Organisers for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games have announced a new partnership with Sport Relief ahead of the start of the Games on 28 July.

The partnership sees Sport Relief become the third official charity partner of the upcoming Commonwealth Games, joining the Commonwealth Sport Foundation and United By 2022 Legacy Charity.

The charity, which has raised more than £419 million (AUD$792 million) since it was launched by the Comic Relief charity, will help organise a series of events and activities to be shown in BBC broadcast in the lead up to the Games.

The money to be raised in relation to the partnership will contribute to tackling mental health issues, gender equality, and young people in the UK and around the world.

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Board chair, John Crabtree, said: “This partnership marks an extremely exciting and significant moment in the life of the Games.”

“Working with Sport Relief means that together, we can use the transformative power of sport to not only entertain, but also raise funds for important causes that will have a lasting positive impact.

“As Birmingham and the West Midlands gets ready for the Games and starts to come alive throughout 2022, this is a perfect announcement to get an unforgettable year off to an epic start,” Crabtree said.

Comic Relief co-founder, Sir Lenny Henry, said: “Having just missed out on qualifying for the diving, beach volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics, or sixteen other teams – yes, I tried out for them all in what felt like my very own sports day – it’s fair to say I was beyond chuffed when I found out Sport Relief had been named as an official charity partner of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

“This year is going to be such an incredible year of sport for Birmingham, the West Midlands and the UK as a whole, and I’m so proud to see Sport Relief kicking off its new journey alongside such a highly anticipated sporting event,” Henry said.