Nottingham born Weightlifter Emily Campbell has been selected by England to be one of their flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games which takes place in Birmingham on Thursday night (28 July).

Campbell, along with Diver Jack Laugher, will both carry the St Georges Flag as the hosts parade their team along with all 56 commonwealth nations at the Alexandra Stadium, which itself will be venue for the athletics and para-athletics event, other venues across the West Midlands include Coventry Stadium, Edgbaston and Cannock Chase, all to be used as backdrops in the 92 year old competition’s 22nd event, which this year watches over 25 different sports.

From boxing to 3v3 basketball, from cycling to T20 cricket, triathlon to table tennis, weightlifting to wrestling, the competition expects to be a celebration across all sports and will be huge opportunity for Birmingham and the West Midlands to showcase their domain.

On receiving news that Campbell would be asked to lead the way with team England and carry the flag, the Olympic Silver Medallist and current back-to-back European Champion stated “It’s a surreal moment, you see people carry the flag and it’s such an honour to lead these athletes who are ready to represent their country.”

“I’ve been so excited about these Games ever since Tokyo, this is so close to home for me and I can’t wait to get out there.”

Whilst the weightlifting events start from Saturday, Friday see’s plenty of action with swimming, track cycling, artistic gymnastics and triathlon all providing medal winning opportunity. Tickets are available on the birmingham2022 website and all events will be screened by the BBC.

With over a thousand athletes in the England team they’ll be plenty of familiar faces. Bulwell based Campbell headlines those from Nottinghamshire in the +87kg women’s weightlifting event, Another well known star, Mansfield’s swimming sensation Molly Renshaw will compete in the 100 & 200m breaststroke (an event she’s previously picked up commonwealth silver & bronze in), Worksop’s Sam Walker will be representing in the men’s table tennis having already won a silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and bronze four years later on the Gold Coast.

Notts born Melissa Reid who won bronze in the 2016 Paralympics will also be going in the Paratriathlon, whilst Squash star Declan James will feature in the men’s doubles event with Norfolk born former world number one, James Willstrop.

*Main image @brownskinjessie Emily Campbell will get to fly the flag at the Commonwealth Games.