Commonwealth Games fan zones planned across Birmingham

The games is running from July 28 to August 8, with events planned across the West Midlands.

And with less than six months until the event begins, the first 'festival sites' have been announced.

All of the sites planned so far are in Birmingham, however it is hoped that similar zones will be created in the Black Country and Staffordshire.

The cycling time-trial is starting and finishing in West Park in Wolverhampton, with the route also taking in Dudley, Sedgley and Gornal.

Meanwhile all swimming and diving events will take place at the new Sandwell Aquatics centre in Smethwick and Cannock Chase will host the mountain biking events.

The festival sites will be free to enter and, if approved by local councils, they will provide an opportunity for people without tickets to feel a part of the action.

Organisers say they will combine sport, culture, food and drink, and offer the chance to watch the sport on big screens as well as live performances from artists and community groups.

The proposals include each neighbourhood site being open for two days during the Games, and Birmingham 2022 is submitting licence applications for festival sites at a number of locations.

These include Farnborough Fields in Castle Vales, Sense Touchbase Pears in Selly Oak, Sparkhill Park, Edgbaston Reservoir, Oaklands Recreation Ground in Yardley, Handsworth Park and Ward End Park.

A site for people with complex disabilities is also proposed at the Sense Touchbase Pears in Selly Oak. It is set to be managed by the charity Sense and include specially-adapted programming and quiet spaces and activities.

Martin Green, chief creative officer for Birmingham 2022, said: "It is really important to us that residents from across the city have the opportunity to celebrate and embrace the Games, even if they don’t have tickets for one of our competition venues.

"These festival sites would make that sure that this is possible."

There are also plans for large-scale city centre Festival Sites.

A Games spokeswoman said that discussions had been made for festival sites to be set up across the Black Country but nothing has yet been confirmed.