Daily guide plus important events to watch out for

The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham are underway – and you can scroll down for a full day-by-day schedule of the event; all times are BST and subject to change.

But first, let’s go over the Games’ must-see events.

Essential Commonwealth events you just have to see

Athletics: women’s heptathlon, Wednesday 3 August

Defending champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson eyes a return to the top as she bids for a first heptathlon title in three years.

The 29-year-old leads with 3,765 points, 109 ahead of Northern Ireland’s Kate O’Connor after a solid first day at the Alexander Stadium.

The pandemic and two serious Achilles and calf injuries have stopped Johnson-Thompson from winning a title since the 2019 World Championships, but she is closing in on a successful defense in Birmingham.

Lawn Bowls: Men’s Singles Final, Saturday 6 August

In everyday life, Nick Brett is a humble civil servant. But in his sporting life, Brett is – somewhat bizarrely – known as the Brad Pitt of lawn bowls. At the 2020 World Indoor Championships, he threw arguably the most famous bowl of all time with an outrageous shot so good it went viral around the world.

Athletics: 1500m men, final Saturday 6 August

Jake Wightman will run at the Commonwealth Games as Britain’s only reigning world champion after his shock 1500m triumph. His father and coach Geoff will again have commentary duties as the English-born but Edinburgh-raised Wightman aims for gold for Scotland.

Boxing: Men’s Super Heavyweight Final, Sunday 7 August

Delicious Orie says he wants to be better than Anthony Joshua. Born in Russia, he suffered racism because of his Nigerian heritage, so his family moved to Britain when he was seven. The civil economist only started boxing at the age of 18, but six years later he is aiming for the podium.

Netball: women’s final, Sunday 7 August

England’s 2018 Commonwealth title win was historic in breaking the duopoly held by Australia and New Zealand at the top of the global game. There is an end-of-era feeling about the hosts’ team in Birmingham with a number of veterans involved and they will want to go out with a bang by winning gold again.

The story continues

Cricket: Women’s final, Sunday 7 August

This is the first time that women’s cricket has participated in the Commonwealth Games. It would be something of a surprise if England and Australia did not contest the final, having claimed 11 of 12 World Cup titles between them, although the Aussies will be favorites after a comprehensive Ashes triumph recently.

Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 schedule – key dates and times

Wednesday 3 August

• Athletics and para-athletics – at 10.00-13.30, 18.30-22.00

• Lawn bowls and umbrella bowls – 08.30-13.45, 15.00-20.45

• Badminton – 08.00-15.00, 16.30-22.30

• Hockey – 09.00-12.30, 14.00-17.30, 19.00-22.30

• Weightlifting – 09.30-12.00, 14.00-16.30, 18.30-21.00

• Judo – 10.00-14.30, 17.00-19.45

• Table tennis and para table tennis – at 930-14.15, 16.00-20.45

• Cycling, mountain bike – 11.30-16.00

• Swimming and para swimming – 10.30-12.30, 19.00-22.00

• T20 cricket – 11am-2.30pm, 6pm-9.30pm

• Boxing – 12.00-16.00, 18.00-22.00

• Netball – 12.00-15.30, 18.00-21.30

• Squash – 10.00-13.00, 16.00-20.30

• Beach volleyball – 14.30-17.30, 19.00-22.00

Thursday 4 August

• Athletics and para-athletics – at 10.00-13.30, 18.30-22.00

• Lawn bowls and umbrella bowls – 08.30-13.45, 15.00-20.15

• Badminton – at 9.00-15.00, 16.30-22.30

• Hockey – 14.00-17.30, 19.00-22.30

• Para powerlifting – 15.00-17.45, 19.30-22.15

• Table tennis and para table tennis – at 9.30-14.15, 16.00-20.30

• Cycling, time trial – 10.00-16.00

• Diving – 13.00-15.30, 18.00-21.00

• T20 cricket – 11am-2.30pm, 6pm-9.30pm

• Boxing – 12.00-16.00, 18.00-22.00

• Rhythmic gymnastics – 12.00-15.30, 18.00-21.30

• Netball – 09.00-12.30, 14.00-17.30, 19.00-22.30

• Squash – 12.00-15.00, 18.00-21.00

• Beach volleyball – 14.30-17.30, 19.00-22.00

Friday 5 August

• Athletics and para-athletics – at 10.00-15.00, 18.30-22.00

• Lawn bowls and umbrella bowls – 08.30-15.15, 16.30-19.45

• Badminton – 11.00-15.30, 17.30-22.00

• Hockey – 09.00-13.30, 18.00-20.30

• Table tennis and para table tennis – 9.30-14.00, 16.00-20.30

• Diving – 10.00-13.00, 18.00-21.00

• Wrestling – 10.30am-1.30pm, 5.00pm-7.30pm

• Rhythmic gymnastics – 1.30pm-5.30pm

• Netball – 9.00-13.00, 14.30-18.30

• Squash – 12.00-15.00, 18.00-21.00

• Beach volleyball – 11.00-13.00, 14.30-17.30, 19.00-22.00

Saturday 6 August

• Athletics and para-athletics – at 10.00-15.00, 18.30-21.45

• Lawn bowls and umbrella bowls – 08.30-15.15, 16.30-19.45

• Badminton – 11.00-15.30, 17.30-22.00

• Hockey – 9am-1.30pm, 6pm-10.30pm

• Table tennis and para table tennis – at 9.30–14.15, at 16.00–22.00

• Diving – 10.00-13.00, 18.00-21.00

• Wrestling – 10.30am-1.30pm, 5.00pm-7.30pm

• Boxing – 10.30-13.00, 14.30-17.30, 19.00-21.30

• T20 cricket – 11am-2.30pm, 6pm-9.30pm

• Rhythmic gymnastics – 10.00-13.00

• Netball – 9.00-11.00, 14.30-16.30

• Squash – 12.00-15.00, 18.00-21.00

• Beach volleyball – 15.00-17.00, 20.00-22.00

Sunday 7 August

• Athletics and para-athletics – at 10.00-13.15, 18.30-21.30

• Cycling, road running – 08.00-17.00

• Badminton – 9am-2.30pm, 5pm-10.30pm

• Hockey – at 09.00-14.00, 15.00-20.00

• Table tennis and para table tennis – 9.30-14.45, 16.00-21.00

• Diving – 10.00-13.00, 17.30-20.30

• Boxing – 10.30-13.00, 14.30-17.30, 19.00-21.30

• T20 cricket – 10am-1.30pm, 5pm-8.30pm

• Netball – 1.30-3.30pm, 8.30-10.30pm

• Squash – 12.00-15.30, 18.00-20.15

• Beach volleyball – 15.00-17.30, 20.00-22.30

Monday, August 8

• Badminton – at 08.00-14.15

• Hockey – 9.00-11.30, 12.30-15.00

• Table tennis and para table tennis – 9.30-13.15

• Diving – 10.00-13.00

• Squash – 10.00-14.30

• Closing ceremony – at 20.00-22.00