Birmingham 2022 organisers have officially handed over the Commonwealth Games hosting responsibilities to regional Victoria ahead of the 2026 event in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Gippsland.
The handover came at the end of a closing ceremony at Alexander Stadium that celebrated Birmingham's multicultural past and present, including the club scene of the 80s and the birth of two-tone ska music in nearby Coventry.
After Birmingham celebrated what Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands John Crabtree called "truly a global and international city", the Commonwealth Games flag was lowered, folded and handed over to Victorian Governor Linda Dessau.
Indigenous elders Aunty Lena Morris, Uncle Rodney Carter, Aunty Joy Oldaker and Uncle Andrew Gardiner then performed a smoking ceremony and handed over message sticks to Birmingham 2022 organisers and Commonwealth Games Federation chair Dame Louise Martin.
Then came performances by Indigenous superstar Baker Boy, and singers Taylor Henderson and Vanessa Amorosi.
There were montages and live performances paying tribute to Victoria and Australia's sporting culture.
"Welcome to regional Victoria" was emblazoned on the screen before Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex officially closed the Games, followed by a surprise performance by Birmingham heavy metal legends Black Sabbath.
The ceremony came after the final day of competition, with the Kookaburras winning their seventh consecutive Commonwealth Games gold in the men's hockey final, beating India 7-0.
That gave Australia its 67th and final gold of the Games, with a silver medal in women's doubles table tennis, and silver and bronze in mixed 3m synchronised and mixed 10m synchronised diving.
Those final four medals meant Australia finished two clear of England on the overall tally, as well as 10 golds ahead.
Look back at how the closing ceremony and the final day of competition unfolded in our live blog, plus see our athletes' personal reflections of Birmingham 2022.
Key events
Live updates
By Kelsie Iorio
That's all from Birmingham — and that's all from us
Thank you so much for joining us these past 11 days as we cheered on our athletes and watched them do so many amazing things.
We've really appreciated your company and we hope you enjoyed watching along with us.
Goodbye from us here on the blog (and farewell to the irreplaceable Dame Olivia Newton-John).
By Kelsie Iorio
The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games are officially closed
Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, has formally invited athletes from around the Commonwealth to come together in Victoria in 2026.
"Until then, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and in the name of the Commonwealth Games Federation, I proclaim Birmingham 2022 closed," he says.
And who else to really close it out but Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath.
By Kelsie Iorio
Your thoughts on the Games:
I am soooo excitedly, respectfully, congratulating our Australian Commonwealth Team, for theirs incredibly remarkable achievements. Wishing our every Athletes all the very best for theirs success the overwhelming sportsmanship they have brought to The Games. They are absolutely all the admirations and inspirations for our younger generations to follow. CONGRATULATIONS FROM MY VERY HEART ♥️
- Hung M Ngo
By Kelsie Iorio
Our athletes: Matt Hauser 🥉🥉
A bronze in the individual triathlon and another in the mixed team relay is nothing short of fantastic from this 24-year-old in what is arguably one of the most gruelling events on the schedule.
And he did it in style — his individual medal was Australia's first podium finish of Birmingham 2022 — in his words, "what a way to kick off the Games" indeed.
By Kelsie Iorio
Our athletes: Sam Fricker 🥉
At just 20 years old, Birmingham is almost certainly just the beginning for Sam.
He and Shixin Li snagged bronze in the 3m synchronised springboard final which he says he "couldn't be happier" about, and with another two Commonwealth Games finals dives now under his belt, we can't wait to see what this social media sensation does next.
By Kelsie Iorio
'Welcome to Regional Victoria'
Those are the words overlayed at the end of that bangin' Australian medley.
It's coming home, Australia.
By Kelsie Iorio
The Australian entertainment 💚💛
I might be biased but Baker Boy has just injected SO MUCH ENERGY into this ceremony.
Next up is Taylor Henderson, and I'll admit that I'm biased here too cause I'm a big fan, but he's the perfect voice of a gorgeous montage of regional Victoria — the next host of the Commonwealth Games.
Omg it just keeps getting better — enter Vanessa Amorosi.
By Jon Healy
Baker Boy's here!
He's singing Meditjin.
My god it slaps.
By Jon Healy
Down comes the flag and it's handed over to Australia!
The Commonwealth Games flag is being lowered as Jacob Banks sings Unknown.
It's an incredibly melancholy song.
Say that you don't want me, say that you don't need me, tell me I'm the fool;
Tell me you've been tortured, tell me you've been beaten, what I've done to you;
Even if it doesn't matter, doesn't matter what's true;
Just say that you don't want me, say that you don't need me, tell me I'm the fool.
They must be really bummed about the Games ending.
And the flag makes its way from Dame Louise Martin into the hands of Victorian Governor Linda Dessau in preparation for the 2026 Games.
Aunty Lena Morris, Uncle Rodney Carter, Aunty Joy Oldaker and Uncle Andrew Gardiner perform a smoking ceremony and welcome those who will be making their way to all the traditional lands across Victoria in 2026.
By Kelsie Iorio
Our athletes: Matthew Glaetzer 🥇🥇🥇
After that nasty crash in the second round of the keirin that knocked out Joe Truman knocked, you could forgive this Aussie for taking it easy from then on. Except that he didn't.
After "a week of highs and lows" Matt goes home with two individual golds, one team gold and an equalled Commonwealth Games cycling medal record set by Anna Meares. Huge.
By Kelsie Iorio
Tianwei Feng named David Dixon Award winner
Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin has announced the winner of the David Dixon Award, given to the most outstanding athlete at each Games.
This year, it's been awarded to Singapore's team captain Tianwei Feng.
By Kelsie Iorio
Our athletes: Nicola Olyslagers
In sport and in life, sometimes things just do not go to plan. Nicola was a real medal hope for Australia but was forced to withdraw from the high jump finals due to injury.
Despite the situation, she said she hoped "someone else's dream comes alive" in her place.
By Jon Healy
Here's our first speaker
John Crabtree is the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands.
He says "to salute" the organisers for their efforts in putting on these Games wouldn't be praise enough.
The businessman and philanthropist says he hopes the improved infrastructure in Birmingham provides more opportunity for people in the region going forward.
"This is truly a global and international city. A region of enterprise and energy."
By Kelsie Iorio
Our athletes: Kyle Bruce 🥈
This young Commonwealth Games debutant has shared some really open reflections of his experience in Birmingham — and what a wild experience it was, having his gold medal-winning performance overruled and stripped back to silver.
We reckon we'll see Kyle again in Victoria — as he says himself: "I will be back for gold".
By Kelsie Iorio
Celebrating Rum Runner
We're really getting an education on Birmingham music and arts here today — this next sequence of the closing ceremony is a nod to music venue Rum Runner which has hosted some of the biggest artists in the world.
Front-of-stage is Talulah-Eve, a local television personality and model.
From there, the ceremony pays tribute to Birmingham's youth — as the city with one of the youngest average populations, it makes sense.
Raza Hussain, Mahalia and Jaykae are the featured performers.
By Jon Healy
Peaky Blinders dance troupe
Rambert, a dace company that promotes diversity among its dancers, is putting on a show, basically advertising their Peaky Blinders performances.
Dancing on top of the Garrison Tavern. You know, from the show.
By Kelsie Iorio
We've been hearing music from all around the West Midlands
Performances from Goldie, Beverley Knight, Jorja Smith and The Selecter are celebrating Birmingham's underground music scene.
By Kelsie Iorio
Your thoughts on the Games:
The true sportsmanship exhibited by these Commonwealth Games athletes, is somewhat besmirched by media driven , boasting hype of which nation has won the most medals ..I think it becomes an obsession, & slightly demeans the wonderful effort all these athletes, from countries , rich & poor , contribute ..
- Michael Hancock
By Kelsie Iorio
The Birmingham sound system
We're just hearing a little collection of Birmingham-famous tracks next up at the closing ceremony.
It starts with Boom Shack-A-Lack by Apache Indian, then into a rendition of Pass The Dutchie by Musical Youth, which is conveniently trending on TikTok for all the actual youth out there. I can think of more appropriate songs for a group of kids to be singing, but it is what it is.
Next is Red Red Wine, performed by UB40.
By Kelsie Iorio
Our athletes: Clay Mason Stephens
Clay's unwaveringly positive attitude (and incredible cork hat) really stood out to me these Games.
He said after his all-around final that despite missing out on a medal, he "enjoyed (it) regardless of the result because I chose to do so." Something we can all take with us!
