Commonwealth Games

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Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games Federation seal, adopted in 2001
Motto	HUMANITY – EQUALITY – DESTINY
Headquarters	London, England
Commonwealth Secretariat	Hon. Michael Fennell OJ, CD
Website	Commonwealth Games Federation

The Commonwealth Games is a multinational, multi-sport event. Held every four years, it involves the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. Attendance at the Commonwealth Games is typically around 5,000 athletes. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games.

The first such event, then known as the British Empire Games, was held in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The name changed to British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1954, to British Commonwealth Games in 1970 and assumed the current name of the Commonwealth Games in 1978.^[1]

As well as many Olympic sports, the Games also include some sports that are played mainly in Commonwealth countries, such as lawn bowls, rugby sevens and netball.

There are currently 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and 71 teams participate in the Games. The four constituent countries of the United Kingdom – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – send separate teams to the Commonwealth Games (unlike at the Olympic Games, where the United Kingdom sends a single team), and individual teams are also sent from the British Crown dependencies – Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man – and many of the British overseas territories. The Australian external territory of Norfolk Island also sends its own team, as do the Cook Islands and Niue, two states in free association with New Zealand.

Only six teams have attended every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales. Australia has been the highest scoring team for ten games, England for seven and Canada for one.

At the 1930 games, women competed in the swimming events only.^[2] From 1934, women also competed in some athletics events^{[citation needed]}.

The next edition will be held in 2010 in Delhi, India. In 2014 the Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Contents 1 Origins 2 Opening ceremony traditions 3 Boycotts 4 Editions 4.1 British Empire Games 4.2 British Empire and Commonwealth Games 4.3 British Commonwealth Games 4.4 Commonwealth Games 5 List of nations/dependencies to compete 5.1 Nations/dependencies that have competed 5.2 Commonwealth nations/dependencies yet to send teams 6 Approved sports 7 Numbers of athletes, sports, and nations 8 See also 9 References 10 External links 10.1 Official games sites 10.2 Countries

[edit] Origins

A sporting competition bringing together the members of the British Empire was first proposed by the Reverend Astley Cooper in 1891 when he wrote an article in The Times suggesting a "Pan-Britannic-Pan-Anglican Contest and Festival every four years as a means of increasing the goodwill and good understanding of the British Empire".

In 1911, the Festival of the Empire was held in London to celebrate the coronation of King George V. As part of the festival an Inter-Empire Championships was held in which teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom competed in events such as boxing, wrestling, swimming and athletics.

In 1928, Melville Marks Robinson of Canada was asked to organise the first ever British Empire Games. These were held in Hamilton, Ontario two years later.

[edit] Opening ceremony traditions

• From 1930 through 1950, the parade of nations was led by a single flagbearer carrying the Union Flag, symbolising Britain's leading role in the British Empire.
• Since 1958, there has been a relay of athletes carrying a baton from Buckingham Palace to the Opening Ceremony. This baton has within it the Queen's Message of Greeting to the athletes. The baton's final bearer is usually a famous sporting personage of the host nation.
• All other nations march in English alphabetical order, except that the first nation marching in the Parade of Athletes is the host nation of the previous games, and the host nation of the current games marches last. In 2006 countries marched in alphabetical order in geographical regions.
• Three national flags fly from the stadium on the poles that are used for medal ceremonies: Previous host nation, Current host nation, Next host nation.
• The military is more active in the Opening Ceremony than in the Olympic Games. This is to honour the British Military traditions of the Old Empire.

[edit] Boycotts

The Commonwealth Games, like the Olympic Games, has also suffered from political boycotts. Nigeria boycotted the 1978 Games in protest of New Zealand's sporting contacts with apartheid-era South Africa, and 32 of 59 nations from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean boycotted the 1986 Commonwealth Games due to the Thatcher government's attitude towards South African sporting contacts. Boycotts were also threatened in 1974, 1982, and 1990 because of South Africa.

[edit] Editions

[edit] British Empire Games

• 1930 games – Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
• 1934 games – London, England,
• 1938 games – Sydney, Australia
• 1950 games – Auckland, New Zealand

[edit] British Empire and Commonwealth Games

• 1954 games – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 1958 games – Cardiff, Wales,
• 1962 games – Perth, Australia
• 1966 games – Kingston, Jamaica

[edit] British Commonwealth Games

• 1970 games – Edinburgh, Scotland
• 1974 games – Christchurch, New Zealand

[edit] Commonwealth Games

• 1978 games – Edmonton, Canada
• 1982 games – Brisbane, Australia
• 1986 games – Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
• 1990 games – Auckland, New Zealand
• 1994 games – Victoria, Canada
• 1998 games – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• 2002 games – Manchester, England,
• 2006 games – Melbourne, Australia
• 2010 games – Delhi, India
• 2014 games – Glasgow, Scotland
• 2018 games – To Be Determined by 2011

[edit] List of nations/dependencies to compete

[edit] Nations/dependencies that have competed

Aden1 1962  Anguilla 1982, 1998–  Antigua and Barbuda 1966–1970, 1978, 1994–  Australia 1930–  Bahamas 1954–1970, 1978–1982, 1990–  Bangladesh 1978, 1990–  Barbados 1954–1966, 1970–1982, 1990–  Belize 1978, 1994–  Bermuda 1930–1938, 1954–1982, 1990–  Botswana 1974, 1982–  British Guiana² 1930–1938, 1954–1962  British Honduras³ 1962–1966  British Virgin Islands 1990–  Brunei Darussalam 1958, 1990–  Cameroon 1998–  Canada 1930–  Cayman Islands 1978–  Ceylon4 1938–1950, 1958–1970  Cook Islands 1974–1978, 1986–  Cyprus 1978–1982, 1990–  Dominica 1958–1962, 1970, 1994–  England 1930–  Falkland Islands 1982–  Fiji15 1938, 1954–1986, 1998–2006  The Gambia 1970–1982, 1990–  Ghana 1958–1982, 1990–  Gibraltar 1958–  Gold Coast5 1954  Grenada 1970–1974, 1994–  Guernsey 1970–  Guyana 1966–1970, 1978–1982, 1990–  Hong Kong6 1934, 1954–1962, 1970–1994  India 1934–1938, 1954–1958, 1966–1982, 1990– Ireland7 1930 Irish Free State7 1934  Isle of Man 1958–  Jamaica 1934, 1954–1982, 1990–  Jersey 1958–  Kenya 1954–1982, 1990–  Kiribati 1998–  Lesotho 1974–  Malawi12 1970–  Malaya8 1950, 1958–1962  Malaysia 1966–1982, 1990–  Maldives 1986–

Malta 1958–1962, 1970, 1982–  Mauritius 1958, 1966–1982, 1990–  Montserrat 1994–  Mozambique 1998–  Namibia 1994–  Nauru 1990–  Newfoundland9 1930–1934  New Zealand 1930–  Nigeria 1950–1958, 1966–1974, 1982, 1990–1994, 2002–  Niue 2002–  Norfolk Island 1986–  North Borneo8 1958–1962  Northern Ireland7 1934–1938, 1954–  Northern Rhodesia10 1954  Pakistan 1954–1970, 1990–  Papua New Guinea 1962–1982, 1990–  Rhodesia11 1934–1950  Rhodesia and Nyasaland10 1958–1962  Saint Helena 1982, 1998–  Saint Kitts and Nevis (Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla 1978), 1990–  Saint Lucia 1962, 1970, 1978, 1994–  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1958, 1966–1978, 1994– Samoa and Western Samoa 1974–  Scotland 1930–  Seychelles 1990–  Sierra Leone 1966–1970, 1978, 1990–  Singapore8 1958–  Solomon Islands 1982, 1990–  South Africa 1930–1958, 1994–  South Arabia1 1966  Southern Rhodesia10 1954  Sri Lanka 1974–1982, 1990–  Swaziland 1970–  Tanganyika13 1962  Tanzania 1966–1982, 1990–  Tonga 1974, 1982, 1990–  Trinidad and Tobago 1934–1982, 1990–  Turks and Caicos Islands 1978, 1998–  Tuvalu 1998–  Uganda 1954–1982, 1990–  Vanuatu 1982–  Wales 1930–  Zambia12 1970–1982, 1990–  Zimbabwe12,14 1982, 1990–2002

Notes:

1: Aden became South Arabia which left the Commonwealth in 1968.
2: Became Guyana in 1966.
3: Became Belize in 1973.
4: Became Sri Lanka in 1972.
5: Became Ghana in 1957.
6: Left the Commonwealth when handed over to China in 1997.
7: Ireland was represented as a team from the whole of Ireland in 1930, and from the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland in 1934. The Irish Free State, renamed Ireland in 1937 (but also known by its name in the Irish Eire) formally left the Commonwealth when it declared that it was a Republic on 1 January 1949.
8: Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore federated as Malaysia in 1963. Singapore left the federation in 1965.
9: Joined Canada in 1949.
10: Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia federated with Nyasaland from 1953 as Rhodesia and Nyasaland which lasted till 1963.
11: Divided into Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia in 1953.
12: Competed from 1958–1962 as part of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
13: Zanzibar and Tanganyika federated to form Tanzania in 1964.
14: Withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003.
15: Suspended from the Commonwealth and Games in 2009.^[3]

[edit] Commonwealth nations/dependencies yet to send teams

Very few Commonwealth dependencies and nations have yet to take part.

•  Tokelau is expected to take part in the 2010 Games in Delhi.^[4]

• The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have made applications to the CGF to send teams.

• The Pitcairn Islands' tiny population (50 as of July 2009) would appear to prevent the overseas territory from competing. For the same reason  Saint Helena's territories of  Ascension Island and  Tristan da Cunha are unlikely to ever send separate teams.

• The lack of a permanent population would seem to prevent the overseas territories of  South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,  British Antarctic Territory and  British Indian Ocean Territory from competing

• Other states and territories with native populations within the Commonwealth that may be eligible include  Christmas Island, the  Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Rodrigues, and Zanzibar.

• It is also conceivable that any future members of the Commonwealth such as applicants  Sudan and  Yemen may participate in future games.

•  Rwanda may send a team due to becoming a member of the Commonwealth in November 2009.

[edit] Approved sports

There are a total of 31 sports (with two multi-disciplinary sports) and a further 7 para-sports which are approved by the Commonwealth Games Federation. They are categorised into three types. Core sports must be included on each programme. A number of optional sports may be picked by the host nation, which may include some team sports such as basketball. Recognised sports are sports which have been approved by the CGF but which are deemed to need expansion; host nations may not pick these sports for their programme until the CGF's requirements are fulfilled.^[5]

Sport Type Years Archery Optional 1982, 2010 Athletics Core 1930–present Badminton Core 1966–present Basketball Optional 2006 Billiards Recognised Never Boxing Core 1930–present Canoeing Recognised Never Cycling Optional 1934–present Diving Optional 1930–present Fencing Recognised 1950–1970 Golf Recognised Never Gymnastics (Artistic and Rhythmic) Optional 1978, 1990–present Handball Recognised Never Field Hockey Core 1998–present Judo Optional 1990, 2002, 2014 Lawn bowls Core 1930–present (except 1966) Life saving Recognised Never

Sport Type Years Netball Core 1998–present Rowing Recognised 1930, 1938–62, 1986 Rugby sevens Core 1998–present Sailing Recognised Never Shooting Optional 1966, 1974–present Softball Recognised Never Squash Core 1998–present Swimming Core 1930–present Synchronized swimming Optional 1986, 2006 Table tennis Optional 2002–present Tennis Optional 2010 Tenpin bowling Recognised 1998 Triathlon Optional 2002, 2006, 2014 Volleyball Recognised Never Water polo Recognised 1950 Weightlifting Core 1950–present Wrestling Optional 1930–present (except 1990 and 1998)

[edit] Numbers of athletes, sports, and nations

This list shows the total number of athletes, male and female, the number of sports they were selected to compete in, and the number of nations (including dependencies) competing.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Year	Athletes	Male	Female	Sports	Events	Officials	Nations
2006	4500			162	247		71
2002	3863			173			72
1998	3638			15			70
1994	2669			12			63
1990	2073			10	205		55
1986	1660			10	165		27
1982	1580			12	143		45
1978	1475			11	126		47
1974	1276	977	299	10	121	372	38
1970	17441			10	121		42
1966	13161			10	110		34
1962	863			9		178	35
1958	1122			9		228	35
1954	662			9		127	24
1950	590	495	95	9			12
1938	464			7		43	15
1934	500			6			17
1930	400			6			11

¹Total including athletes and officials. ²Includes 4 team sports. ³Includes 3 team sports.

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Commonwealth Games

• Commonwealth Winter Games
• Commonwealth Youth Games
• Indian Empire Games
• Jeux de la Francophonie
• Lusophony Games

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Commonwealth Games Official website
• Commonwealth Games News website
• Commonwealth Games Visitors website
• Commonwealth Games 2010 website
• Statistics by game from 1911 to 2006
• Commonwealth Games Blog
• Flags and emblems of the Commonwealth Games – evolution of the emblems of the Games
• The Empire Strikes Back – 2002 Australian radio programme (with transcript) on the history and future of the "friendly games".
• Track and Field Results Almanac

[edit] Official games sites

• Glasgow 2014 Official website
• Delhi 2010 Official website
• Pune 2008 Youth Games Official website
• India & Commonwealth games 2010: Specific information
• Melbourne 2006 Official website
• Manchester 2002 Official website
• Kuala Lumpur 1998 Official Website

[edit] Countries

• Australian Commonwealth Games Association
• Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man
• Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey
• Commonwealth Games Council for England
• Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association

v • d • e Commonwealth Games British Empire Games: 1930 · 1934 · 1938 · 1950 British Empire and Commonwealth Games: 1954 · 1958 · 1962 · 1966 British Commonwealth Games: 1970 · 1974 Commonwealth Games: 1978 · 1982 · 1986 · 1990 · 1994 · 1998 · 2002 · 2006 · 2010 · 2014 · 2018 · 2022

v • d • e Commonwealth Games host cities 1930: Hamilton • 1934: London • 1938: Sydney • 1950: Auckland • 1954: Vancouver • 1958: Cardiff • 1962: Perth • 1966: Kingston • 1970: Edinburgh • 1974: Christchurch • 1978: Edmonton • 1982: Brisbane • 1986: Edinburgh • 1990: Auckland • 1994: Victoria • 1998: Kuala Lumpur • 2002: Manchester • 2006: Melbourne • 2010: Delhi • 2014: Glasgow • 2018: TBA

v • d • e Associations at the Commonwealth Games Current Anguilla · Antigua and Barbuda · Australia · Bahamas · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belize · Bermuda · Botswana · British Virgin Islands · Brunei Darussalam · Cameroon · Canada · Cayman Islands · Cook Islands · Cyprus · Dominica · England · Falkland Islands · Fiji · Gambia, The · Ghana · Gibraltar · Grenada · Guernsey · Guyana · India · Isle of Man · Jamaica · Jersey · Kenya · Kiribati · Lesotho · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Malta · Mauritius · Montserrat · Mozambique · Namibia · Nauru · New Zealand · Nigeria · Niue · Norfolk Island · Northern Ireland · Pakistan · Papua New Guinea · Saint Helena · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · Scotland · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Singapore · Solomon Islands · South Africa · Sri Lanka · Swaziland · Tanzania · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · Turks and Caicos · Tuvalu · Uganda · Vanuatu · Wales · Zambia Historical Hong Kong · Ireland  · Irish Free State · Malaya · Newfoundland · North Borneo · Sarawak · South Arabia · Zimbabwe

v • d • e  Commonwealth of Nations topics History British Empire · Balfour Declaration · Statute of Westminster · London Declaration · Singapore Declaration · Harare Declaration · Edinburgh Declaration Governance Head of the Commonwealth (Elizabeth II) · Secretariat · Secretary-General (Kamalesh Sharma) · Deputy Secretaries-General · Secretariat Directors · Marlborough House Heads of Government Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (2009 · 2011) · Chairperson-in-Office (Patrick Manning) · Ministerial Action Group Commonwealth Family Association of Commonwealth Universities · Commonwealth Business Council · Commonwealth Foundation · Commonwealth Games Federation · Commonwealth Parliamentary Association · Commonwealth War Graves Commission BECM · CAP · CBA · CET · CFA · CHRI · CJIA · CoL · CLA · CLGF · CPSU · CPU · CSFP · ESU · ICS · RCEL · RCS · ROSL · SSI Members List of members · Membership criteria · Special membership · Suspension · Commonwealth realm · Commonwealth republic Culture English language · Commonwealth Games (2006 · 2010)  · Symbols · Commonwealth Flag · Commonwealth Day · Commonwealth Writers' Prize · Round Table movement · The Round Table Journal · Commonwealth citizenship Lists Commonwealth Family · Extreme points · Member states · Prime Ministers · Tallest structures · Visits by Queen Elizabeth II

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