Three Team England Commonwealth Games medallists, Tessa Sanderson CBE, David Moorcroft OBE and Hannah England, have been announced as Village Mayors for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The three former athletes were selected as they all have a strong connection to the host region. David comes from Coventry, Tessa is originally from Wolverhampton and competed for Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletic Club and Hannah has lived in Birmingham for many years, having studied at the University of Birmingham.

As part of their formal duties, the Village Mayors, will represent Birmingham 2022 and offer a friendly welcome to Commonwealth teams.

They will attend the athlete Welcome Ceremonies, which include a performance by local students called 1000 Welcomes, a speech from the Village Mayor and Chef de Mission, and the raising of the nation or territory’s flag whilst the national anthem is played.

Tessa, Hannah and David will bring a wealth of sporting knowledge to the role as well as an understanding of what it is like to compete at the highest levels of sporting competition, including at the Commonwealth Games where between them, they have appeared on eight occasions.

The campus villages will start to welcome athletes and team officials from the 22 July. From this date onwards, athletes can also start using the training venues across the West Midlands, prior to the start of the sporting action on 29 July. Tessa Sanderson, Olympic gold medallist and triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist has been appointed as the Village Mayor for the NEC campus village. She said: 

“It is fantastic to have been chosen as Village Mayor for the athlete village and look forward to greeting athletes from across the Commonwealth. Birmingham has always had a special place in my heart and during international competitions, athlete villages are a unique space for the teams.

“I can’t wait to see the village come alive, when all the athletes have arrived. The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is going to be a really special moment for the region, close to where I grew up and my early athletic career”.

For more information about the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games you can visit birmingham2022.com.