With the Commonwealth Games kicking off next week, there is plenty of sport to look forward to this summer with 19 different sport codes and thousands of athletes set to compete on our screens.
However, it isn’t just sports stars taking part this year, as Birmingham 2022, Sport Relief, and the BBC are teaming up to bring an All Stars event to the Games.
Sport Relief All Star events at the Commonwealth Games
Two teams from the world of sport and entertainment will be going head-to-head to raise money for charity, and you can watch the action unfold on your TV.
Headed up by captains Ellie Simmons OBE and Dame Kelly Holmes, the teams will take on five sports including Track Cycling, Athletics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Basketball, and Table Tennis.
The event will allow you to see celebrities ‘as you’ve never seen them before’ as they take to one of the world’s largest sporting stages to compete.
Ellie Simmonds OBE said: ‘I’m so excited to lead the Blue Team in the All-Star Games and feel really proud to be supporting Sport Relief again. I’ve been involved in Sport Relief for years, but I know this is going to be the most fun. I can’t wait to get the team into training and make sure we all work really hard to raise as much money as we can… but also win!’
Fierce competition at the All Star events
Things are going to be tense, and Simmonds has made clear that as much as she admires and respects Holmes she will ‘leave that at the door’ as ‘winning is all that matters.’
The sentiment is clearly shared by Holmes who said: ‘I hear Ellie is determined for her team to win but I don’t fancy her chances!’
‘I love seeing people getting involved in sport and giving things a go – getting out of their comfort zone and just having fun. This competition is right up my street and it’s a real honour to leading the Red Team. I’ve been a supporter of Sport Relief for such a long time now and know the work they support is completely life changing,’ she continued.
The teams are set to be released soon, and you can catch the build-up, training, and competition action in a one-hour programme on Monday 8th August at BBC One at 7pm.