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The Commonwealth Games is a multinational, multi-sport event
Multi-sport event

A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, and featuring competition in many different sports between organized teams of athletes from nation-states....
. Held every four years, it involves the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
. 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
Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the James Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe....
, Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
.






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Encyclopedia


The Commonwealth Games is a multinational, multi-sport event
Multi-sport event

A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, and featuring competition in many different sports between organized teams of athletes from nation-states....
. Held every four years, it involves the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
. 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
Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the James Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe....
, Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
. 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.

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
Rugby sevens

Rugby sevens is a variant of rugby union in which only seven players per side feature, instead of the full 15. The version of rugby union is very popular, with notable competitions including the IRB Sevens World Series and the Rugby World Cup Sevens....
 and netball
Netball

Netball is a non-contact team sport originating from the United States similar to, and derived from, basketball. Invented in 1895 by Clara Gregory Baer, a pioneer in women's sport, netball is now pre-eminently played as a women's team sport in Australia and New Zealand and is popular in the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom....
.

There are currently 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and 71 teams participate in the Games. The four constituent countries
Constituent country

A constituent country is a country that is part of a larger entity, such as a sovereign state or Supranationalism body....
 of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 - England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
, Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
, Wales
Wales

native_name = Cymru|conventional_long_name = Wales|common_name = Wales|image_flag = Flag of Wales 2.svg|national_motto = ...
 and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland

conventional_long_name = Northern Ireland|native_name= Tuaisceart ?ireannNorlin Airlann|motto =|image_map = Europe location N-IRL2.png...
 - send separate teams to the Commonwealth Games (unlike at the Olympic Games
Olympic Games

The Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event established for both summer and winter sports. There have been two generations of the Olympic Games; the first were the Ancient Olympic Games held at Olympia, Greece, Greece....
, where the United Kingdom sends a single team), and individual teams are also sent from the British Crown dependencies
Crown dependency

The Crown Dependencies are possessions of The Crown, as opposed to British overseas territory or colony of the United Kingdom. They comprise the Channel Islands bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea....
 - Guernsey
Guernsey

The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Isles Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.As well as the island of Guernsey itself, it also includes Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou, Burhou, Lihou and other islets....
, Jersey
Jersey

The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes the nearly uninhabited islands of the Minquiers, ?cr?hous, the Pierres de Lecq and other rocks and reefs....
 and the Isle of Man
Isle of Man

The Isle of Man , or Mann , is a self-governing Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea at the geographical centre of the British Isles....
 - and many of the British overseas territories
British overseas territories

The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but which do not form part of the United Kingdom itself....
. The Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
n external territory of Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. It and two neighbouring islands form one of Australia's external Territory ....
 also sends its own team, as do the Cook Islands
Cook Islands

The Cook Islands are a self-governing parliamentary democracy in Associated state with New Zealand. The fifteen small islands in this Pacific Ocean country have a total land area of 240 square kilometres , but the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone covers 1.8 million square kilometres of ocean....
 and Niue
Niue

Niue is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia". Natives of the island call it "the Rock"....
, two non-sovereign states in free association with New Zealand
New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
.

Only six teams have attended every Commonwealth Games: Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
, Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
, England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
, New Zealand
New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
, Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 and Wales
Wales

native_name = Cymru|conventional_long_name = Wales|common_name = Wales|image_flag = Flag of Wales 2.svg|national_motto = ...
. Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
 has been the highest scoring team for ten games, England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
 for seven and Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
 for one.

At the 1930 games, women competed in Swimming and Diving only. In 1934 women competed in some Athletics events also.

Commonwealth Games Years Participants

Origins


A sporting competition
Competition

Competition is a rivalry between individuals, groups, nations, or animals, for territory, a niche, or allocation of resources. It arises whenever two or more parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared....
 bringing together the members of the British Empire
British Empire

The British Empire comprised the dominions, Crown colony, protectorates, League of Nations mandate, and other Dependent territory ruled or administered by the United Kingdom , that had originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries....
 was first proposed by the Reverend Astley Cooper in 1891 when he wrote an article in The Times
The Times

The Times is a daily national newspaper published in the United Kingdom since 1785 when it was known as The Daily Universal Register.The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of News International....
 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
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
 to celebrate the coronation
Coronation

A coronation is a ceremony marking the investiture of a monarch with regal power, specifically involving the placement of a coronation crown upon his or her head, and the presentation of other items of regalia....
 of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom

George V was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, which he created from the British branch of the German House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha....
. 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
Melville Marks Robinson

Melville Marks Robinson founded the Commonwealth Games, now known as the Commonwealth Games. Bobby Robinson was a sports reporter for the Hamilton Spectator....
 of Canada was asked to organise the first British Empire Games. These were held in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the James Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe....
 two years later.

Opening ceremony traditions

  • From 1930 through 1950, the parade of nations was led by a single flagbearer carrying the Union Flag
    Union Flag

    The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national Flag of the United Kingdom. Historically, the flag was used throughout the former British Empire....
    , symbolising Britain's leading role in the British Empire.
  • Since 1958, there has been a relay
    Queen's Baton Relay

    The Queen's Baton Relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games....
     of athletes carrying a baton from Buckingham Palace
    Buckingham Palace

    Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal entertaining, and a major tourist attraction....
     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
    English language

    English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
     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
    Military

    A military is an organization authorized by its nation to use force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or Threat of force ....
     is more active in the Opening Ceremony than in the Olympic Games
    Olympic Games

    The Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event established for both summer and winter sports. There have been two generations of the Olympic Games; the first were the Ancient Olympic Games held at Olympia, Greece, Greece....
    . This is to honour the British Military traditions of the Old Empire.


Boycotts

The Commonwealth Games, like the Olympic Games, has also suffered from political boycott
Boycott

A boycott is a form of consumer activism involving the act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with someone or some other organization as an expression of protest, usually of politics reasons....
s. Nigeria
Nigeria

Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federation constitutional republic comprising States of Nigeria and one Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria....
 boycotted the 1978 Games
1978 Commonwealth Games

The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada from 3 August-12 1978. They were boycotted by Nigeria, in protest at New Zealand's sporting contacts with apartheid-era South Africa...
 in protest of New Zealand
New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
's sporting contacts with apartheid-era South Africa
South Africa

The Republic of South Africa, also known by Official names of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa....
, and 32 of 59 nations from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean
Caribbean

The Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands , and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and Northern America, east of Central America, and to the north of South America....
 boycotted the 1986 Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games

The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986....
 due to the Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher Order of the Garter, Order of Merit, Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Fellow of the Royal Society was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990....
 government's attitude towards South African sporting contacts. Boycotts were also threatened in 1974, 1982, and 1990 because of South Africa.

Editions


British Empire Games

  • 1930 games
    1930 British Empire Games

    The 1930 British Empire Games were the first of what later become known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada from August 16-23 1930....
     - Hamilton, Ontario
    Hamilton, Ontario

    Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the James Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe....
    , Canada
    Canada

    Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
  • 1934 games
    1934 British Empire Games

    The 1934 British Empire Games were the second of what we now know of as the Commonwealth Games. They were held at the White City Stadium in London, England from August 4-11 1934, apart from the cycling at Fallowfield Stadium, Manchester, and the swimming, which took place at the Empire Pool in Wembley....
     - London
    London

    London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
    , England
    England

    native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
    , United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
  • 1938 games
    1938 British Empire Games

    The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games being the modern-day equivalent. Held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from February 5-12 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary ....
     - Sydney
    Sydney

    Sydney is the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million . It is the List of Australian capital cities of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British Empire colony in Australia....
    , New South Wales
    New South Wales

    New South Wales is Australia's oldest and most populous States and territories of Australia, located in the south-east of the country, north of Victoria and south of Queensland....
    , Australia
    Australia

    Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
  • 1950 games
    1950 British Empire Games

    The 1950 British Empire Games was the fourth edition of what is now called the Commonwealth Games. It was held in Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand between the 4th and February 11 1950, after a 12 year gap from the 3rd edition of the games....
     - Auckland
    Auckland

    The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban areas of New Zealand with over 1.3 million residents, percent of the country's population....
    , New Zealand
    New Zealand

    New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....


British Empire and Commonwealth Games

  • 1954 games
    1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

    The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 30 July-7 August 1954. These were the first games since the name change from British Empire Games took effect in 1952....
     - Vancouver
    Vancouver

    Vancouver is a coastal city and major seaport located in the Lower Mainland of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest city in British Columbia and the second largest metropolitan area in the Pacific Northwest region....
    , British Columbia
    British Columbia

    British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's Provinces and territories of Canada and is famed for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu ....
    , Canada
    Canada

    Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
  • 1958 games
    1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

    The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Cardiff, capital of Wales from 18-26 July 1958.Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including, for the first time, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya and the Isle of Man....
     - Cardiff
    Cardiff

    Cardiff is the Capital , largest city and most populous Unitary authority#Wales in Wales. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for many national cultural and sport institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of Welsh Assembly Government ....
    , Wales
    Wales

    native_name = Cymru|conventional_long_name = Wales|common_name = Wales|image_flag = Flag of Wales 2.svg|national_motto = ...
    , United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
  • 1962 games
    1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

    The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Western Australia, Western Australia, Australia from 22 November-1 December 1962....
     - Perth
    Perth, Western Australia

    Perth is the List of Australian capital cities and largest city of the Australian States and territories of Australia of Western Australia. With a population of 1,554,769 , Perth ranks fourth amongst the nation's cities, with a growth rate consistently above the national average....
    , Western Australia
    Western Australia

    Western Australia is a States and territories of Australia occupying the entire western third of the Australia . The nation's largest state and the second largest subnational entity in the world, it has 2.1 million inhabitants , 85% of whom live in the south-west corner of the state....
    , Australia
    Australia

    Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
  • 1966 games
    1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

    The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica from 4 August to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Commonwealth countries....
     - Kingston
    Kingston, Jamaica

    Kingston is the Capital and largest city of Jamaica and is located on the southeastern coast of the island country. It faces a natural harbor protected by the Palisadoes, a long spit which connects Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island....
    , Jamaica
    Jamaica

    Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is about south of Cuba, and west of the island of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated....


British Commonwealth Games

  • 1970 games
    1970 British Commonwealth Games

    The 1970 British Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 16 July to 25 July 1970.This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, and the first time metric system rather than imperial units were used in events....
     - Edinburgh
    Edinburgh

    Edinburgh ; is the Capital city of Scotland, a position it has held since 1437. It is the seventh largest city in the United Kingdom and the second largest Scottish City status in the United Kingdom after Glasgow....
    , Scotland
    Scotland

    conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
    , United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
  • 1974 games
    1974 British Commonwealth Games

    The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January-2 February 1974. They were officially named "the friendly games"....
     - Christchurch
    Christchurch

    Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest Urban areas of New Zealand. It is midway down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of Christchurch....
    , New Zealand
    New Zealand

    New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....


Commonwealth Games

  • 1978 games
    1978 Commonwealth Games

    The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada from 3 August-12 1978. They were boycotted by Nigeria, in protest at New Zealand's sporting contacts with apartheid-era South Africa...
     - Edmonton
    Edmonton

    Edmonton is the capital of the Canada Provinces and territories of Canada of Alberta. The city is located on the North Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province, an area with some of the most fertile farmland on the prairies....
    , Alberta
    Alberta

    Alberta is one of Canada Canadian Prairies Provinces and territories of Canada. It became a province on September 1, 1905.Alberta is located in western Canada, bounded by the provinces of British Columbia to the west and Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Territories to the north, and the U.S....
    , Canada
    Canada

    Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
  • 1982 games
    1982 Commonwealth Games

    The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September—9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan, Queensland....
     - Brisbane
    Brisbane

    Brisbane is the state List of Australian capital cities of Queensland and its most populous city. It is also the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, behind southern rivals Sydney and Melbourne....
    , Queensland
    Queensland

    Queensland is a States and territories of Australia of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory to the west, South Australia to the south-west and New South Wales to the south....
    , Australia
    Australia

    Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
  • 1986 games
    1986 Commonwealth Games

    The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986....
     - Edinburgh
    Edinburgh

    Edinburgh ; is the Capital city of Scotland, a position it has held since 1437. It is the seventh largest city in the United Kingdom and the second largest Scottish City status in the United Kingdom after Glasgow....
    , Scotland
    Scotland

    conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
    , United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
  • 1990 games
    1990 Commonwealth Games

    The 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand from 24 January-3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations....
     - Auckland
    Auckland

    The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban areas of New Zealand with over 1.3 million residents, percent of the country's population....
    , New Zealand
    New Zealand

    New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
  • 1994 games
    1994 Commonwealth Games

    The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held from 18 August to 28 August 1994 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.The 15th Commonwealth Games marked South Africa return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the Games....
     - Victoria
    Victoria, British Columbia

    Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a major tourism destination seeing more than 3.65 million visitors a year who inject more than one billion dollars into the local economy....
    , British Columbia
    British Columbia

    British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's Provinces and territories of Canada and is famed for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu ....
    , Canada
    Canada

    Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
  • 1998 games
    1998 Commonwealth Games

    The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as :wikt:host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century....
     - Kuala Lumpur
    Kuala Lumpur

    Kuala Lumpur , is the largest city of Malaysia. The city proper, making up an area of , has an estimated population of 1.6 million in 2006. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million....
    , Malaysia
    Malaysia

    Malaysia is a federation that consists of States of Malaysia in Southeast Asia with a total landmass of . The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government....
  • 2002 games
    2002 Commonwealth Games

    The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in England, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating....
     - Manchester
    Manchester

    Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. Manchester was granted City status in the United Kingdom in 1853....
    , England
    England

    native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
    , United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
  • 2006 games
    2006 Commonwealth Games

    The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria , Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, Sportsperson competing, and events being held....
     - Melbourne
    Melbourne

    Melbourne is the more common name for the geographic region and Census in Australia of the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area. It is the second List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a population of approximately 3.8 million and serves as the List of Australian capital cities of Victoria ....
    , Victoria
    Victoria (Australia)

    File:Map Victoria Aboriginal tribes .jpgVictoria is a States and territories of Australia located in the southeastern corner of Australia. It is the smallest mainland state in area but the most Population density and urbanised....
    , Australia
    Australia

    Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
  • 2010 games
    2010 Commonwealth Games

    The 2010 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India between 3 October and 14 October 2010. With a population of over 15 million, Delhi is one of the largest cities in the world....
     - Delhi
    Delhi

    Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
    , India
    India

    India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
  • 2014 games
    2014 Commonwealth Games

    The 20th Commonwealth Games in 2014 will be held in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The winning city was announced by the Commonwealth Games on 9 November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka....
     - Glasgow
    Glasgow

    Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and List of largest United Kingdom settlements by population in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's Scottish Lowlands....
    , Scotland
    Scotland

    conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
    , United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
  • 2018 games
    2018 Commonwealth Games

    The 2018 Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event that has yet to be organised by the Commonwealth Games Federation. The winning bidder will be announced in 2011....
     - TBD


All-time medal tally

See All-time medal tally of Commonwealth Games
All-time medal tally of Commonwealth Games

This page shows the progressive medal tally after each Commonwealth Games.These rankings sort by the number of gold medals earned by a country. The number of silvers is taken into consideration next and then the number of bronze....


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.

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.

List of nations/dependencies to compete


Nations/dependencies that have competed

  • 1 1962
  • 1982, 1998-
  • 1966-1970, 1978, 1994-
  • 1930-
  • 1954-1970, 1978-1982, 1990-
  • 1978, 1990-
  • 1954-1966, 1970-1982, 1990-
  • 1978, 1994-
  • 1930-1938, 1954-1982, 1990-
  • 1974, 1982-
  • ² 1930-1938, 1954-1962
  • ³ 1962-1966
  • 1990-
  • 1958, 1990-
  • 1998-
  • 1930-
  • 1978-
  • 4 1938-1950, 1958-1970
  • 1974-1978, 1986-
  • 1978-1982, 1990-
  • 1958-1962, 1970, 1994-
  • 1930-
  • 1982-
  • 1938, 1954-1986, 1998-
  • 1970-1982, 1990-
  • 1958-1982, 1990-
  • 1958-
  • 5 1954
  • 1970-1974, 1994-
  • 1970-
  • 1966-1970, 1978-1982, 1990-
  • 6 1934, 1954-1962, 1970-1994
  • 1934-1938, 1954-1958, 1966-1982, 1990-
  • Ireland
    Ireland

    Ireland is the List of islands by area in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islet....
    7 1930
  • Irish Free State
    Irish Free State

    The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand....
    7 1934
  • 1958-
  • 1934, 1954-1982, 1990-
  • 1958-
  • 1954-1982, 1990-
  • 1998-
  • 1974-
  • 12 1970-
  • 8 1950, 1958-1962
  • 1966-1982, 1990-
  • 1986-
  • 1958-1962, 1970, 1982-
  • 1958, 1966-1982, 1990-
  • 1994-
  • 1998-
  • 1994-
  • 1990-
  • 9 1930-1934
  • 1930-
  • 1950-1958, 1966-1974, 1982, 1990-1994, 2002-
  • 2002-
  • 1986-
  • 8 1958-1962
  • 7 1934-1938, 1954-
  • 10 1954
  • 1954-1970, 1990-
  • 1962-1982, 1990-
  • 11 1934-1950
  • 10 1958-1962
  • 1982, 1998-
  • (Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
    Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla

    St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla was historically an overseas territory of the United Kingdom located in the Caribbean Sea. This entity later became a province to the short lived West Indies Federation in 1958....
     1978), 1990-
  • 1962, 1970, 1978, 1994-
  • 1958, 1966-1978, 1994-
  • Samoa and Western Samoa
    Samoa

    Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa , is a country governing the western part of the Samoan Islands archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean....
     1974-
  • 1930-
  • 1990-
  • 1966-1970, 1978, 1990-
  • 8 1958-
  • 1982, 1990-
  • 1930-1958, 1994-
  • 1 1966
  • 10 1954
  • 1974-1982, 1990-
  • 1970-
  • 13 1962
  • 1966-1982, 1990-
  • 1974, 1982, 1990-
  • 1934-1982, 1990-
  • 1978, 1998-
  • 1998-
  • 1954-1982, 1990-
  • 1982-
  • 1930-
  • 12 1970-1982, 1990-
  • 12,14 1982, 1990-2002


    • Notes:

    1: Aden
    Aden

    Aden is a city in Yemen, 170 kilometers east of Bab-el-Mandeb.Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a low isthmus....
     became South Arabia
    South Arabia

    South Arabia as a general term refers to several regions as currently recognized, in chief the Republic of Yemen; yet it has historically also included Najran, Jizan, and 'Asir which are presently in Saudi Arabia, and Dhofar presently in Oman....
     which left the Commonwealth in 1968.
    2: Became Guyana
    Guyana

    Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only state of the Commonwealth of Nations on mainland South America....
     in 1966.
    3: Became Belize
    Belize

    Belize , formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Once part of the Maya civilization, and very briefly the Spanish Empire, it was most recently affiliated with the British Empire, prior to gaining its independence in 1981....
     in 1973.
    4: Became Sri Lanka
    Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, located about off the southern coast of India....
     in 1972.
    5: Became Ghana
    Ghana

    The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. It borders C?te d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south....
     in 1957.
    6: Left the Commonwealth when handed over to China
    China

    China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
     in 1997.
    7: Ireland
    Ireland

    Ireland is the List of islands by area in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islet....
     was represented as a team from the whole of Ireland in 1930, and from the the Irish Free State
    Irish Free State

    The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand....
     and Northern Ireland
    Northern Ireland

    conventional_long_name = Northern Ireland|native_name= Tuaisceart ?ireannNorlin Airlann|motto =|image_map = Europe location N-IRL2.png...
     in 1934. The Irish Free State, renamed Ireland
    Republic of Ireland

    Ireland is an Island country in north-western Europe. The modern Sovereignty state occupies about five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned by the British on 3 May 1921....
     in 1937 (but also known by its name in the Irish Eire
    Éire

    ?ire is the Irish language name for the island of Ireland and of the Republic of Ireland....
    ) formally left the Commonwealth when it declared that it was a Republic on January 1 1949.
    8: Malaya
    Federation of Malaya

    The Federation of Malaya , is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. Comprising the nine Malay states and the United Kingdom Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca, it was eventually superseded by Malaysia....
    , North Borneo
    North Borneo

    North Borneo was a British protectorate under the sovereign North Borneo Chartered Company from 1882-1946. After the war it became a crown colony of the United Kingdom from 1946-1963, known in this time as British North Borneo....
    , Sarawak
    Sarawak

    Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , it is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia; the second largest, Sabah, lies to the northeast....
     and Singapore
    Singapore

    Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country microstate located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It lies 137 kilometres north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands....
     federated as Malaysia
    Malaysia

    Malaysia is a federation that consists of States of Malaysia in Southeast Asia with a total landmass of . The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government....
     in 1963. Singapore left the federation in 1965.
    9: Joined Canada
    Canada

    Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
     in 1949.
    10: Southern Rhodesia
    Southern Rhodesia

    Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa, and known today as Zimbabwe....
     and Northern Rhodesia
    Northern Rhodesia

    Northern Rhodesia was a territory in southern Africa initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by Amalgamation North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia....
     federated with Nyasaland
    Nyasaland

    Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a United Kingdom protectorate which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name....
     from 1953 as Rhodesia and Nyasaland which lasted till 1963.
    11: Divided into Southern Rhodesia
    Southern Rhodesia

    Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa, and known today as Zimbabwe....
     and Northern Rhodesia
    Northern Rhodesia

    Northern Rhodesia was a territory in southern Africa initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by Amalgamation North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia....
     in 1953.
    12: Competed from 1958-1962 as part of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
    13: Zanzibar
    Zanzibar

    Zanzibar is part of the East African republic of Tanzania. It consists of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25?50 km off the coast of the mainland....
     and Tanganyika
    Tanganyika

    Tanganyika is an East African territory lying between the largest of the African great lakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika....
     federated to form Tanzania
    Tanzania

    Tanzania , officially the United Republic of Tanzania , is a country in East Africa that is bordered by Kenya and Uganda on the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique on the south....
     in 1964.
    14: Withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003.


    Commonwealth nations/dependencies yet to send teams

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

    is expected to take part in the 2010
    2010 Commonwealth Games

    The 2010 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India between 3 October and 14 October 2010. With a population of over 15 million, Delhi is one of the largest cities in the world....
     Games in Delhi.

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

    Cornwall
    Cornwall

    Cornwall , constitutional Duchy and palatine, is a metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England of England, United Kingdom, located at the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain....
     have similarly made applications to the CGF to send a team, quoting Wales
    Wales

    native_name = Cymru|conventional_long_name = Wales|common_name = Wales|image_flag = Flag of Wales 2.svg|national_motto = ...
     as an example of a Celtic nation sending a team to the Games, although the claim is dubious since Cornwall ceased to be a separate nation sometime in the 11th Century.

    • The Pitcairn Islands
      Pitcairn Islands

      The Pitcairn Islands , officially named the Pitcairn, Henderson Island , Ducie Island and Oeno Island Islands, are a group of four volcano islands in the southern Pacific Ocean....
      ' tiny population (50 as of July 2007) would appear to prevent the overseas territory from competing. Similar lack of possible competitors would likely prevent from competing.


    • Other states and territories with native populations within the Commonwealth that may be eligible include , the and Rodrigues
      Rodrigues

      Rodrigues is a common surname in the Portuguese language. It was originally a Patronymic, meaning Son of Rodrigo or Son of Rui. Its Spanish language equivalent is Rodr?guez ....
      .


    • It is also conceivable that any future members of the Commonwealth such as applicants
      Commonwealth of Nations

      The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
        and may participate in future games.


    Sports of the Commonwealth Games


    The current regulations state that a minimum of ten and no more than fifteen sports must be included in a Commonwealth Games schedule. There is a list of core sports, which must be included, and a further list of approved sports from which the host nation may choose to include. The host nation may also apply for the inclusion of other team sports to the CGF General Assembly, as the Melbourne organising committee did with basketball
    Basketball

    Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a basketball through a 10 feet  high hoop under organized rules....
     for the 2006 Games
    2006 Commonwealth Games

    The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria , Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, Sportsperson competing, and events being held....
    .

    The current core sports consist of athletics
    Athletics (track and field)

    Track and field athletics, commonly known as athletics or track and field, is a collection of sports events that involve running, throwing and jumping....
    , aquatics
    List of water sports

    There are a large number of sports that involve water.The following is a List of water sports, divided by category. These categories are based on the relation of the sports to the water....
     (swimming
    Swimming

    Swimming is the movement by humans or animals through water, usually without artificial assistance. Swimming is an activity that can be both useful and recreational....
    , diving
    Diving

    Diving refers to the sport of performing acrobatics while jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard of a certain height. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games....
     and synchronised swimming
    Synchronized swimming

    Synchronised swimming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronised routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music....
    ), lawn bowls
    Bowls

    Bowls is a sport in which the goal is to roll slightly asymmetric balls, called bowls, closest to a smaller—normally white—bowl called the "jack" or "kitty"....
    , netball
    Netball

    Netball is a non-contact team sport originating from the United States similar to, and derived from, basketball. Invented in 1895 by Clara Gregory Baer, a pioneer in women's sport, netball is now pre-eminently played as a women's team sport in Australia and New Zealand and is popular in the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom....
     (for women) and rugby sevens
    Rugby sevens

    Rugby sevens is a variant of rugby union in which only seven players per side feature, instead of the full 15. The version of rugby union is very popular, with notable competitions including the IRB Sevens World Series and the Rugby World Cup Sevens....
     (for men). These will all remain core sports until at least the 2014 Commonwealth Games
    2014 Commonwealth Games

    The 20th Commonwealth Games in 2014 will be held in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The winning city was announced by the Commonwealth Games on 9 November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka....
    .

    The approved list of sports also includes archery
    Archery

    Archery is the art, practice or skill of shooting with Bow and arrow. Archery has historically been used in hunting and combat and has become a precision sport....
    , badminton
    Badminton

    Badminton is a List of sports#Racquet sports played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net....
    , billiards and snooker
    Snooker

    Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a large baize-covered snooker table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions....
    , boxing
    Boxing

    Boxing is a combat sport where two participants, generally of similar human weight, fight each other with their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee and is typically engaged in during a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds....
    , canoeing
    Canoeing

    Canoeing is the activity of Watercraft paddling a canoe for the purpose of recreation , sport, or Human-powered transport. It usually refers exclusively to using a paddle to propel a canoe with only human muscle power....
    , cycling
    Cycling

    Cycling is the use of bicycles, or - less commonly - unicycles, tricycles, Quadracycle s and other similar wheeled human powered vehicles as a means of transport, a form of recreation or a sport....
    , fencing
    Fencing

    Fencing is a family of sports and activities that feature armed combat involving cutting, stabbing, or slapping Club ing weapons that are directly manipulated by hand, rather than shot, thrown or positioned....
    , gymnastics
    Gymnastics

    Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility and coordination. Artistic Gymnastics is the best known and most popular of the gymnastics sports governed by the F?d?ration Internationale de Gymnastique ....
    , judo
    Judo

    , meaning "gentle way", is a modern Japanese martial art and combat sport, that originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either Throw one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling manoeuvre, or force an opponent...
    , rowing, sailing
    Sailing

    Sailing is the art of controlling a boat with large pieces of canvas cloth called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and dagger or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to change the direction and speed of a boat....
    , shooting
    Shooting

    Shooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as Bow s or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting....
    , squash
    Squash (sport)

    Squash is a racquet sport game played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball. Squash is characterized as a "high-impact" exercise that can place strain on the joints, notably the knees....
    , table tennis
    Table tennis

    Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth with rackets ....
    , tennis
    Tennis

    Tennis is a sport played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a strung racquet to strike a hollow rubber Tennis ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's tennis court....
    , ten-pin bowling
    Ten-pin bowling

    Ten-pin bowling is a Competition sport in which a player bowling form a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many Bowling pin as possible....
    , triathlon
    Triathlon

    A triathlon is an endurance sports event consisting of running, biking, and swimming over various distances. As a result, proficiency in swimming, cycling, or running alone is not sufficient to guarantee a triathlon athlete a competitive time, trained triathletes have learned to race each stage in a way that preserves their energy and endur...
    , weightlifting
    Weightlifting

    Weightlifting, also called Weightlifting at the Summer Olympics or Olympic-style weightlifting, is a sport in which participants attempt a maximum weight single lift of a barbell loaded with weight plates....
    , and wrestling
    Wrestling

    Wrestling is part of the martial arts. A wrestling match consists of physical engagement between two people in which each wrestler strives to get an advantage over, or control of, the opponent....
    . Some of these are often included in the programme, while others, like billiards and sailing, have not yet been included.

    There have been a number of exhibition sports. In 1958 there were exhibitions of polo
    Polo

    Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score Goal s against an opposing team. Riders score by driving a small white plastic or wooden Ball game into the opposing team's goal using a long-handled mallet....
     and show jumping
    Show jumping

    Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping" or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrianism events that also includes dressage, eventing, Show hunter and equitation....
    , and in 1978 lacrosse
    Lacrosse

    Lacrosse is a team sport originated by several tribes of Native Americans in the United States. There are four distinct versions of the modern game: men's field lacrosse, women's field lacrosse, men's box lacrosse and intercrosse ....
     appeared as an exhibition sport.

    In 2002, the CGF introduced the David Dixon Award
    David Dixon Award

    David Dixon Award is named after the former honorary secretary of the Commonwealth Games Federation for 17 years, David Dixon.It is given to the outstanding athlete of each of the Commonwealth Games based on their performance at the Commonwealth Games, fair play, and overall contribution to their team?s participation at the Commonwealth Gam...
     for the outstanding athlete of the Games.

    There is also a requirement to include some events for Elite Athletes with a Disability (EAD). This was introduced in the 2002 Games
    2002 Commonwealth Games

    The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in England, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating....
    .

    On 18th November 2006, tennis and archery were added to the list of disciplines for the 2010 Games
    2010 Commonwealth Games

    The 2010 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India between 3 October and 14 October 2010. With a population of over 15 million, Delhi is one of the largest cities in the world....
     in New Delhi
    New Delhi

    New Delhi is the capital city of India. With a total area of 42.7 km2, New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi and serves as the seat of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi ....
    , bringing the total number of sports to 17. Billiards and snooker were considered but not accepted.

    List of approved sports

    The years, in brackets, show when the sports have appeared at the games.
    • Aquatics (1930-2010)
      • Swimming
        Swimming

        Swimming is the movement by humans or animals through water, usually without artificial assistance. Swimming is an activity that can be both useful and recreational....
      • Synchronised Swimming
      • Diving
        Diving

        Diving refers to the sport of performing acrobatics while jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard of a certain height. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games....
    • Archery
      Archery

      Archery is the art, practice or skill of shooting with Bow and arrow. Archery has historically been used in hunting and combat and has become a precision sport....
       (1982, 2010)
    • Athletics
      Athletics (track and field)

      Track and field athletics, commonly known as athletics or track and field, is a collection of sports events that involve running, throwing and jumping....
       (men: 1930-2010, women: 1934-2010)
    • Badminton
      Badminton

      Badminton is a List of sports#Racquet sports played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net....
       (1966-2010) (see also Medalists
      Badminton at the Commonwealth Games

      Badminton was debut at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games. The mixed team events instate in the Games began 1978 Commonwealth Games, but defunct once during 1998 Commonwealth Games for the way to the men's and women's team events....
      )
    • Basketball
      Basketball

      Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a basketball through a 10 feet  high hoop under organized rules....
       (2006)
    • Billiards and snooker
      Snooker

      Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a large baize-covered snooker table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions....
       (never held)
    • Boxing
      Boxing

      Boxing is a combat sport where two participants, generally of similar human weight, fight each other with their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee and is typically engaged in during a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds....
       (1930-2010)
    • Cricket
      Cricket

      Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games team sport that originated in southern England. The earliest definite reference is dated 1598, and it is now played in more than 100 countries....
       (1998)
    • Cycling
      Cycling

      Cycling is the use of bicycles, or - less commonly - unicycles, tricycles, Quadracycle s and other similar wheeled human powered vehicles as a means of transport, a form of recreation or a sport....
       (1934-2010)
    • Gymnastics
      Gymnastics

      Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility and coordination. Artistic Gymnastics is the best known and most popular of the gymnastics sports governed by the F?d?ration Internationale de Gymnastique ....
       (1978, 1990-2010)
      • Rhythmic gymnastics
        Rhythmic gymnastics

        Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which single competitors or pairs, trios or even more manipulate one or two apparatus: rope , hoop , ball , clubs and ribbon ....
         (1994-1998, 2006-2010)
    • Fencing (1950-1970) (See also Commonwealth Fencing Championships
      Commonwealth Fencing Championships

      The Commonwealth Fencing Championships is one of the older sport-specific sporting events held in the Commonwealth of Nations, following the demise of fencing as an event in the Commonwealth Games....
      )
    • Field hockey
      Field hockey

      Field hockey is a team sport in which a team of players attempt to score Goal by hitting, pushing or flicking the ball with hockey sticks into the opposing team's goal....
       (1998-2010) (see also Hockey at the Commonwealth Games
      Hockey at the Commonwealth Games

      Field hockey became a permanent sport in the Commonwealth Games with its introduction in 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur....
      )
    • Football (never held)
    • Judo
      Judo

      , meaning "gentle way", is a modern Japanese martial art and combat sport, that originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either Throw one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling manoeuvre, or force an opponent...
       (1990, 2002) (See also Commonwealth Judo Championships
      Commonwealth Judo Championships

      The Commonwealth Judo Championships are an international judo competition, open to countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. The Championships have been staged in the following cities:...
      )
    • Karate
      Karate

      or , and often mis, is a martial arts developed in the Ryukyu Islands from indigenous fighting methods and Chinese martial arts kenpo. It is primarily a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands and ridge-hands....
      (never held) (see also Commonwealth Karate Championships
      Commonwealth Karate Championships

      The Commonwealth Karate Championships is a gathering of Karate sportsmen and sportswomen from Commonwealth countries....
      )
    • Lawn bowls (1930-1962, 1972-2010)
    • Lifesaving
      Lifesaving

      Lifesaving is the act involving rescue, resuscitation and first aid. It often refers to water safety and aquatic rescue however it could include ice rescue, flood and river rescue, swimming pool rescue and other emergency medical services....
       (never held) (see also Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships
      Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships

      The Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships is an international event where swimmers from around the Commonwealth of Nations take part in lifesaving sport events....
      )
    • Netball
      Netball

      Netball is a non-contact team sport originating from the United States similar to, and derived from, basketball. Invented in 1895 by Clara Gregory Baer, a pioneer in women's sport, netball is now pre-eminently played as a women's team sport in Australia and New Zealand and is popular in the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom....
       (1998-2010)
    • Orienteering
      Orienteering

      Orienteering is a family of sports that require navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain....
       (never held)
    • Rowing
      Sport rowing

      Rowing is a sport in which athletes racing against each other on rivers, lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline....
       (1930, 1938-1962, 1986) (see also Commonwealth Rowing Championships
      Commonwealth Rowing Championships

      The Commonwealth Rowing Championships are held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games since rowing is no longer included in the Commonwealth Games programme....
      )
    • Rugby sevens
      Rugby sevens

      Rugby sevens is a variant of rugby union in which only seven players per side feature, instead of the full 15. The version of rugby union is very popular, with notable competitions including the IRB Sevens World Series and the Rugby World Cup Sevens....
       (1998-2010) (see also Commonwealth Rugby Sevens Championships)
    • Shooting
      Shooting sports

      The shooting sports include those competitive sports involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns ....
       (1966, 1974-2010)
    • Squash
      Squash (sport)

      Squash is a racquet sport game played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball. Squash is characterized as a "high-impact" exercise that can place strain on the joints, notably the knees....
       (1998-2010)
    • Table tennis
      Table tennis

      Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth with rackets ....
       (2002-2010)
    • Taekwondo
      Taekwondo

      Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. It is the world's most popular martial art in terms of the number of practitioners....
       (never held) (see also Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships
      Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships

      The first Taekwondo was held in Brisbane, Queensland, on 14 and 15 October 2006. The host was Taekwondo Australia Inc...
      )
    • Tennis
      Tennis

      Tennis is a sport played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a strung racquet to strike a hollow rubber Tennis ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's tennis court....
       (never held)
    • Ten-pin bowling
      Ten-pin bowling

      Ten-pin bowling is a Competition sport in which a player bowling form a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many Bowling pin as possible....
       (1998) (see also Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships
      Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships

      Following the introduction of Tenpin Bowling in the programme of the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, the Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Federation was formed....
      )
    • Triathlon
      Triathlon

      A triathlon is an endurance sports event consisting of running, biking, and swimming over various distances. As a result, proficiency in swimming, cycling, or running alone is not sufficient to guarantee a triathlon athlete a competitive time, trained triathletes have learned to race each stage in a way that preserves their energy and endur...
       (2002-2006)
    • Water Polo
      Water polo

      Water polo is a team water sport. It is the oldest continuous Olympic team sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper with a maximum of six substitutes....
       (never held)
    • Weightlifting
      Weightlifting

      Weightlifting, also called Weightlifting at the Summer Olympics or Olympic-style weightlifting, is a sport in which participants attempt a maximum weight single lift of a barbell loaded with weight plates....
       (1950-2010)
    • Freestyle wrestling
      Amateur wrestling

      Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles : Greco-Roman wrestling and Freestyle wrestling....
       (1930-1986, 1994, 2002, 2010)
    • Yachting
      Yachting

      Yachting or recreational sailing is the specific act of sailing as a sport....
      (never held)
    • Events for Athletes with a Disability (2002-2010)
      • Athletics
      • Swimming
      • Table tennis
      • Powerlifting
        Powerlifting

        Powerlifting is a strength sport, consisting of three events: the squat , the bench press, and the deadlift. Powerlifting resembles the sport of weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting heavy weights in three attempts....


    See also

    • Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships
      Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships

      The Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships is an international event where swimmers from around the Commonwealth of Nations take part in lifesaving sport events....
    • Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championships
      Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championships

      The Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championships are held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games....
    • Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships
      Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships

      The inaugural IPF-affiliated Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships were held in Northumberland, England on the 9-11 September 2005. All credit to Fred McKenzie, Meet Director and Fund Raiser, and Peter Fiore, Director of Powerlifting Great Britain and their teams....
    • Commonwealth Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship
      Commonwealth Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship

      The Commonwealth Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships were held in conjunction with the 2002 Commonwealth Games since the sport not included in the Commonwealth Games programme....
    • Commonwealth Rowing Championships
      Commonwealth Rowing Championships

      The Commonwealth Rowing Championships are held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games since rowing is no longer included in the Commonwealth Games programme....
    • Commonwealth Rugby Sevens Championships
    • Commonwealth Sailing Championships
      Commonwealth Sailing Championships

      The inaugural Commonwealth Sailing Championships were held in Port Phillip, Melbourne in 2003.The classes of competition were:* Laser * Laser Radial ...
    • Commonwealth Shooting Championships
      Commonwealth Shooting Championships

      The Commonwealth Shooting Championships is a biannual shooting championships for Commonwealth of Nations countries.*1995 - New Delhi, India*1997 - Langkawi, Malaysia...
    • Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships
      Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships

      The first Taekwondo was held in Brisbane, Queensland, on 14 and 15 October 2006. The host was Taekwondo Australia Inc...
    • Commonwealth Water Polo Championships
      Commonwealth Water Polo Championships

      The Commonwealth Water Polo Championships are held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games although they are no longer included in the Commonwealth Games programme....
    • Commonwealth Winter Games
      Commonwealth Winter Games

      There has been some speculation about the possibility of there being a Commonwealth Winter Games in 2010 held in Kashmir. Apparently Gulmarg, where the Indian National Winter Games have been held in the past, would be the venue of the games....
    • Commonwealth Youth Games
      Commonwealth Youth Games

      The Commonwealth Youth Games are a small-scale version of the Commonwealth Games, designed for children and young people.The 2000 Commonwealth Youth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2000, and 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, in 2004....
    • Indian Empire Games
      Indian Empire Games

      The Indian Empire games were a national sporting event held in the Indian Empire, British Raj. The event was held once; in Madras, in 1909. The event included Sportsperson from all parts of the Indian Empire....
    • Jeux de la Francophonie
      Jeux de la Francophonie

      The Jeux de la Francophonie are a combination of artistic and sporting events for French speaking nations, held every four years since 1989, partly as a counterweight to the Commonwealth Games....
    • Lusophony Games
      Lusophony Games

      The Lusophony Games is a multinational multi-sport event organized by the ACOLOP, which involves athletes coming from Lusophone countries, namely those belonging to the CPLP , but also others where there are significant Portuguese communities or that have a common past with Portugal....


    External links

    • - evolution of the emblems of the Games
    • - 2002 Australian radio programme (with transcript) on the history and future of the "friendly games".


    Official games sites



    Countries