Birmingham 2022: Hometown Heroes unveiled for Commonwealth Games
14 of them have been revealed
Last updated 5th Jul 2022
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has unveiled its list of 14 Hometown Heroes.
They're inspiring local champions of community sport in the West Midlands.
The campaign celebrates and recognises the diversity of the region by shining a spotlight on those that go above and beyond to develop sport, encourage participation and promote physical and mental wellbeing in their community.
The Hometown Heroes include 14 selfless individuals, made up of coaches, managers, umpires, and fundraisers, who have dedicated their lives to grassroots sport in the West Midlands.
To celebrate their inclusion, each Hometown Hero will be profiled on Birmingham 2022’s website and social media channels over the coming weeks and will each receive a special glass award to mark their achievement.
One of the Hometown Heroes recognised is Haseebah Abdullah – England’s first hijab-wearing boxing coach and an incredible ambassador for womens sport.
Coaching at Windmill Boxing Gym in Smethwick, Haseebah has been key to promoting and developing female participation in boxing in her community, having also played a huge role in changing official dress code rules to allow women to wear a headscarf and full length clothing.
Known for making others feel welcome and comfortable, Haseebah has seen the confidence of the club members soar and membership numbers increase.
Kevin Dillon, who has also been recognised as a Hometown Hero, is the Head Coach at Lions Amateur Boxing Club in Brierley Hill.
Kevin, who is visually-impaired having contracted meningitis as a child, has coached hundreds of boxers aged from six to 60 in his time at the club and has always aimed to get the best out of them, both physically and mentally.
In 2019, Kevin launched a podcast called 'Black Country Blokes’, which covers the struggles and successes that men experience, with topics such as mental and physical health, fitness, work and family life, aiming to remove the stigma around taboo subjects.
Bringing this ethos into his gym, Kevin also set up a men’s support group which involves an hour of training, followed by an hour to talk openly about whatever is on their mind.
The full list of Hometown Heroes consists of:
To mark the announcement, former Birmingham Poet Laureate and four-times Birmingham and Midland boxing champion Matt Windle has written and performed a spoken word poem, entitled Hometown Hero.
The piece is inspired by the Hometown Heroes’ stories and reflects their drive and determination to support participation in grassroots sport in their communities.
Birmingham 2022 launched the search for Hometown Heroes in October 2020, welcoming nominations for those that always the extra mile to develop sport in their local community.
After receiving hundreds of nominations, the final list of Hometown Heroes was chosen by a judging panel consisting of Sarah Rennie, Chair of Birmingham 2022 Accessibility Advisory Forum; Ammo Talwar, Chair of UK Music Diversity Taskforce; Mike Chamberlain, Chief Executive of Sport Birmingham; Piero Zizzi, Founder of Proud Baggies and Abigail Shervington, Lead Community Engagement Manager at Birmingham 2022.
The announcement comes as applications to volunteer at Birmingham 2022 will open on 1st June 2021.
13,000 spirited, dedicated and dynamic volunteers are required to be the heartbeat of the Commonwealth Games, and will become a community of passionate people that help deliver the biggest sporting and cultural event the West Midlands has ever seen.
Ian Reid, CEO of Birmingham 2022, said:
“I’m in awe of our 14 Hometown Heroes.
"Their generosity to their club, whether that’s giving up their time or just being a listening ear, is inspiring. Birmingham 2022 promises to be the Games for Everyone, and whilst it’ll be an event that brings together the best athletes in the world, we are also aiming to inspire the next generation.
"Shining the spotlight on these devoted individuals will no doubt encourage participation in sport and physical activity across the West Midlands.”
Sarah Rennie, Hometown Heroes judge and Chair of Birmingham 2022 Accessibility Advisory Forum, said:
“It was my pleasure to be involved in the judging process for Hometown Heroes. After a difficult year, it was uplifting to read the nominations which demonstrated how one person’s dedication can enhance a community. These people put others first and deserve recognition for their selfless work, and in some cases, breaking down barriers placed in their own way.”
Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport and Tourism, said:
"These Hometown Heroes represent the West Midlands at its very best. Their dedication to grassroots sport is inspiring and I am delighted this is being recognised by Birmingham 2022."