Tokyo 2020 gold medallists Max Whitlock, Kadeena Cox, Tom Dean, Alex Yee, and many other stars, have come together to support Team England’s ‘Bring It Home’ campaign ahead of next year’s home Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The new campaign celebrates what competing on home soil means to the athletes, as well shines a light on the people and communities who they’re aiming to bring success ‘home’ for.
Next year will see the most diverse Team England ever with hundreds of athletes from every corner of the country competing to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jonathan Edwards and Kelly Holmes and capitalize on the once in a lifetime opportunity to bring home success in their own country. The new film which can be seen across Team England social channels also features Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (Diving), Chelsie & Josh Giles (Judo), Emily Campbell (Weightlifting), Niall Farrell (Boxing) and Siobhan Fitzpatrick (Wheelchair Basketball).
Team England’s Max Whitlock, four-time Commonwealth champion in gymnastics, commented on the excitement of having crowds back at next year’s Games, as well as the chance to inspire future generations. He said: “I’m ‘bringing it home’ for all aspiring gymnasts up and down the country. We’ve missed cheering gymnasts on, bringing that back to Birmingham would be unbelievable”.
Emily Campbell, the first ever British female Olympic medal-winning weightlifter is driven by the inclusivity of sport and helping others become the part of something. She said: “I’m ‘bringing it home for’ the ones that feel like they don’t belong. Before I got into weightlifting, I was the same, but now I feel part of something special”.
Tokyo 2020 heroes, as well as upcoming stars, have united to raise awareness of the home team at the Commonwealth Games next year in Team England’s ‘Bring It Home’ campaign. Each and every athlete has been supported over the years by friends, family, coaches, teachers, and all have people or places they want to Bring It Home to or for.
The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event with a fully integrated programme of Para sport disciplines and next year’s Games promises to be extra special with full stadiums and arenas after Tokyo 2020 took place behind closed doors. Birmingham 2022 is set to have the largest ever female and para sport programme in history after new disciplines Women’s T20 Cricket, Beach Volleyball and Para Table Tennis were confirmed.
Other athletes that star in the campaign include:
- Kadeena Cox (Para Athletics, Leeds) – A “Leeds lass and proud”. Paralympic gold medalist Kadeena wants to ‘Bring It Home’ to Leeds.
- Tom Dean (Swimming, Maidenhead) – Double Olympic gold medallist Tom wants to ‘Bring It Home’ for his family, who have supported him through thick and thin.
- Niall Farrell (Boxing, Birmingham) – Following an injury that left him out of the ring for 3 years, Niall’s determination is to ‘Bring It Home’ for his hometown, the host city of the Commonwealth Games.
- Siobhan Fitzpatrick (Wheelchair Basketball, Coventry) – Set to feature in the new 3×3 wheelchair basketball discipline, Siobhan wants to ‘Bring It Home’ for Coventry and her family.
- Chelsie & Josh Giles (Judo, Coventry) – Aiming to ‘Bring It Home’ for Coventry Judo Club. Brother & sister duo are hoping for success in Birmingham together.
- Andrea Spendolini Sirieix (Diving, London) – BBC Young Sports Personality 2020 nominee, is looking to ‘Bring It Home’ for her brother because he is her inspiration.
- Alex Yee (Triathlon, London) – Gold & silver Olympic champion, Alex looks to ‘Bring It Home’ for his community, born and bred in South London, Lewisham.
Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games England, Paul Blanchard, said on the launch of Bring It Home: “Nothing will feel more special to those selected to represent Team England than competing in front of a home crowd. It’s important to connect our diverse set of athletes with the fans ahead of what’s going to be an incredible Games next year in Birmingham”.
‘Bring It Home’ is the first campaign to be delivered by Cake, the sport, entertainment, and culture agency of Havas, after being appointed in March to lead the digital communications strategy, PR and content production for Team England ahead of and during Birmingham 2022.
You can watch the full ‘Bring It Home’ film on Team England social channels.
Instagram: @officialteamengland
Twitter: @TeamEngland Facebook: @officialteamengland
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For further details, please contact:
Charlie Piggott, Cake
ABOUT CAKE
Cake is a creative agency, specialising in sport, entertainment, and culture.
We build meaningful connections between brands and consumers through culture, using our proprietary Meaningful Brands in Culture study and strategic approach.
All our ideas fuse bold thinking with brilliant creativity, underpinned by data and insight.
We do this through earned media, social, influencer marketing, sponsorship and partnerships, and live experience; delivering this for some of the most well-known brands and rights holders in sport, entertainment and culture, including: Aston Martin F1, BT, Carling, Captain Morgan, Commonwealth Games England, EE (BAFTA, Glastonbury & Wembley), Gordon’s Gin, Major League Baseball, NFL, PayPal, Puma, The FA and UNICEF.
We are part of the Havas Group, owned by Vivendi, enabling us to collaborate within one of the most integrated communications networks globally.
ABOUT TEAM ENGLAND
Team England is the highly successful team that represents the English nation at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.
Having won over 700 medals and created a host of amazing sporting moments, Team England is the pride of the nation and demonstrates a modern, inclusive, diverse and united England.
Commonwealth Games England leads and manages the participation of Team England, at the Commonwealth Games working closely with each sport’s National Governing Body, our funding partner Sport England, and the Games’ Organising Committee.
We are the host team, in partnership with Birmingham City Council, the West Midlands, and the UK Government for the next Commonwealth Games in 2022.
England is one of only six countries to have taken part in every edition of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.
Commonwealth Games England has been responsible for preparing and delivering Team England at the Commonwealth Games since their inception in 1930 and Commonwealth Youth Games since 2000.