TheCommonwealth Games[a] is a quadrennial internationalmulti-sport event that brings together athletes from across theCommonwealth of Nations, a political association comprising the majority of former territories of theBritish Empire. First held as theBritish Empire Games in1930, the event has evolved through several name changes, reflecting the changing geopolitical landscape and gradual decolonisation of the Empire. It was known as the British Empire Games until1950, theBritish Empire and Commonwealth Games until1966, and theBritish Commonwealth Games until1974. Since the1978 edition, the event has been officially known as the Commonwealth Games, a name that reflects its modern identity while maintaining its historic connection to Britain.
The Games are overseen by theCommonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which determines thesporting programme and awards hosting rights. The event upholds its unique traditions, such as theKing's Baton Relay and the ceremonial hoisting of the Commonwealth Games flag. It is distinguished from other international sporting competitions by its inclusivity and heritage. Athletes with a disability have been integrated as full team members since 2002, and in 2018, the Games became the first global multi-sport competition to offer equal medal events for men and women. By 2022, women's events outnumbered men's for the first time. In addition to mainstreamOlympic sports, the Commonwealth Games includes disciplines such asnetball, lawnbowls andsquash, which enjoy particular popularity within the Commonwealth.
To date, twenty cities in nine countries have hosted the Games.Australia leads with five editions, while bothAuckland andEdinburgh have hosted twice.Glasgow will become the third city to do so, having held the Games in 2014 and again in2026. The most recent edition was held inBirmingham in 2022. Originally, the2026 Commonwealth Games were awarded toVictoria in Australia, but cost concerns led to the state's withdrawal. Subsequently, Glasgow was confirmed as the replacement host city. The upcoming Games will be markedly smaller in scale, featuring only ten sports. As part of a settlement agreement, the Victorian government will provide over £2 million to the Glasgow organisers.[5][6][7][8] The next edition of the Games, the twenty-third orXXIII, is scheduled to be held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 2026.
A sporting competition bringing together the members of theBritish Empire was first proposed by John Astley Cooper in 1891, five years before the first modernOlympic Games, who wrote letters and articles for several periodicals suggesting a "Pan Brittanic, PanAnglican Contest every four years as a means of increasing goodwill and understanding of the British Empire."[9] John Astley Cooper Committees were formed in Australia,New Zealand andSouth Africa to promote the idea and inspiredPierre de Coubertin to start the internationalOlympic Games movement.[10][11]
In 1911, an Inter-Empire Championship was held alongside theFestival of Empire, atThe Crystal Palace inLondon to celebrate thecoronation of George V, and were championed byThe Earl of Plymouth andLord Desborough.[12][13] Teams from Australasia (Australia and New Zealand), Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom competed in events for athletics, boxing, swimming and wrestling.[14] Canada won the championships and was presented with a silver cup (gifted byLord Lonsdale) which was 2 feet 6 inches (76 cm) high and weighed 340 ounces (9.6 kg). A correspondent of theAuckland Star criticised the Games, calling them a "grievous disappointment" that were "not worthy of the title of 'Empire Sports'".[15]
Although there are 56 sovereign states that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, there are 74 activeCommonwealth Games Associations.[18]They are divided into six regions (Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Oceania) and each has a similar function to theNational Olympic Committees in relation with their countries or territories. In some, likeIndia andSouth Africa, the CGA functions are assumed by their NOCs.
Only six national federations have participated in every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand,Scotland andWales. Of these six, Australia, England, Canada and New Zealand have each won at least one gold medal in every Games. Australia has been the highest-achieving team for thirteen editions of the Games, England for seven and Canada for one. These three teams also top the all-time Commonwealth Games medal table in that order.
The1930 British Empire Games were the first of what later became known as the Commonwealth Games, and was held inHamilton,Ontario, Canada from 16 to 23 August 1930 and opened byLord Willingdon.[19] Eleven countries: Australia,Bermuda,British Guyana, Canada, England,Northern Ireland,Newfoundland, New Zealand,Scotland, South Africa andWales, sent a total of 400 athletes to compete in athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming and diving and wrestling. The opening and closing ceremonies as well as athletics took place atCivic Stadium.[20] The cost of the Games were $97,973.[20] Women competed in only the aquatic events.[21] Canadian triple jumperGordon Smallacombe won the first ever gold medal in the history of the Games.[22]
The1934 British Empire Games were the second of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games, held inLondon, England. The host city was London, with the main venue atWembley Park, although the track cycling events were inManchester. The 1934 Games had originally been awarded toJohannesburg, but was given to London instead because of serious concerns about prejudice against Asian and black athletes in South Africa. The affiliation of Irish athletes at the 1934 Games representationremains unclear but there was no officialIrish Free State team. Sixteen national teams took part, including new participantsHong Kong,India,Jamaica,Southern Rhodesia andTrinidad and Tobago.[23]
The1938 British Empire Games were the third British Empire Games, which was held inSydney,New South Wales, Australia. It was timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary (150 years since the foundation of British settlement in Australia). Held in theSouthern Hemisphere for the first time, the III Games opening ceremony took place at the famedSydney Cricket Ground in front of 40,000 spectators. Fifteen nations participated down under at the Sydney Games involving a total of 464 athletes and 43 officials.Fiji andCeylon made their debuts. Seven sports were featured in the Sydney Games – athletics, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming and diving and wrestling.[24]
The1950 British Empire Games were the fourth edition and were held inAuckland, New Zealand, after a twelve-year gap from the third edition of the games. The fourth games were originally awarded toMontreal, Canada and was to be held in 1942, but was cancelled due to theSecond World War. The opening ceremony atEden Park was attended by 40,000 spectators, while nearly 250,000 people attended the Auckland Games. Twelve countries sent a total of 590 athletes to Auckland.Malaya andNigeria made their first appearances.[25]
The fifth edition of the Games, the1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, were held inVancouver,British Columbia, Canada. This was the first event since the name change from British Empire Games took effect in 1952, the same year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. The fifth edition of the Games placed Vancouver on a world stage and featured memorable sporting moments as well as outstanding entertainment, technical innovation and cultural events. The 'Miracle Mile', as it became known, saw both the gold medallist,Roger Bannister of England and silver medallistJohn Landy of Australia, run sub-four-minute races in an event that was televised live across the world for the first time.Northern Rhodesia andPakistan made their debuts and both performed well, winning eight and six medals respectively.[26]
The1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held inCardiff, Wales. The sixth edition of the games marked the largest sporting event ever held in Wales and it was the smallest country ever to host a British Empire and Commonwealth Games.Cardiff had to wait twelve years longer than originally scheduled to become host of the Games, as the 1946 event was cancelled because of theSecond World War. The Cardiff Games introduced theQueen's Baton Relay, which has been conducted as a prelude to every British Empire and Commonwealth Games ever since. Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,122 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including for the first time,Singapore,Ghana,Kenya and theIsle of Man.[27] In the run up to the Cardiff games, many leading sports stars includingStanley Matthews,Jimmy Hill andDon Revie were signatories in a letter toThe Times on 17 July 1958 deploring the presence of white-only South African sports, opposing 'the policy of apartheid' in international sport and defending 'the principle of racial equality which is embodied in the Declaration of the Olympic Games'.[28]
The1974 British Commonwealth Games were held inChristchurch, New Zealand. The event was officially namedThe Friendly Games, and was also the first edition to feature a theme song. Following themassacre of Israeli athletes at the1972 Munich Olympics, the tenth games at Christchurch were the firstmulti-sport event to place the safety of participants and spectators as its uppermost requirement. Security guards surrounded the athlete's village and there was an exceptionally high-profile police presence. Only 22 countries succeeded in winning medals from the total haul of 374 medals on offer, but first time winners includedWestern Samoa,Lesotho and Swaziland (since 2018 namedEswatini).[32] The theme song for the 1974 British Commonwealth Games was called "Join Together".
The1978 Commonwealth Games were held inEdmonton,Alberta, Canada. This event was the first to bear the current day name of the Commonwealth Games, and also marked a new high as almost 1,500 athletes from 46 countries took part. They were boycotted byNigeria in protest againstNew Zealand's sporting contacts withapartheid-eraSouth Africa, as well as byUganda in protest at alleged Canadian hostilities toward the government ofIdi Amin.[33][34]
The1982 Commonwealth Games were held inBrisbane,Queensland, Australia. Forty-six nations participated in theBrisbane Games with a new record total of 1,583 athletes and 571 officials. As hosts, Australia headed the medal table leading the way ahead of England, Canada, Scotland and New Zealand respectively.Zimbabwe made its first appearance at the Games, having earlier competed asSouthern Rhodesia and as part ofRhodesia and Nyasaland.[35] The theme song for the 1982 Commonwealth Games was called "You're Here To Win".
The1986 Commonwealth Games were held inEdinburgh, Scotland and were the second Games to be held in Edinburgh. Participation at the 1986 Games was affected by a boycott by 32 African, Asian and Caribbean nations in protest at British Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher's refusal to condemn sporting contacts of apartheid era South Africa in 1985, but the Games rebounded and continued to grow thereafter. Twenty-six nations did attend the second Edinburgh Games, and sent a total of 1,662 athletes and 461 officials.[36] The theme song for the 1986 Commonwealth Games was called "Spirit Of Youth".
The1990 Commonwealth Games were held inAuckland, New Zealand. They were the fourteenth Commonwealth Games, the third to be hosted byNew Zealand and Auckland's second. A new record of 55 nations participated in the second Auckland Games, sending 2,826 athletes and officials.[37] Pakistan returned to the Commonwealth in 1989 after withdrawing in 1972, and competed in the 1990 Games after an absence of twenty years.[38] The theme song for the 1990 Commonwealth Games was called "This Is The Moment".
The1994 Commonwealth Games were held inVictoria,British Columbia, Canada. This event was the fourth to take place in Canada. The games marked another point ofSouth Africa's return to the sporting atmosphere following theapartheid era, and over thirty years since the country last competed in theGames in 1958.Namibia made its Commonwealth Games debut following its independence from South Africa in 1990. It was also Hong Kong's last appearance at the games before thetransfer of sovereignty from Britain to China. Sixty-three nations sent 2,557 athletes and 914 officials.[39] The theme song for the 1994 Commonwealth Games was called "Let Your Spirit Take Flight".
The1998 Commonwealth Games were held inKuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For the first time in its 68-year history, the Commonwealth Games were held in Asia. The event was also the first Games to feature team sports (cricket, rugby 7s,netball and field hockey) along ten pin bowling and squash– an overwhelming success that added large numbers to both participant and TV audience numbers. A new record of 70 countries sent a total of 5,065 athletes and officials to the Kuala Lumpur Games. The top five countries in the medal standing were Australia, England, Canada, Malaysia (who made their best games' performance until that date) and South Africa.Nauru also achieved an impressive haul of three gold medals.Cameroon,Mozambique,Kiribati andTuvalu debuted.[40] The theme song for the 1998 Commonwealth Games was called "Forever As One".
The2002 Commonwealth Games were held inManchester, England. The event was hosted in England for the first time since 1934 and hosted to coincide with theGolden Jubilee of Elizabeth II, head of theCommonwealth. In terms of sports and events, the 2002 event was until the 2010 edition the largest Commonwealth Games in history featuring 281 events across 17 sports. The final medal tally was led by Australia, followed by host England and Canada. The 2002 Commonwealth Games had set a new benchmark for hosting the Commonwealth Games and for cities wishing to bid for them with a heavy emphasis on legacy.[41] The theme song for the 2002 Commonwealth Games was called "Where My Heart Will Take Me".
The2006 Commonwealth Games were held inMelbourne,Victoria, Australia. The only difference between the2006 games and the2002 games was the absence ofZimbabwe, which withdrew from theCommonwealth of Nations after being suspended by the organization in 2002.[42] For the first time in the history of the Games theQueen's Baton visited every single Commonwealth nation and territory taking part in the Games, a journey of 180,000 kilometres (110,000 mi). Over 4000 athletes took part in the sporting competitions. Again the Top 3 on the medal table is Australia, followed by England and Canada.[43] The theme song for the 2006 Commonwealth Games was called "Together We Are One".
The2010 Commonwealth Games were held inDelhi, India. The Games cost $11 billion and were the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever. It was the first time that the Commonwealth Games was held in India, also the first time that aCommonwealth republic hosted the games and the second time it was held in Asia after Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events. The finalmedal tally was led byAustralia. The host nation India achieved itsbest performance ever in any sporting event, finishing second overall.[44]Rwanda made its Games debut.[45] The theme song for the 2010 Commonwealth Games was called "Live, Rise, Ascend, Win".
The2014 Commonwealth Games were held inGlasgow, Scotland. These games were the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland with around 4,950 athletes from 71 different nations and territories competing in 18 different sports, outranking the 1970 and 1986 Commonwealth Games inEdinburgh, capital city of Scotland.Usain Bolt competed in the4×100 metres relay of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and set aCommonwealth Games record with his teammates.[46] The Games received acclaim for their organisation, attendance, and the public enthusiasm of the people of Scotland, with the CGF chief executive Mike Hooper hailing them as "the standout games in the history of the movement".[47]
The2018 Commonwealth Games were held inGold Coast,Queensland, Australia, the fifth time Australia hosted the Games. There were an equal number of events for men and women, the first time in history that a major multi-sport event had equality in terms of events.[48][49]
On 16 February 2022, it was announced that the2026 Commonwealth Games would be held for a record sixth time inAustralia, but for the first time they would be decentralised, as the state ofVictoria signed as host 'city'. The event were to have four regional clusters mainly focused inBendigo region, and another three regional centres. However, in July 2023, the Victorian PremierDaniel Andrews announced that Victoria would no longer host the 2026 Games.[51] The Scottish government later agreed to hold the 2026 games in Glasgow, following Victoria's cancellation, however the games will be "scaled down" with only 10 sports being staged in four venues, and a commitment that public funds would not be required.[52] The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be the first held under the reign ofKing Charles III.The three nations to have hosted the Commonwealth Games the most times are Australia (5), Canada (4) and New Zealand (3). With the 2022 games, England increased its number to three. Three games have been hosted inScotland, one inWales, two in Asia (Malaysia (1) andIndia (1)) and one in the Caribbean (Jamaica (1)).[53] The event has been awarded to, but never been held in, Africa, withDurban being stripped of the 2022 Games following financial issues.
The Commonwealth Paraplegic Games were an international,multi-sport event involving athletes with a disability from theCommonwealth countries. The event was sometimes referred to as the Paraplegic Empire Games and British Commonwealth Paraplegic Games. Athletes were generally those withspinal injuries orpolio. The event was first held in 1962 and disestablished in 1974.[54] The Games were held in the country hosting the Commonwealth Games for able-bodied athletes. The countries that had hosted the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games were Australia, Jamaica, Scotland and New Zealand in1962,1966,1970 and1974. Six countries – Australia, England, New Zealand,Northern Ireland,Scotland andWales — had been represented at all Commonwealth Paraplegic Games. Australia and England had been[citation needed] the top-ranking nation two times each:1962,1974 and1966,1970.[citation needed]
Inclusion of disabled athletes in Commonwealth Games
Athletes with a disability were then first included the1994 Commonwealth Games inVictoria, British Columbia when this events was added to athletics and lawn bowls,[55] As at2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, they were included as compulsory events, making them the first fullyinclusive international multi-sport games. This meant that results were included in the medal count and the athletes are full members of each country delegation.[56]
During the 2007 General Assembly of theCommonwealth Games Federation (CGF) atColombo,Sri Lanka, theInternational Paralympic Committee (IPC) and CGF signed a co-operative agreement to ensure a formal institutional relationship between the two bodies and secure the future participation of elite athletes with a disability (EAD) in future Commonwealth Games.
Then, IPC PresidentPhilip Craven said during the General Assembly:
"We look forward to working with CGF to develop the possibilities of athletes with a disability at the Commonwealth Games and within the Commonwealth. This partnership will help to galvanize Paralympic sports development in Commonwealth countries/territories and seek to create and promote greater opportunities in sport for athletes with a disability".
The co-operation agreement outlined the strong partnership between the IPC and the CGF. It recognised the IPC as the respective sport body and have the function to oversee the co-ordination and delivery of the Commonwealth Games EAD sports programme and committed both organisations to work together in supporting the growth of the Paralympic and Commonwealth Games Movements.[57]
TheCommonwealth Youth Games is an internationalmulti-sport event organised by theCommonwealth Games Federation. The Commonwealth Youth Games is held every four years with the current Commonwealth Games format. TheCommonwealth Games Federation discussed the idea of a MillenniumCommonwealth Youth Games in 1997. In 1998, the concept was agreed on for the purpose of providing a Commonwealth multi-sport event for young people born in 1986 or later. The first version was held inEdinburgh, Scotland from 10 to 14 August 2000. The age limitation of the athletes is 14 to 18.[62]
The Commonwealth Games Movement is made of three major elements:
International Federations (IFs) are thegoverning bodies that supervise a sport at an international level. For example, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is the international governing body for basketball.[67]
Organising Committees for the Commonwealth Games (OCCWGs) are temporary committees responsible for the organisation of each Commonwealth Games. OCCWGs are dissolved after each Games once the final report is delivered to the CGF.
English is the official language of the Commonwealth. The other language used at each Commonwealth Games is the language of the host country (or languages, if a country has more than one official language apart from English). Every proclamation (such as the announcement of each country during the parade of nations in the opening ceremony) is spoken in these two (or more) languages. If the host country does this, it is their responsibility to choose the language{s) and their order.[69]
The King's Baton Relay is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from theHead of the Commonwealth. The Relay traditionally begins atBuckingham Palace in London as a part of the city'sCommonwealth Day festivities. The King entrusts the baton to the first relay runner. At the Opening Ceremony of the Games, the final relay runner hands the baton back to the King or his representative, who reads the message aloud to officially open the Games. The King's Baton Relay is similar to theOlympic Torch Relay.[70]
TheQueen's Baton Relay for the2018 Commonwealth Games held on theGold Coast, Australia, was the longest in Commonwealth Games history. Covering 230,000 km (150,000 miles) over 388 days, the Baton made its way through the six Commonwealth regions of Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Oceania. For the first time, the Queen's Baton was presented at the Commonwealth Youth Games during itssixth edition in 2017, which were held inNassau,Bahamas.[71]
The opening ceremony typically starts with the hoisting of the host country's flag and a performance of its national anthem. The flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation, flag of the last hosting nation and the next hosting nation are also hosted during the opening ceremony. The host nation then presents artistic displays of music, singing, dance and theatre representative of its culture. The artistic presentations have grown in scale and complexity as successive hosts attempt to provide a ceremony that outlasts its predecessor's in terms of memorability. The opening ceremony of the Delhi Games reportedly cost $70 million, with much of the cost incurred in the artistic segment.[72]
After the artistic portion of the ceremony, the athletes parade into the stadium grouped by nation. The last hosting nation is traditionally the first nation to enter. Nations then enter the stadium alphabetical or continental wise with the host country's athletes being the last to enter. Speeches are given, formally opening the Games. Finally, theKing's Baton is brought into the stadium and passed on until it reaches the final baton carrier, often a successful Commonwealth athlete from the host nation, who hands it over to theHead of the Commonwealth or his representative.
The closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games takes place after all sporting events have concluded. Flag-bearers from each participating country enter the stadium, followed by the athletes who enter together, without any national distinction. The president of the organising committee and the CGF president make their closing speeches and the Games are officially closed. The CGF president also speaks about the conduct of the games. The mayor of the city that organised the Games transfers the CGF flag to the president of the CGF, who then passes it on to the mayor of the city hosting the next Commonwealth Games. The next host nation then also briefly introduces itself with artistic displays of dance and theatre representative of its culture. Many great artists and singers had performed at the ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games.[73]
At the closing ceremony of every Commonwealth Games, the CGF President makes an award and presents a trophy to one athlete who has competed with particular distinction and honour both in terms of athletic performance and overall contribution to his or her team. Athletes are nominated by their Commonwealth Games Association at the end of the final day of competition and the winner is selected by a panel comprising the CGF President and representatives from each of the six Commonwealth Regions. The 'David Dixon Award' as it is called was introduced inManchester 2002, after the late David Dixon, former Honorary Secretary of theCGF, in honour of his monumental contribution to Commonwealth sport for many years.[74]
A medal ceremony is held after each event is concluded. The winner, second and third-place competitors or teams stand on top of a three-tiered rostrum to be awarded their respective medals. After the medals are given out by a CGF member, the national flags of the three medallists are raised while thenational anthem of the gold medallist's country plays. Volunteering citizens of the host country also act as hosts during the medal ceremonies, as they aid the officials who present the medals and act as flag-bearers.
"God Save the King" is an official ornational anthem ofmultiple Commonwealth countries and dependent territories. As a result, and due to thecountries of the United Kingdom competing individually, its use is prohibited during official events, medal ceremonies or before matches in team events.[75]With the revision of this rule made before the 2010 Games, some national anthems used were changed and in some cases they differ from a currently-eligible country's national or official anthem(s):
Unlike other sporting events, the Commonwealth Games have a flexible sporting programme that respects the infrastructure and demands of the host city. This is also reflected in its holding dates, which may vary according to the weather conditions of each host city. Therefore, the programme for each edition could varies. Between 1930 and 1994, only individual events were part of the programme and it was only in 1998 that authorisation was given for the addition of team sports. It is common for each edition since then to have a list of seven to ten mandatory sports that must be played in this edition and must be approved 4 years in advance. Thus, the minimum number of sports per edition is 10 and the maximum is of 17. However, local demands can also increase the number of sports contested. Notable cases are freestyle wrestling in Delhi 2010 and beach volleyball in Gold Coast 2018. Special exceptions can also be made, such as the one in the last edition held in Birmingham, England, in which 3 extra sports were added to the programme.[81] The current rules also determine gender parity, whereby men and women have an equal (or broadly equal) share of events.[82][83]
This rule was not exceptionally applied to the 2026 Games, as Glasgow took over as host on an emergency basis. As a result, the program will feature only 10 sports—the fewest number since the 1994 Games:[84]
There are a total of 23 sports (with three multi-disciplinary sports) and a tenpara-sports which are approved by the Commonwealth Games Federation.
In 2015, the Commonwealth Games Federation agreed large changes to the programme which increased the number of core sports, while removing a number of optionals, those removed are listed below.[87]
Sports such as the following are sports which have been analysed by the Commonwealth Games Federation but which are deemed to need expansion in areas such as participation levels within the Commonwealth both at a national (International Federation) and grassroots athletics level, Marketability, Television Rights, Equity, and Hosting Expenses, per Regulation 6 of the Commonwealth Games Constitution;[89] host nations may not pick these sports for their program until the Federation's requirements are fulfilled.[90]
Only six teams have attended every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales. Australia has been the highest scoring team for thirteen games, England for seven, and Canada for one.
Countries that have hosted, or plan to host, the event Other countries that enter the games Countries that have entered the games but no longer do so 0•0 Host cities and year of games
Very few Commonwealth nations and dependencies have yet to take part:[98][99][100]
Gabon andTogo, the most recent members to join the Commonwealth in 2022, became part of theCommonwealth Games Federation in 2023 and are expected to make their debut in the 2026 edition.[101]
Tokelau, a dependency ofNew Zealand, was expected to take part for the first time at the 2010 Games in Delhi but did not do so.[102] In 2018, Tokelau was noted to be ineligible for the Commonwealth Games until it became affiliated to at least fiveinternational sport federations.[103]
Campaigners from theEnglish county ofCornwall asked theCommonwealth Games Federation to allow Cornwall to participate independently in the 2006 Games, but were rejected by the CGF, which stated that "Cornwall is no more than an English county" and advised Cornwall athletes to compete on theEngland team.[105][106] Cornwall political partyMebyon Kernow unsuccessfully called for a Cornwall team at the 2022 Games.[107]
The2022 Commonwealth Games were originally awarded toDurban on 2 September 2015, at theCGF General Assembly inAuckland.[109] It was reported in February 2017 that Durban may be unable to host the games due to financial constraints. On 13 March 2017, the CGF stripped Durban of their rights to host and reopened the bidding process for the 2022 games.[110] Many cities from Australia, Canada, England and Malaysia expressed interest to host the games. However, the CGF received only one official bid and that was fromBirmingham, England.[111] On 21 December 2017,Birmingham was awarded for the 2022 Games as Durban's replacement host.[112]
A joint bid from 6 cities of theVictoria State in Australia was selected to host the2026 Commonwealth Games. On 18 July 2023, the Premier of VictoriaDan Andrews announced that the state was giving up on hosting the event due a significant increase in event forecast. Initial costs estimated an investment of approximatelyA$2.6 billion,but the new prospects were resulting to be closer to A$6–7 billion.[113][114] On 18 July 2023, theVictorian state government announced it had cancelled its plans to host the games, citing an escalation in its cost projections relative to initial estimations. With no host city, there was a possibility that the games would be postponed to 2027 or cancelled.[115][116][117] However, on 17 September 2024, it was announced that the Scottish Government had agreed to host the 2026 games inGlasgow.[118]
Aboriginal activists includingGary Foley planned mass demonstrations inBrisbane during the week of the games, dubbed the "Stolenwealth Games". In response, Queensland passed "The Commonwealth Games Act 1982" to restrict protests in or near the event. When Aboriginal activists and their supporters marched anyway, hundreds were arrested. The protests were recorded in the documentary "Guniwaya Ngigu".
The estimated cost of the2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi was US$11 billion, according toBusiness Today magazine.[124] The initial total budget estimated by theIndian Olympic Association in 2003 was US$250 million. In 2010, however, the official total budget soon escalated to an estimated US$1.8 billion, a figure which excluded non-sports-related infrastructure development.[125] The 2010 Commonwealth Games is reportedly the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever.[126]
An analysis conducted byPricewaterhouseCoopers on the2002,2006,2014 and2018 Commonwealth Games found that each dollar spent by governments on operating costs, games venues and athletes' villages generated US$2 for the host city or state economies, with an average of more than 18,000 jobs generated by each of the events.[127][128] Additionally, all four cities enjoyed long-term improvements to transport or other infrastructure through hosting the Games, while some also benefited from the revival of struggling precincts.[129]
An analysis conducted byErnst & Young found that the2018 Commonwealth Games generated an estimated economic impact of $2.5 billion, while the venues constructed and upgraded for the Games generated over $60 million in economic benefit annually to the Gold Coast, with the success of the 2018 Commonwealth Games credited with helping Brisbane to secure hosting rights for the2032 Summer Olympics.[130][131]
Lawn bowlerWillie Wood fromScotland was the first competitor to have competed in seven Commonwealth Games, from 1974 to 2002, a record equalled in 2014 byIsle of Man cyclistAndrew Roche.[132] They have both been surpassed by David Calvert of Northern Ireland who in 2018 attended his 11th games.[133]
Sitiveni Rabuka was a Prime Minister ofFiji. Beforehand he represented Fiji in shot put, hammer throw, discus and the decathlon at the 1974British Commonwealth Games held in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Greg Yelavich, a sports shooter from New Zealand, has won 12 medals in seven games from 1986 to 2010.[134]
Lawn bowlerRobert Weale has represented Wales in 8 Commonwealth Games, 1986–2014, winning 2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze.[135]
Nauruan weightlifterMarcus Stephen won twelve medals at the Games between 1990 and 2002, of which seven gold, and was electedPresident of Nauru in 2007. His performance has helped place Nauru (the smallest independent state in the Commonwealth, at 21 km2 (8.1 sq mi) and with a population of fewer than 9,400 in 2011) in twenty-second place on theall-time Commonwealth Games medal table.[citation needed]
Australian swimmerIan Thorpe has won 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals and 1 silver medal. At the1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, he won 4 gold medals. At the2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, he won 6 gold medals and 1 silver medal.[136]
Chad le Clos, South Africa's most decorated swimmer, has won 18 medals from four Commonwealth Games (2010, 2014, 2018 & 2022), seven of which are gold. At the2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he won two gold medals, one silver medal, and four bronze medals.[137] At the2018 Commonwealth Games inGold Coast, he won three golds, a silver and a bronze.[138]
English actorJason Statham took part as a diver in the 1990 Commonwealth Games.[139]
^which also refers itself as theFriendly Games[1][2] or simply theComm Games.[3][4]
^The 1911Inter-Empire Championships held in London (as part of a festival to celebrate the coronation of King George V) is seen as a precursor to the modern Commonwealth Games, but is not normally considered an official edition of the Games themselves. Also, the United Kingdom competed as one country, unlike the Commonwealth Games today when they compete asEngland,Wales,Scotland, andNorthern Ireland. Canada topped the medal table by winning 4 events.[79]
^abcdAden later joined South Arabia in 1963 and departed the Commonwealth in 1967.
^abcdefAnguilla was completely separated from Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla in 1980 and remaining Saint Kitts and Nevis became independent from the United Kingdom in 1983.
^abFiji was re-suspended from the Commonwealth and the 2010 Games in 2009.[91] Fiji's suspension from the Commonwealth was lifted in time for the 2014 Games followingdemocratic elections in March 2014.
^abThe Gambia withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2013, but rejoined on 8 February 2018; The Gambia was readmitted to theCommonwealth Games Federation in March 2018.
^abcdGold Coast (British colony) was renamed Ghana in 1957.
^abHong Kong was never a Commonwealth member but was a territory of a Commonwealth country; it ceased to be in the Commonwealth when the territory washanded over to China in 1997.
^abcdeIreland was represented as a single team from the whole of theisland in 1930, and by two teams, representing the Irish Free State, and Northern Ireland in 1934. The Irish Free State was officially renamedÉire in 1937 but did not participate in the 1938 Games, and withdrew from the Commonwealth when it unilaterally declared that it was the Republic of Ireland on 18 April 1949.
^abContemporary illustrations show Green Flag used for the Irish team.
^abcdefghMalaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore federated as Malaysia in 1963. Singapore was expelled from the federation in 1965, becoming a sovereign country.
^abTheUlster Banner was the flag of the former Government of Northern Ireland only between 1953 and 1972, but the flag has been regarded as flag of Northern Ireland since 1924 amongunionists andloyalists. The Ulster Banner is the sporting flag of Northern Ireland in other events such as theFIFA World Cup and in theFIVB Volleyball World Championship.
^abcdeSouthern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia competed separately in 1954 and 1958 while both were part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
^abcdefghSouthern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia federated with Nyasaland in 1953 asRhodesia and Nyasaland, which dissolved at the end of 1963 and became Zambia in 1964.
^abZanzibar and Tanganyika federated to form Tanzania in 1964.
^abZimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003.
^The Maldives withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2016,[92] but was re-admitted in 2020.[93][94]
^United Kingdom were the host of the Inter-Empire Championships in 1911. This event was held before the 1st edition of the Games held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930.
^"J Astley Cooper".Anent Scottish Running. 25 August 2017.Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved1 June 2019.
^Arnd Krüger (1986): War John Astley Cooper der Erfinder der modernen Olympischen Spiele? In: LOUIS BURGENER u. a. (Hrsg.):Sport und Kultur, Bd. 6. Bern: Lang, 72 – 81.
^"Perth 1962".Commonwealth Games Federation.Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018.
^"Kingston 1966".Commonwealth Games Federation.Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018.
^"Edinburgh 1970".Commonwealth Games Federation.Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018.
^"Christchurch 1974".Commonwealth Games Federation.Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018.
^abDonald Macintosh; Michael Hawes; Donna Ruth Greenhorn; David Ross Black (5 April 1994).Sport and Canadian Diplomacy. McGill-Queen's Press – MQUP. pp. 81–.ISBN978-0-7735-1161-3.Archived from the original on 20 March 2017. Retrieved4 November 2019.
^"Edmonton 1978".Commonwealth Games Federation.Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018.
^"Brisbane 1982".Commonwealth Games Federation.Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018.
^"Edinburgh 1986".Commonwealth Games Federation.Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018.
^"Auckland 1990".Commonwealth Games Federation.Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018.
Brown, Geoff and Hogsbjerg, Christian.Apartheid is not a Game: Remembering the Stop the Seventy Tour campaign. London: Redwords, 2020.ISBN9781912926589.
Phillips, Bob.Honour of Empire, Glory of Sport: the history of athletics at the Commonwealth Games. Manchester: Parrswood Press, 2000.ISBN9781903158098.
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