About 6,000 athletes from 72 nations and nearly 3 million people attended the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, making it the UK's largest sporting event since the 2012 London Olympics. More than 300,000 spectators gathered at the Alexander Stadium for athletics, the opening ceremony, and the closing ceremony.
Among the fans was an electric van packed with instruments to measure air pollution. Dr Joe Acton, from the University of Birmingham, described the van as a tight and noisy workspace with limited home comforts. The warm and sunny weather contributed to a great atmosphere but made operating the instruments very hot.
Key Findings on Air Pollution
Dr Acton summarised the results: the main surprise was particle pollution in the fan areas around the stadium. For a spectator attending a full day of events, their daily exposure would be more than doubled. Particle pollution peaked before each stadium session and reached a maximum just before the closing ceremony, when it was 10 times greater than other parts of the city.
The main source was not traffic but catering, which was dominated by fast food such as burgers, hotdogs, and stir-fries. Other research, including a study of the UK's 'eat out to help out' scheme, has shown particle pollution from catering and restaurants, mainly from frying.
Pollution Patterns During Events
The catering pollution was greatest before the opening and closing ceremonies but fell quickly as spectators took their seats. A second pollution peak occurred during the firework displays. During the athletics events, a different pattern emerged with prolonged pollution as people visited catering outlets throughout the sessions.
Professor William Bloss, who led the University of Birmingham team, said: 'As well as impacting staff and spectators, poor air will also impact athletic performance, making it an important issue for organisers of events like the Commonwealth Games – and for athletes seeking records.' He noted that there are 34 venues in the UK with a capacity greater than that of Alexander Stadium, and urged event organisers to consider the impact of cooking from concession stands, particularly for staff and volunteers who may be exposed for multiple days.
Successes in Air Quality Management
There were two notable air pollution successes. 'There was little detectable impact from Games traffic,' said Dr Acton. 'The traffic management during the Birmingham Commonwealth Games worked from an air quality perspective. This likely reflects the emphasis on park and ride sites and public transport.' Stadium access was limited to a small number of vehicles used to transport athletes and officials. Event tickets included free public transport, with walking routes to the venues and free cycle hire and parking.
Smoking was banned at the 2022 Commonwealth Games events, and no tobacco smoke was detected. This contrasted with a 2012 study of air pollution at a German Bundesliga football match, which found that tobacco smoke was the dominant source of air pollution in the stadium.
