Following the opening ceremony at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham tomorrow (July 28), the Commonwealth Games will bring some of the world's best sporting talent to the West Midlands for just over a week.

In Coventry and Warwickshire the lawn bowls, para bowls, rugby sevens and football will all be held at ticketed venues.

But there are a number of opportunities for local people to see the Birmingham 2022 action for free.

Cycling Road Race - Warwick

Of course, closest to home is the cycling road race which will take place in Warwick on Sunday, August 7.

The route will start and finish at a ticketed venue at St Nicholas Park - but the rest of the course will be free for spectators to watch from.

A 16km loop through the centre of Warwick will be completed 10 times by the men in the afternoon and seven times by the women in the morning.

The course will see the riders leave St Nicholas Park and head past the castle and over the A46 to Hampton on the Hill and Budbrooke.

Riders will return to Warwick down the A4177 and head to Leamington past Victoria Park before returning to St Nicholas Park.

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Riders will complete a number of laps of the 16km loop (image via Commonwealth Games)

Triathlon and Para Triathlon - Sutton Park

The triathalons will take place over two days at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield.

The individual events will be held on Friday 29 July, with the mixed relay two days later on Sunday 31 July.

Having been held at the 'sprint distance' of a 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run at Gold Coast in 2018, Birmingham 2022 will also use the "fast and frenetic version".

There are five medal events in the Birmingham 2022 triathlon competition; individual women, individual men, para individual women, para individual men and a 'mixed team relay' event.

The start and finish points are ticketed but the rest of the route is free for people to come and go as they please.

The triathalon events will be held over two days at Sutton Park (image via Commonwealth Games)

Marathon - Birmingham

Coinciding unfortunately with rail strikes this weekend, the marathon will be held in Birmingham city centre on Saturday, 30 July.

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The route will start at Smithfield and will see competitors complete an 18km loop twice, before heading south out of the city towards Bournville and Selly Oak.

They will then return to the city centre to finish in Victoria Square.

The races will run from 7.30am to 1.30pm.

The marathon course will see a nymber of loops completed around the city centre and out to Bournville (Image via Commonwealth Games)

Mountain Biking - Cannock Chase

The second of three free cycling events will be held at Cannock Chase.

Spectators can enjoy the mountain biking on Wednesday, 3 August.

Specific viewing areas will be signposted.

And spectators have been warned that there is limited parking.

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Cycling Time Trial - Wolverhampton and Dudley

And the final free cycling event is the cycling time trial.

The men's and women's road races will start and finish at Wolverhampton's West Park on Thursday, 4 August.

The men will complete a 37km circuit taking in parts of Wolverhampton, Dudley, Himley and Wombourne.

Whilst the women will cover a 29km course.

The event will run from 10am to 4pm.

(Header image by Niki Walton via geograph.org.uk)