Birmingham 10K Backs City’s Games Bid

As Commonwealth Day celebrations take place across the world, organisers of the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K are calling on people to wear their home nation’s colours with pride at one of the city’s biggest mass-participation events.

Fifty-two countries will come together today, March 13, to celebrate Commonwealth Day under the theme ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’.

Commonwealth Day, held on the second Monday in March each year, is an opportunity for individuals, communities and organisations to promote the values of peace, democracy, equality, and diversity.

Birmingham marked Commonwealth Day with a flag-raising ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor, Cllr Carl Rice, at the Council House.

There will also be a Commonwealth Citizenship ceremony at the Register Office and a networking dinner held by the Birmingham Commonwealth Association.

This year’s Commonwealth Day has special meaning for the city as it bids to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026.

The popular Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K, which is now in its third year and attracts more than 7,000 runners, walkers and joggers, is backing Birmingham’s Games bid with a truly international feel to this year’s event.

This year’s 10K will feature elite teams from selected Commonwealth nations as well as representatives of all running abilities from across the globe as a way of supporting Birmingham’s 2026 ambitions.

Applicants interested in representing their Commonwealth nation or territory should apply via a dedicated email address, commonwealth@greatrun.org and be able to confirm they are a passport holder or born in the relevant Commonwealth nation.

The University of Birmingham already have a large team signed up to take part in the event and have pledged to support the campaign.

The Commonwealth initiative is the next stage in the development of the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k in which entrants are treated to a host of music, with themed warm ups from different eras and up to a dozen bands playing on the route.

Birmingham-born Ian Stewart, one of the world’s leading distance runners between the late 1960s and mid-1970s, is backing the Commonwealth Run initiative.

“With a large percentage of Birmingham residents having Commonwealth connections, this is a great way of celebrating the city’s rich diversity,” said Ian.
“I’m hoping we can find as many representatives locally or internationally to take part in this great idea and shine a light on Birmingham and its bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026.”

The Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k is accessible to all levels of ability, whether you walk, jog or run the route. For those looking for a bigger challenge, it’s also a great training run in preparation for the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run half marathon or the inaugural Birmingham International Marathon to be held in the city in October.

It has also been confirmed that the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k will be televised live on Channel 5 on the 30th April.