22 Facts About Commonwealth Games

1.

Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games, are a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations.

FactSnippet No. 939,947
2.

In 2018, the Commonwealth Games became the first global multi-sport event to feature an equal number of men's and women's medal events and four years later they are the first global multi-sport event to have more events for women than men.

FactSnippet No. 939,948
3.

One of the differences from other multisport events is that 15 CGAs participating in the Commonwealth Games do not send their delegations independently from the Olympic, Paralympic and other multisports competitions, as 13 are linked to the British Olympic Association, 1 is part of Australian Olympic Committee and another one is part of the New Zealand Olympic Committee as their Paralympic counterparts.

FactSnippet No. 939,949
4.

The next Commonwealth Games will be the first games in history held in a decentralized way, as they are scheduled to be hosted across four cities in the Australian state of Victoria from 17 to 29 March 2026.

FactSnippet No. 939,950
5.

The 1934 Commonwealth Games had originally been awarded to Johannesburg, but were given to London instead because of serious concerns about prejudice against Asian and black athletes in South Africa.

FactSnippet No. 939,951
6.

The affiliation of Irish athletes at the 1934 Commonwealth Games representation remains unclear but there was no official Irish Free State team.

FactSnippet No. 939,952
7.

Fifteen nations participated down under at the Sydney Commonwealth Games involving a total of 464 athletes and 43 officials.

FactSnippet No. 939,953
8.

The fifth edition of the Commonwealth Games placed Vancouver on a world stage and featured memorable sporting moments as well as outstanding entertainment, technical innovation and cultural events.

FactSnippet No. 939,954
9.

The Commonwealth Games were officially named "the friendly games", and was the first edition to feature a theme song.

FactSnippet No. 939,955
10.

Zimbabwe made its first appearance at the Commonwealth Games, having earlier competed as Southern Rhodesia and as part of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

FactSnippet No. 939,956
11.

The games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the Games in 1958.

FactSnippet No. 939,957
12.

The 2002 Games were hosted in England for the first time since 1934 and hosted to coincide with the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II, head of the Commonwealth.

FactSnippet No. 939,958
13.

The 2002 Commonwealth Games had set a new benchmark for hosting the Commonwealth Games and for cities wishing to bid for them with a heavy emphasis on legacy.

FactSnippet No. 939,959
14.

On 16 February 2022 it was announced that the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held for a record sixth time in Australia, but for the first time they will be decentralised, as the state of Victoria signed as host city.

FactSnippet No. 939,960
15.

Six Commonwealth Games have taken place in the countries within the United Kingdom, two in Asia and one in the Caribbean .

FactSnippet No. 939,961
16.

Commonwealth Winter Games was a multi-sport event comprising winter sports, last held in 1966.

FactSnippet No. 939,962
17.

The Winter Games were designed as a counterbalance to the Commonwealth Games, which focuses on summer sports, to accompany the Winter Olympics and Summer Olympic Games.

FactSnippet No. 939,963
18.

The Commonwealth Games Federation discussed the idea of a Millennium Commonwealth Youth Games in 1997.

FactSnippet No. 939,964
19.

In 1998 the concept was agreed on for the purpose of providing a Commonwealth Games multi-sport event for young people born in the calendar year 1986 or later.

FactSnippet No. 939,965
20.

Commonwealth Games Federation is the international organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, and is the foremost authority in matters relating to the games.

FactSnippet No. 939,966
21.

Anthems used at the Commonwealth Games which differ from a currently-eligible country's national or official anthem:.

FactSnippet No. 939,967
22.

In 2015, the Commonwealth Games Federation agreed large changes to the programme which increased the number of core sports, whilst removing a number of optionals, those removed are listed below.

FactSnippet No. 939,968