Tomorrow (Thursday 4 August, 2022) the city will host the Commonwealth Games men’s and women’s cycling Time Trials, starting and finishing at the spectacular West Park.
Anyone who can’t get tickets to the event can watch all the action for free at the Wolverhampton Festival Site at Old Market Square from 9.30am to 6pm tomorrow.
New additions have been added to the line up for the festival site, including a live music performance from Bryony Williams and a virtual reality experience allowing you to see Wolverhampton in a completely new way by using technology to bring hidden stories of the city to life.
And the first 150 people to arrive from 9.30am can enjoy a free breakfast bap!
Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the excitement of live sport as cyclists zoom through Old Market Square or grab a seat, soak up the electric atmosphere and watch all the action on the big screen.
There will be interviews with sporting stars such as Kinga Ingram who graduated from the British Cycling Junior Academy in 2021 and joins Storey Racing for her second full season, and Wolverhampton’s very own Commonwealth Games gold medallist Hugh Porter MBE who will be offering his thoughts on the Time Trials as well as revealing exciting facts about what happens during the race.
As well as live music from Hit the Dhol and Copicats, there will be a dance performance by Flexus Dance Collective, and a showing of the Beverley Bennett film showcase: Nation’s Finest, Putting Down Roots & Birthing.
There will also be ‘have a go’ cycling activities, information stands, a great range of food and beverages, face painting, children’s rides and much more and of course, a live screen to catch all the action from the Time Trial event itself, promising a great day out for all the family.
Wulfrunian and Olivier award nominated actress Frances Barber will lead people on a journey of discovery using ground breaking multimedia technology at the StoryTrails experience – she narrates an augmented reality trail through the city centre which explores Wolverhampton’s role in the textile industry and fashion glamour, from Courthaulds Textile Works to department store Beatties and the town centre of the 1960s.
In a new addition, the Tettenhall Transport Heritage Centre will be bringing a spectacular display of Wolverhampton made bikes showcasing the history of cycle manufacturing and racing in the city.
To support access to the city, a free park and ride service will run from the city’s racecourse to Wulfruna Street, operating at 15 minute intervals from 7.30am to 7.30pm – which is the perfect way to arrive and enjoy the Festival Site.
Cyclists can access an additional 250 cycle parking spaces at School Street car park which is right next to Old Market Square. The free and secure cycle park will be open from 9.30am to 5pm tomorrow and will cater for all bikes, including accessible or large cycles, as well as cycle helmets. Additional free cycle parking will also be available on Games day inside West Park and Phoenix Park. Cyclists are asked to please bring their own locks.
Temporary parking for Blue Badge Holders who do not have tickets to the Cycling Time Trials has been created for the day on Church Street. There are 19 bays available, and this will be the closest disabled parking for easier access to the Festival Site on Old Market Square. Please be sure to check the road closures section on the City of Wolverhampton Council’s website to plan your journey.
Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change, said: “There are just hours to go before Wolverhampton welcomes the Commonwealth Games Cycling Time Trials which will be a hugely historic day for the city.
“If you couldn’t get tickets to the main event, that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the day. I’d encourage you all to take advantage of the free park and ride service running from the racecourse to Wulfruna Street and get yourself down to Old Market Square where you can watch all the action for free at our Festival Site.
“With ‘have a go’ activities, sporting commentary, live entertainment and now the introduction of a virtual reality experience, cycling heritage displays and a free breakfast bap for the first 150 guests, this is the perfect day out for all the family to enjoy.”
To find out more information about the Games, please visit Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Information about bin collections, road closures and parking are also included on this website.
