Looking back at the logistics of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Posted 21st October, 2022

The Commonwealth Games took place over the summer, from 28th July to 8th August 2022. With a record 1.5m spectators who bought tickets for events across the West Midlands and an overall UK audience on TV, online and in person of more than 20 million – it was a great time for Birmingham to showcase their wonderful city. Read on to find out more about the logistics of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

What is involved in the logistics of such a big event?

Organisations of such a big initiative require great logistic solutions. Initiatives such as the Commonwealth Games would not be possible if not for skilled and experienced specialists, who cautiously plan every phase of preparations including thousands of logistic decisions that need to be coordinated perfectly, so that everything falls into place on time.

With 4,822 athletes taking part in 283 events, the role of Official Event Logistics Provider was given to Kuehne+Nagel.

The scope included:

• Global freight forwarding.
• Complete management of onsite venue logistics.
• The transfer of athletes’ baggage and equipment on arrival and departure from 72 nations and territories.
• The transportation of equipment to competition and non-competition venues.
• The use of warehouses to control and consolidate assets in transit during and post-Games.

The most sustainable Commonwealth Games since 1930

On top of all the planning that comes with that, Birmingham also had the ambition to ‘deliver the most sustainable Commonwealth Games since the event began nearly a century ago.’ This meant working closely with partners, suppliers, and stakeholders across the region to reduce their carbon footprint and inspire others to make positive change.

Some key examples of reducing their carbon footprint were:

• Reusing venues already available, with 14 out of 16 being existing structures.
• Ensuring Games’ tickets included access to public transport on the day of travel.
• Over 16,000 sports items – including bikes, martial arts mats, T20 cricket equipment, basketballs, boxing gloves and weights, as well as general equipment, such as cones and bibs – are all available.
• The Games’ vehicle fleet will include electric and hydrogen vehicles and as a minimum all our vehicles will be Euro 5/6 – Birmingham Clean Air Zone compliant.
• Hiring over buying where possible and driving efficiencies to reduce the amount of new materials used.
• Prioritising local – working with catering suppliers to cut ‘food miles’ prioritising local workforce and sourcing.

Their post-games sustainability report will be out next year, so it will be interesting to see their end results and is certainly a start to a new way of planning logistics. 

What we are doing to become more sustainable

Logistics, by its very nature, is not very environmentally friendly. As a partner of Diamond Logistics, we are on the path to reducing our carbon emissions.

For more information on future plans, click here: https://www.diamondlogistics.co.uk/environment 

Here at Station Couriers, we know the importance of great logistics solutions in everyday tasks as well as the big events. To find out more about how we can support your business with a range of local, national and international shipping services, call today on 01686 238007.

References

• https://soldevelofoundation.org/commonwealth-games-2022-kuehnenagel-as-logistics-provider/
• https://www.firstmats.co.uk/blogs/buying-guides/2022-birmingham-commonwealth-games-facts-figures 
• https://soldevelofoundation.org/successful-supply-chain-management-the-story-of-openboxes-and-kuehnenagel/ 
• https://www.birmingham2022.com/about-us/our-purpose/our-legacy/sustainability/carbon-neutral-legacy 
• https://www.birmingham2022.com/news/2744753/commonwealth-games-impact-in-action-as-sports-equipment-to-be-gifted-to-west-midlands-groups 
• https://resources.cwg-qbr.pulselive.com/qbr-commonwealth-games/document/2022/02/22/c2c2ae05-de13-4ed0-87d9-1ab4139f0e2d/Sustainable-Sourcing-Code.pdf 
• https://uk.kuehne-nagel.com/-/news/birmingham2022-commonwealth/warehousing/expoandevents