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Encyclopedia > Commonwealth Games Federation
Current flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation
Current flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation

The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event held every four years involving the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. The first such event, then known as the British Empire Games, was held in 1930. 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. Image File history File links Cg-flag. ... Image File history File links Cg-flag. ... A multi-sport event is a competition in which athletes compete in a number of different sports. ... The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ...


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. The Olympic Games, or Olympics, is an international multi-sport event taking place every four years and comprising summer and winter games. ... Men playing bowls Bowls (or Lawn Bowls) is a precision sport where the goal is to roll slightly radially asymmetrical balls (called bowls) closer to a smaller white ball (the jack) than ones opponent is able to do. ... Rugby sevens is a variant of rugby football in which only seven players per side feature. ... Originally known as womens basketball and adapted from basketball in the USA, netball, while basically unknown in its homeland, is the preeminent womens team sport (both as a spectator and participant sport) in Australia and New Zealand and is popular in Jamaica, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the United...


Unlike other regional games of this type (i.e., Pan-American Games, Asian Games, All-Africa Games) which usually attract second-tier athletes, the Commonwealth Games attracts the top athletes of member nations of the Commonwealth, thus making this competition world-class in the true sense of the word (second only to the Olympic Games). Attendance is typically around 5,000 athletes, which puts these games in third place behind the Olympics and the World Police & Fire Games. The Pan American Games are a multi-sport event, held every four years between competitors from all nations of the Americas. ... The Asian Games, also called the Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. ... The All-Africa Games, sometimes called the African Games, are a regional multi-sport event held every four years. ... The Olympic Games, or Olympics, is an international multi-sport event taking place every four years and comprising summer and winter games. ... The World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) are an annual athletic event open to active and retired law enforcement and fire service personnel throughout the world. ...


The three constituent countries of the United KingdomEngland, Scotland and Wales, in addition to Northern Ireland — send separate teams to the Commonwealth Games, and individual teams are also sent from crown dependencies such as the Isle of Man and Jersey. Constituent country is an official term used to describe three of the four principal component parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK): England; Scotland; Wales. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: England Travel guide to England from Wikitravel English language English law English (people) List of monarchs of England – Kings of England family tree List of English people Angeln (region in northern Germany, presumably the origin of the Angles for whom England is named) UK... ... National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location relative to the some of the British Isles (other parts of the UK shown on the map are in pink). ... Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)3 Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685... Crown dependencies are possessions of the British Crown, as opposed to overseas territories or colonies of the United Kingdom. ...


Only six nations have attended every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales. Wikimedia Commons has media related to: England Travel guide to England from Wikitravel English language English law English (people) List of monarchs of England – Kings of England family tree List of English people Angeln (region in northern Germany, presumably the origin of the Angles for whom England is named) UK... ... National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location relative to the some of the British Isles (other parts of the UK shown on the map are in pink). ...

Contents


Origins

A sporting competition bringing together the members of the British Empire was first proposed by 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". The British Empire was the worlds first global power and the largest empire in history. ... 1891 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom. ...


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. 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... A coronation is a ceremony marking the investment of a monarch with regal power through, amongst other symbolic acts, the placement of a crown upon his or her head. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) (3 June 1865–20 January 1936) was the last British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changing the name to the House of Windsor in 1917. ...


In 1928, Bobby Robinson of Canada was asked to organize the first British Empire Games. These were held in Hamilton two years later. 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...


Opening Ceremony Traditions

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

1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 The Union Flag or Union Jack is the flag most commonly associated with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and was also used throughout the former British Empire. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Olympic Games, or Olympics, is an international multi-sport event taking place every four years and comprising summer and winter games. ...

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 Games due to the Thatcher government's attitude to South African sporting contacts. Boycotts were also threatened in 1974, 1982, and 1990 because of South Africa. A boycott is a refusal to buy, sell, or otherwise trade with an individual or business who is generally believed by the participants in the boycott to be doing something morally wrong. ... The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Medals by country Medals by event Athletics Bowls Boxing Cycling Track Road Gymnastics Artistic Shooting Pistol Rifle Shotgun Swimming Diving Swimming Diving Weightlifting Wrestling Badminton Categories: Commonwealth Games ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. ... World map showing Asia. ... ... The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... The Right Honourable Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925), is a British politician. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...


Editions

The Empire Games flag was donated in 1930 by the British Empire Games Association of Canada. The year and location of subsequent games were added until the 1950 games. The name of the event was changed to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and the flag was retired as a result.
The Empire Games flag was donated in 1930 by the British Empire Games Association of Canada. The year and location of subsequent games were added until the 1950 games. The name of the event was changed to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and the flag was retired as a result.
British Commonwealth Games seal
British Commonwealth Games seal
Commonwealth Games Federation seal, adopted in 2001
Commonwealth Games Federation seal, adopted in 2001

Empire Games flag This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Empire Games flag This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

British Empire Games

The 1930 British Empire Games was the first of what later became known as the Commonwealth Games was held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. ... Motto: Together Aspire - Together Achieve Area: 1,117. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English, French (in some areas) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 106 24 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 4th 1,076,395... The 1934 British Empire Games was the second of what are now called the Commonwealth Games. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: England Travel guide to England from Wikitravel English language English law English (people) List of monarchs of England – Kings of England family tree List of English people Angeln (region in northern Germany, presumably the origin of the Angles for whom England is named) UK... The 1938 British Empire Games was the third as its called now Commonwealth Games. ... Sydney, the Emerald City, is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian state of New South Wales, as well as Australias largest and oldest city (founded in 1788). ... Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Governor Premier Const. ... The 1950 British Empire Games was the fourth as it is called now New Zealand. ... Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ...

British Empire and Commonwealth Games

The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver, British Columbia. ... This article refers to the city in British Columbia, Canada. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Official languages English Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 36 6 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 5th 944,735 km² 2. ... The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Cardiff, Wales. ... The Norman Keep, Cardiff Castle Aerial view of the Millennium Stadium The Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay The Cardiff Indoor Market Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd) is the capital and largest city of Wales. ... National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location relative to the some of the British Isles (other parts of the UK shown on the map are in pink). ... The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Australia. ... Perth is the state capital and most populous city of Western Australia. ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ... The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica. ... Location of Kingston Kingston (population 600,000) is the capital of Jamaica. ...

British Commonwealth Games

The 1970 British Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh Scotland. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ), Dùn Èideann () in Scottish Gaelic, is the second-largest city in Scotland and its capital city. ... ... The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand. ... Situated on the Eastern coast, Christchurch is the principal city of the South Island of New Zealand. ...

Commonwealth Games

The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Medals by country Medals by event Athletics Bowls Boxing Cycling Track Road Gymnastics Artistic Shooting Pistol Rifle Shotgun Swimming Diving Swimming Diving Weightlifting Wrestling Badminton Categories: Commonwealth Games ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Industry Integrity Progress City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canadas Location. ... Motto: Fortis et Liber (Strong and free) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong Premier Ralph Klein (PC) Area 661,848 km² (6th) • Land 642,317 km² • Water 19,531 km² (2. ... The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. ... Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the state of Queensland, Australia. ... Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Nickname: Sunshine State/Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Governor Premier Const. ... The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ), Dùn Èideann () in Scottish Gaelic, is the second-largest city in Scotland and its capital city. ... ... The 1990 Commonwealth Games. ... Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held August 18-28, 1994 in Victoria, British Columbia. ... The arms of Victoria. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Official languages English Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 36 6 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 5th 944,735 km² 2. ... The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from September 11 to September 21 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for 20th Century. ... Mayor Datuk Ruslin Hasan District Kuala Lumpur District Area  - Total (City) 243. ... The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from July 25 to August 4. ... Manchester is a city in the North West of England, United Kingdom. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: England Travel guide to England from Wikitravel English language English law English (people) List of monarchs of England – Kings of England family tree List of English people Angeln (region in northern Germany, presumably the origin of the Angles for whom England is named) UK... The 2006 Commonwealth Games will be held in Melbourne, Australia between March 15 and March 26. ... Melbourne is the state capital and largest city in the Australian state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia (after Sydney), with a population of approximately 3. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... 2010 Commonwealth games logo The 2010 Commonwealth Games are going to be held in Delhi, India. ... This article deals with the metropolis of Delhi. ...

2014 Commonwealth Games Bid Cities

Location of Abuja in Nigeria Abuja, estimated population 1,078,700, is the capital city of Nigeria in western Africa. ... Glasgow (or Glaschu in Gaelic) is Scotlands largest city and unitary council, situated on the River Clyde in the countrys west central lowlands. ... ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = E Mari Merces (Wealth from the Sea) Logo: City Symbol: Kingfisher Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canadas Location. ...

List of Sports at the Commonwealth Games

The current regulations state that a minimum of ten and no more than fifteen sports must be included in a Commonweath 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 choses which to include. The host nation may also apply for the inclusion of other team sports to the CGF General Assembly, like the Melbourne organising committee did with Basketball for the 2006 Games.


The current core sports consist of Athletics, Aquatics (swimming, diving and synchronised swimming), Lawn Bowls, Netball (for women) and Rugby sevens (for men). These will all remain core sports until at least the 2014 Commonwealth Games.


The approved list of sports also includes archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, canoeing, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, judo, rowing, shooting, squash, table tennis, tennis, tenpin bowling, triathlon, weightlifting, wrestling and sailing. Some of these are often included in the programme, while others, like billiards and sailing, have not yet made it into 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.


Below, the years in brackets show when the sports appeared at the games.


2006 Commonwealth Games

There are a large number of sports that involve water. ... Swimming is the method by which living creatures move themselves through water in a method not involving simply walking on the bottom. ... A hybrid of swimming, gymnastics, and ballet, synchronized swimming involves competitors (either individuals or teams) performing aesthetically pleasing and difficult movements while holding their breath and keeping afloat in water. ... This article refers to the act of jumping into water, often acrobatically, from a distance. ... It has been suggested that Ball handling skills be merged into this article or section. ... Athletics, also known, especially in American English, as track and field or track and field athletics, is a collection of sport events, which can roughly be divided into running, throwing, and jumping. ... This article is about the racquet sport badminton. ... Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005 Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls attempts to score. ... Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano at Madison Square Garden, 1951 Julio Cesar Chavez and Ivan Robinson at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, 2005 Amir Khan of Britain and Mario Cesar Kindelan Mesa of Cuba at the Athens Olympics, 2004 Boxing, nicknamed the sweet science and also called pugilism or prizefighting... Cycling is a recreation, a sport, and a means of transport across land. ... Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring physical strength, flexibility, and kinesthetic awareness, such as handsprings and handstands. ... A game of field hockey in progress Field hockey is a popular sport for men and women in many countries around the world. ... Men playing bowls Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bowls Bowls (also known as Lawn Bowls or Lawn Bowling) is a precision sport where the goal is to roll slightly radially asymmetrical balls (called bowls) closer to a smaller white ball (the jack or kitty) than ones opponent is... Originally known as womens basketball and adapted from basketball in the USA, netball, while basically unknown in its homeland, is the preeminent womens team sport (both as a spectator and participant sport) in Australia and New Zealand and is popular in Jamaica, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the United... Rugby sevens is a variant of rugby football in which only seven players per side feature. ... Shooting is the act of causing a gun to fire at a target. ... Squash racquet and ball Squash is an indoor racquet sport which was, until recently, called Squash Rackets, a reference to the squashable soft ball used in the game (compared with the harder ball used in its parent game Racquets or Rackets--see below). ... Professional level table tennis rally, showing table, net, and player Wang Liqin winning a forehand drive against Jorg Rosskopf. ... A triathlon is an athletic event made up of three contests (from the Greek). ... Weightlifting is a sport where competitors attempt to lift heavy weights mounted on steel bars, the execution of which is a combination of power and technique. ... Athletics, also known, especially in American English, as track and field or track and field athletics, is a collection of sport events, which can roughly be divided into running, throwing, and jumping. ... Swimming is the method by which living creatures move themselves through water in a method not involving simply walking on the bottom. ... Professional level table tennis rally, showing table, net, and player Wang Liqin winning a forehand drive against Jorg Rosskopf. ... The bench press is one of the three events of powerlifting. ...

Events on hiatus

Archers in Competition Archery is the practice of using a bow to shoot arrows. ... Cricket is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. ... Russian Ivan Tourchine and American Weston Kelsey fence in the second round of the Olympic Mens Individual Épée event at the Helliniko Fencing Hall on Aug. ... Andrell Durden (top) and Edward Harris grapple for position during the All-Marine Wrestle Offs. ... Judo (Japanese: 柔道 JÅ«dō; gentle way) is a martial art, sport, and philosophy originated in Japan. ... A coxless pair, sweep-oar rowing to the left of the photo; the bowside rower (or the starboard one, although the British term applied on this occasion) is further towards the bow of the boat. ... Bowling ball and two pins Ten-Pin Bowling is a sport with a simple aim—knock down as many targets as possible by rolling a ball down a wooden pathway. ...

See also

The flag of the Francophonie Games The Jeux de la Francophonie (Francophone Games) are a combination artistic and sports events for French speaking nations, held every four years since 1989, partly as a counterweight to the Commonwealth Games. ...

External links


Commonwealth Games
1930 | 1934 | 1938 | 1950 | 1954 | 1958 | 1962 | 1966 | 1970 | 1974 | 1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1990 | 1994 | 1998 | 2002 | 2006 | 2010 | 2014

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