birmingham 2022 medal standings:

POSITION

TEAM

gold

SILVER

BRONZE

TOTAL

1

Australia

66

55

53

174

two

England

55

59

52

166

3

Canada

26

31

3. 4

91

4

new zealand

19

12

17

48

5

India

18

fifteen

22

55

6

Scotland

12

eleven

26

49

7

Nigeria

12

9

14

35

8

wales

8

6

13

27

9

south africa

7

9

eleven

27

10

Northern Ireland

7

7

4

18

posted , updated

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Sports

Aussie great John Steffensen savages Rohan Browning over ‘amateur hour’ relay debacle

Rohan Browning was devastated. Photo: Getty Images

Former Aussie 400m star John Steffensen has blasted Australia’s relay debacle at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games as “amateur hour”.

Australia looked on track to qualify for the final of the 4x100m but it all fell apart at the final change when Rohan Browning tripped over his own feet and hit the deck.

It was a disappointing result after the team of Josh Azzopardi, Jacob Despard, Jack Hale and Browning crashed out.

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After an impressive showing, the commentators were stunned by the moment.

“The last change only has to be clean,” McAvaney started to say before Tamsyn Lewis shrieked in the commentary box as Browning hit the deck.

“Oh he’s fallen over. I can’t believe it. I cannot believe it.

“A disaster for the Australians.

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“I’ve never seen anything quite like it to be truthful.”

“That was awful,” Lewis-Manou added.

“He looks devastated. Rohan would not have been able to do a lot of this training, he would have been focusing on getting his body right. He just really stumbled when he took his acceleration phase.”

Still can’t believe it happened. Photo by David Ramos/Getty ImagesSource: Supplied

In looking for reasons behind the stumble, from a belief Browning struggled with not starting in the blocks or that he wasn’t confident starting on the bend rather than on the straight.

One who wasn’t looking for excuses was 2006 Commonwealth Games 400m gold medalist and Olympic 4x400m relay silver medalist John Steffensen.

“If that was a final, I’d kind of accept it because you really want to push your relay change zone passovers,” he said on Channel 7.

“You really want to push them out a bit, you want to take a bit more risk because you’re running against the best, or some of the best in the world, in the Commonwealth.

“But that was amateur hour last night. To see what happened with Rohan, I do not know what was going through his brain.

“Accidents happen, mistakes happen track and field, yes, I get it.

“But it’s one of those things, I’ve done it (many) times in training. Sometimes you want to push, you really push the barriers and the angle you want to come out of your drive because that’s how you go fast.

“In training you sort of go low, low and you will sort of work your way back up. Then you find a comfortable position that you can take off from.”

Rohan Browning was hoping for more. Photo by David Ramos/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Former Olympic 100m sprinter turned Channel 7 presenter Matt Shirvington said he knew how Browning felt, having been in a similar position in the 2006 Commonwealth Games 4x100m final.

In that final, Australia appeared headed for a medal but Shirvington took off a touch early and Adam Miller couldn’t catch him to pass the baton.

Shirvington said Browning would be “gutted.”

“Rohan more than most of them because the other boys have been there waiting to compete,” Shirvington told Channel 7.

“Rohan knows that coming into this he was going to have quite a bit of speed, he’s in good shape.

“I have been there before, I’ve been there a couple of times.

“I have been there at a packed MCG at the Commonwealth Games at the same change in the final and we haven’t made it happen.”

Browning did admit he was “gutted” soon after, apologizing to his teammates, who were on the team specifically for the relay.

“I’m so sorry. I know these boys put in so much work. In my years in athletics, nothing like this has ever happened and, hopefully, it never happens again.

“I just caught my toe and slipped. It has never happened before in training or in races.”

Browning looked horrified. Photo: Channel 7Source: Channel 7

Teammate Jack Hale was quick to console Browning both after the race and in the post-match interviews.

“It’s a relay. There are so many variables and these things happen. It is what it is,” Hale told Channel 7.

Browning finished sixth in the individual 100m final, falling just 0.06 seconds short of a bronze medal at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

It was the closest Australia has got to winning a medal in the men’s blue ribbon event since Matt Shirvington’s lightning time of 10.03 still wasn’t enough for him to get a medal at the 1998 Games.

Australia has never won a medal in the men’s event since the Commonwealth Games changed the distance to 100m in 1970. Now we have to wait at least four more years.

.

Categories
Sports

John Steffensen savages Rohan Browning over ‘amateur hour’ relay debacle: Commonwealth Games 2022

John Steffensen savages Rohan Browning over 'amateur hour' relay debacle: Commonwealth Games 2022

Former Aussie 400m star John Steffensen has blasted Australia’s relay debacle at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games as “amateur hour”.

Australia looked on track to qualify for the final of the 4x100m but it all fell apart at the final change when Rohan Browning tripped over his own feet and hit the deck.

It was a disappointing result after the team of Josh Azzopardi, Jacob Despard, Jack Hale and Browning crashed out.

After an impressive showing, the commentators were stunned by the moment.

“The last change only has to be clean,” McAvaney started to say before Tamsyn Manou shrieked in the commentary box as Browning hit the deck.

“Oh he’s fallen over. I can’t believe it. I cannot believe it. A disaster for the Australians. I’ve never seen anything quite like it to be truthful.”

“That was awful,” Manou added.

“He looks devastated. Rohan would not have been able to do a lot of this training, he would have been focusing on getting his body right. He just really stumbled when he took his acceleration phase.”

There were suggestions Browning struggled with not starting in the blocks or that he wasn’t confident starting on the bend rather than on the straight.

One who wasn’t looking for excuses was 2006 Commonwealth Games 400m gold medalist and Olympic 4x400m relay silver medalist John Steffensen.

“If that was a final, I’d kind of accept it because you really want to push your relay change zone passovers,” he said on Channel 7.

“You really want to push them out a bit, you want to take a bit more risk because you’re running against the best, or some of the best in the world, in the Commonwealth.

“But that was amateur hour last night. To see what happened with Rohan, I do not know what was going through his brain.

“Accidents happen, mistakes happen track and field, yes, I get it.

“But it’s one of those things, I’ve done it (many) times in training. Sometimes you want to push, you really push the barriers and the angle you want to come out of your drive because that’s how you go fast.

“In training you sort of go low, low and you will sort of work your way back up. Then you find a comfortable position that you can take off from.”

Former Olympic 100m sprinter turned Channel 7 presenter Matt Shirvington said he knew how Browning felt, having been in a similar position in the 2006 Commonwealth Games 4x100m final.

In that final, Australia appeared headed for a medal but Shirvington took off a touch early and Adam Miller couldn’t catch him to pass the baton.

Shirvington said Browning would be “gutted.”

“Rohan more than most of them because the other boys have been there waiting to compete,” Shirvington told Channel 7.

“Rohan knows that coming into this he was going to have quite a bit of speed, he’s in good shape.

“I have been there before, I’ve been there a couple of times.

“I have been there at a packed MCG at the Commonwealth Games at the same change in the final and we haven’t made it happen.”

Browning did admit he was “gutted” soon after, apologizing to his teammates, who were on the team specifically for the relay.

“I’m so sorry. I know these boys put in so much work. In my years in athletics, nothing like this has ever happened and, hopefully, it never happens again.

“I just caught my toe and slipped. It has never happened before in training or in races.”

Teammate Jack Hale was quick to console Browning both after the race and in the post-match interviews.

“It’s a relay. There are so many variables and these things happen. It is what it is,” Hale told Channel 7.

Browning finished sixth in the individual 100m final, falling just 0.06 seconds short of a bronze medal at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

It was the closest Australia has got to winning a medal in the men’s blue ribbon event since Matt Shirvington’s lightning time of 10.03 still wasn’t enough for him to get a medal at the 1998 Games.

Australia has never won a medal in the men’s event since the Commonwealth Games changed the distance to 100m in 1970. Now we have to wait at least four more years.

.