Birmingham: The Commonwealth Games 2022 ended in spectacular style as dominant Australia celebrated finishing top of the medals table yet again.
Athletes swarmed Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium for a closing party that also featured UB40, Dexys and a tribute to Peaky Blinders, the global hit TV show about the city’s most notorious gang.
Birmingham-born Osbourne, known as the “Prince of Darkness”, brought the ceremony to a climax after emerging as the surprise act.
"BIRMINGHAM FOREVER!"
— Birmingham 2022 (@birminghamcg22) August 9, 2022
Agreed, @OzzyOsbourne. What a way to celebrate the end of 11 incredible days of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games!
Here's a quick look at last night's epic Closing Ceremony 🤩#B2022#ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/d2Ri0CcxoK
Earlier, six-time defending champions Australia wrapped up their campaign in style, hammering India 7-0 in the men’s hockey final to end up with 67 golds overall.
Hosts England ended in second place with 57 golds, ahead of Canada on 26 and India on 22, with para sports included in the medal tally.
Sporting powerhouse Australia have topped the table at every Games since 1990 except in 2014, when England finished in first place in Glas
Birmingham 2022 CEO Ian Reid told a briefing earlier that the Games had been a huge boost for the city and the surrounding area.
He said more than 1.5 million tickets had been sold, with most venues above 90 percent capacity
Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Katie Sadleir said there had been “huge engagement” with the Games globally.
She added a number of countries had expressed an interest in staging future Commonwealth Games, including African nations.
She said Birmingham, which already had many facilities in place, could be a blueprint for the future.
Commonwealth Games Federation president Louise Martin handed the flag to Linda Dessau, the governor of the Australian state of Victoria, which will host the 2026 Games.
Martin said Birmingham had put on an event “unlike any we’ve seen before”.
“We are emerging from one of the most challenging periods in modern history, where the Covid-19 pandemic has kept us apart,” she said.
“Birmingham 2022 proved to be a special moment when we reunited, when the power of sport to connect us came into sharp focus.”
