@westmidlandspolice

🤩 Four years ago, when we won the prize of the Commonwealth Games, could anyone have believed what this would actually mean for Birmingham and the West Midlands? 🐂 The last few weeks have seen an explosion of colour and culture in the opening ceremony. A mechanical bull that has captured our hearts. Days of sport in spectacular venues, with athletes from across the world and over a million spectators and visitors to this region. Whilst the process of packing up at the conclusion of these events is underway, I think it is worth recognising what remains in our city and for us all to take a moment of reflection to look back on what has been achieved. 💙 Birmingham and the region have changed forever. A city has been reborn in the eyes of the people of Britain and the world, but most importantly those who live and work here. The civic pride that we have all felt that this has happened in our place, will endure. The way visitors have talked about this friendly place; the beautiful squares and the spectacular shops, restaurants and the youth and diversity. It has finally been our moment in Birmingham and the West Midlands to shine and shine we have! We are no second city. 🙌 There will of course be a different feeling in the next few weeks as we find it hard to settle back into normality. We are a region with our challenges and we need to deal with them, but we will never actually go back, because we know we have delivered this incredible moment. Investment and new opportunities lie ahead for the region, because of the new brand we have created. 😆 I hope this is the start of an amazing period for this region. Where we build upon this. As the Games brand said “Sport is just the beginning”. 🌟 Whatever the future holds, for now we have the satisfaction of knowing that when the big moment came, West Midlands Police, with a little help from our friends in policing, aced it! Thank you. Sir David Thompson, West Midlands Police Chief Constable #police #policefamily #community #commonwealthgames2022 #commonwealthgames