The Commonwealth Games 2022 came to an end with a stunning closing ceremony at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on Monday.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, declared the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games over.
The Commonwealth Games flag was presented to the Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau. The state of Victoria, Australia will be the next host of the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
The Flag Handover Ceremony signified the official handover of the Commonwealth Games from Birmingham to Victoria, which will be the first multi-city Commonwealth Games in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland.
Australia’s First Nations people were recognised after the Commonwealth Games flag was handed over to Victorian governor Linda Dessau.
Elders of the lands the Games will be held on: Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung (Melbourne), Wadawurrung (Geelong and Ballarat), Dja Dja Wurrung (Bendigo) and Gunaikurnai (Gippsland), performed a smoking ceremony.
The elders also presented carved message sticks, which represent an invitation to walk on the Country in 2026, to Commonwealth Games Federation president, Dame Louise Martin DBE.
Birmingham 2022 has been the biggest Commonwealth Games ever – with more sporting events than ever before. More than 5,000 athletes have competed over the past 11 days.
Australia topped the table with 178 medals (67 gold, 57 silver, 54 bronze), while hosts England finished the campaign in the second spot with 175 medals (56 gold, 65 silver, 53 bronze).
India finished 4th in the medal tally with 22 Gold, 15 Silver and 23 Bronze medals and with a total of 61 medals.
Apache Indian performed ‘Boom Shack-A-Lak’, a song that had featured heavily on playlists at various venues across the Games.
The Australians entered the arena as reggae group Musical Youth played ‘Pass the Dutchie’, a song which recently catapulted back into prominence via an appearance on the hit show ‘Stranger Things’.
Diving stalwart Melissa Wu was Australia’s flagbearer and walked out with the other flagbearers as her compatriots entered the stadium in another group.
But the loudest roars were saved for when Panjabi MC played the bhangra classic ‘Mundian To Bach Ke’.
Gold medal-winning Table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal and boxer Nikhat Zareen led the Indian contingent as the Commonwealth Games 2022 closing ceremony was held in Alexander stadium in Birmingham.
Indian women’s cricket and Hockey teams both lost finals to Australia to settle for silver while Australians flaunted their gold medals with some controversy around both matches.
