Laura May McMullanBBC Midlands Today

BBC Four girls in black shirts and shorts stand together with their arms around each other and smile at the camera. They stand on a newly renovated outdoor basketball court.BBC

Around £600,000 has been invested in renovating 17 basketball courts in Birmingham

More than half a million pounds has been invested to improve and renovate basketball courts across Birmingham.

The 17 courts have been transformed by around £600,000 of funding, following the success of the England men’s team winning gold and the women’s team winning silver at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Orlan Jackman, who played in the men’s winning team, said: “It makes me feel extremely proud that this little gold medal was able to create this opportunity that thousands of kids have been able to use and it’s just so easily accessible.

“All you really need to do is have a ball.”

A man in a maroon zip-up top holds up a gold medal which is hung on a blue lanyard around his neck. He looks at the camera while standing on an outdoor basketball court. Several boys are at the back of the court.

Orlan Jackman was part of the England men’s team which won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022

The funding has been given by Birmingham City Council and Sports England in the hopes of boosting participation and improving grassroots facilities.

One of the courts that has benefited from the funding is at the Clifton Road Youth Club.

One of the children who goes to the club said: “It’s made me really happy because before it was a really bad court, it was like playing on a pavement.

“If you fell over it would really hurt you.

“I’ve been coming here since I started playing basketball and I love how much love has been put into it.”

Several girls also said they hoped the move would encourage more girls into the sport.

Several boys and two men wearing all black stand on an outdoor basketball pitch. One man holds two black and red basketballs while another is thrown in the air above him.

Clifton Road Youth Club has benefited from the funding

Speaking about the new court, Laszlo Puskas, a basketball freestyler, said: “Anything that gets young people playing basketball I’m all for it and this is a special location because, yes it’s outside, but it has a roof on it.”

Tarryn Algar added: “This is a great location, a safe place for the kids to come to and spend their free time.”

Basketball England is donating £140,000 to host tournaments and training sessions in Birmingham.

Toby Wilkinson from the organisation said: “In the city of Birmingham it’s taken a huge leap forward in the last 18 months with this project.

“There’s academies for teenagers to get involved, there’s a real pathway there so if you get kids playing basketball young then they’ve got a route there to be able to play it for life.

“And with free access across the newly renovated sites, youngsters of all ages are being encouraged to get down to their local court and help the legacy live on.”