About Commonwealth Games

Posted on by Editorial Team

Commonwealth Games is a world-class multi-sport meet of athletes from around the world which is governed by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). CGF selects the host country and even controls the sports program. Bobby Robbinson formed the CGF in the year 1930. Currently, there are 54 members of the Commonwealth of Nations. 71 teams participate in the Games. The major continents that organize the Commonwealth Games are Asia, Africa, America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Oceania.

Asia – Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka.

Africa – Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia.

America -Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Falkland Islands, Guyana, St Helena

Europe -England, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales

Caribbean -Anguilla, Antigua, and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands

Oceania -Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Commonwealth is headquartered in London, UK and the Commonwealth Secretariat is Hon. Michael Fennell OJ, CD. They are held once every four years. The motto and core value of Commonwealth Games are:

  • Humanity
  • Equality
  • Destiny

History

The Commonwealth Games was first proposed by Englishman, Astley Cooper in 1891. He introduced the concept of a sporting contest amongst the countries of the British Commonwealth combining sporting, military and literary events that would draw closer the ties and increase the goodwill and understanding of the Empire. The Games were held in 1911 in London to celebrate the coronation of King George V and was known as the ‘Festival of Empire’. The Games consisted of track and field athletics, boxing, wrestling, and swimming events. The teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom competed in events. The trophy given to the winner was in the form of a silver cup. The winning country was Canada.

Commonwealth Games involve athletes from the Commonwealth Nations. The first event was held in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada under the title of the British Empire Games. In 1954 it was renamed as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. In 1970, the name was changed to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and finally, in 1978 it was named Commonwealth Games. The teams which have attended all the Commonwealth Games include Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom sends separate teams from the Home Nations-England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Traditions of Commonwealth Games

The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games is a prestigious and important event. Queens Baton Relay is part of the Opening Traditions of Commonwealth Games. Baton Relay began in 1958 in Cardiff, Wales. It is a relay which is held before the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton is carried to all Commonwealth Nations and it carries a message from the Chairperson of the Commonwealth who currently is Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The message signifies the call for all athletes to come together to celebrate the games. Traditionally the baton relay begins in Buckingham Palace in London. Her Majesty hand over the baton to the first relay runner and at the Opening Ceremony of the Games, the final relay runner hands the baton back to Her Majesty the Queen or her representative, who reads the message aloud to officially open the Games. The relay is started by the nation that held the last Commonwealth Games. The final relay runner of the Queens Baton relay is the current host nation.

Important Features

  1. The first Commonwealth Games, known as the British Empire Games at the time, were held in Canada in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario. The first Games included 400 athletes from 11 countries. Eleven nations with a total of 400 athletes participated in it.
  2. A unique characteristic of the Commonwealth Games is being the only Games, which share a common language that is English. This has led to the Commonwealth Games being long known as the “Friendly Games”.
  3. There are currently 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and 71 teams participate in the Games.
  4. The four constituent countries of the United Kingdom England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland send separate teams to the Commonwealth Games.
  5. The Queen is the Head of the Commonwealth and patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation; the Queen’s Baton Relay is one of the great traditions of the Commonwealth Games. Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 member countries and is headed by Queen Elizabeth II.

Countries which have been the Host of Commonwealth games:

  1. 1930-Hamilton, Canada.
  2. 1934-London, England.
  3. 1938-Sydney, Australia.
  4. 1950-Auckland, New Zealand.
  5. 1954-Vancouver, Canada.
  6. 1958-Cardiff,Wales.
  7. 1962-Perth,Australia.
  8. 1966-Kingston,Jamaica.
  9. 1970-Edinburgh,Scotland.
  10. 1974-Chirstchurch,New Zealand.
  11. Edmonton,Canada.
  12. 1982-Brisbane,Australia.
  13. 1986-Edinburgh,Scotland.
  14. 1990-Auckland,New Zealand.
  15. 1994-Victoria,Canada.
  16. 1998-Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.
  17. 2002-Manchester,England.
  18. 2006-Melbourne,Australia.
  19. 2010-Delhi,India.
  20. 2014-Glasgow, Scotland.

Games Included

Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Net Ball, Shooting, Squash, Rugby 7s Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Basketball, Triathlon.
TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS – Running, Jumping, Walking, marathon, Shot-put, Javelin, Hammer throw, and Discus.
AQUATICS EVENTS – Diving, Swimming, and Synchronized swimming.

2010 Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games in 2010 will be hosted in the city of New Delhi, India. This will be the first time India has hosted the Games and only the second time the event has been held in Asia (Kuala Lumpur in 1998).In Jamaica on November 13, 2003, Delhi received 46 votes compared with 22 for Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in a vote of the Commonwealth Games Federation. The proposed dates for the Games are 3 – 14 October 2010 inclusive of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Mascot of 2010 Commonwealth Games

The Tiger Cub is chosen as the mascot for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

In 2014, Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland for over 11 days commencing from 23rd July to 3rd August. In the games, 71 nations will participate and 17 sports will be played.

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