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Commonwealth Games facts for kids

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For the most recent event, see 2022 Commonwealth Games. For the next event, see 2026 Commonwealth Games.
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Commonwealth Games
New Commonwealth Games logo 2019.svg
  • 1930
  • 1934
  • 1938
  • 1950
  • 1954
  • 1958
  • 1962
  • 1966
  • 1970
  • 1974
  • 1978
  • 1982
  • 1986
  • 1990
  • 1994
  • 1998
  • 2002
  • 2006
  • 2010
  • 2014
  • 2018
  • 2022
  • 2026
  • 2030
Sports (details)
  • Archery
  • Athletics
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Beach Volleyball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Cycling
  • Diving
  • Gymnastics
  • Hockey
  • Judo
  • Lawn bowls
  • Netball
  • Rowing
  • Rugby sevens
  • Squash
  • Swimming
  • Shooting
  • Synchronised swimming
  • Table tennis
  • Tennis
  • Triathlon
  • Weightlifting
  • Wrestling

The Commonwealth Games are a huge international sports event. Athletes from countries in the Commonwealth of Nations compete every four years. Most of these countries used to be part of the British Empire.

The Games started in 1930 as the British Empire Games. They have happened every four years since then, except for 1942 and 1946 due to World War II. Over time, the name changed several times. It became the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1954 to 1966. Then it was the British Commonwealth Games from 1970 to 1974. Since 1978, it has been known simply as the Commonwealth Games.

A cool fact about the Commonwealth Games is how inclusive they are. Since 2002, athletes with disabilities have been full members of their national teams. This made it the first big international sports event to include everyone. In 2018, it was the first global multi-sport event to have an equal number of medal events for men and women. Four years later, in 2022, it even had more events for women than men!

The idea for the Games came from the Inter-Empire Championships in 1911. Melville Marks Robinson then founded the British Empire Games. The first Games were held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930. Over the years, other events were added, like the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games for athletes with disabilities and the Commonwealth Youth Games for younger athletes (14 to 18 years old).

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) organizes the Games. They decide which sports are included and choose the host cities. The Games have special traditions, like the Queen's Baton Relay and unique opening and closing ceremonies. More than 4,500 athletes competed in the most recent Games. They took part in 25 sports and over 250 medal events. These include Olympic and Paralympic events, plus sports popular in Commonwealth countries. Some examples are netball, lawn bowls, and squash. Winners usually get gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Unlike other big sports events, some teams at the Commonwealth Games don't send their own teams to the Olympics. For example, the four parts of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) compete separately. Also, some British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have their own teams.

Twenty cities in nine countries have hosted the Games. Australia has hosted five times, more than any other nation. Auckland and Edinburgh have each hosted twice. Glasgow will be the third city to host more than once in 2026. The most recent Games were in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8, 2022.

Finding host cities has become a bit tricky lately. Several cities pulled out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. This made some people wonder if the 2022 Games might be the last. But in September 2024, Glasgow, Scotland, was confirmed as the host for 2026. The Games will be smaller, with only 10 sports.

History of the Games

The idea for a sports competition for the British Empire started in 1891. John Astley Cooper suggested a "Pan Brittanic Contest" every four years. He thought it would help bring the British Empire closer. His ideas even helped inspire the modern Olympic Games.

In 1911, a competition called the Inter-Empire Championship took place in London. It was part of the coronation celebrations for King George V. Teams from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom competed. They played in sports like athletics, boxing, swimming, and wrestling. Canada won the championship.

Later, in 1928, Melville Marks Robinson worked to bring an international sports event to Canada. He successfully suggested that Hamilton, Canada, host the first British Empire Games in 1930.

There are 56 countries in the Commonwealth of Nations. But there are 72 Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) that send teams to the Games. These CGAs are like the National Olympic Committees for their countries.

Only six teams have been to every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales. Australia, England, Canada, and New Zealand have won at least one gold medal in every Games. Australia has won the most medals overall in 13 Games. England has won the most in seven Games, and Canada in one. These three countries are also at the top of the all-time medal table.

Past Games: British Empire Games Era

The first Commonwealth Games, then called the 1930 British Empire Games, happened in Hamilton, Canada. It took place from August 16 to 23, 1930. Eleven countries sent 400 athletes to compete in sports like athletics, boxing, and swimming. Women only competed in water events. Canada's Gordon Smallacombe won the first gold medal ever in the Games.

SLNSW 23801 Opening Empire Games Sydney Cricket Ground
Opening ceremony of the 1938 British Empire Games at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The 1934 British Empire Games were held in London, England. The main events were at Wembley Park. These Games were originally planned for Johannesburg, South Africa. But they were moved due to concerns about unfair treatment of Asian and black athletes in South Africa. Sixteen teams took part, including new ones like Hong Kong and India.

The 1938 British Empire Games were in Sydney, Australia. This was the first time the Games were held in the Southern Hemisphere. It celebrated 150 years since British settlement in Australia. Fifteen nations participated with 464 athletes. Fiji and Ceylon joined for the first time.

The 1950 British Empire Games took place in Auckland, New Zealand. There was a 12-year break before these Games because the 1942 event was cancelled due to World War II. 40,000 people watched the opening ceremony. Twelve countries sent 590 athletes. Malaya and Nigeria made their first appearances.

Past Games: British Empire and Commonwealth Games Era

Bannister and Landy
Statue in Vancouver commemorating the "Miracle Mile" between Roger Bannister and John Landy

The fifth Games, the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, were in Vancouver, Canada. This was the first event after the name changed in 1952. It featured the famous 'Miracle Mile' race. Both Roger Bannister (England) and John Landy (Australia) ran the mile in under four minutes. This race was televised live around the world for the first time.

1958 Commonwealth Games 3d Stamp
3 pence British stamp with theme of 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Cardiff, Wales

The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Cardiff, Wales. This was the biggest sports event ever held in Wales at the time. Cardiff had waited 12 years to host, as the 1946 Games were cancelled. The Cardiff Games also started the Queen's Baton Relay. This tradition has happened before every Games since then. Thirty-five nations sent over 1,100 athletes. Many countries won medals for the first time, including Singapore and Ghana.

The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were in Perth, Australia. Thirty-five countries sent 863 athletes. Jersey won medals for the first time. New teams like British Honduras and Dominica also joined.

The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica. This was the first time the Games were held outside of the main "White Dominion" countries. Thirty-four nations competed with over 1,300 athletes and officials.

Past Games: British Commonwealth Games Era

The 1970 British Commonwealth Games took place in Edinburgh, Scotland. This was the first time the name "British Commonwealth Games" was used. It was also the first time metric units were used for events instead of imperial units. And it was the first time Queen Elizabeth II attended as Head of the Commonwealth.

The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were in Christchurch, New Zealand. These Games were called The Friendly Games. They were also the first to have a theme song. After the attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics, security was a top priority. Security guards and police were very visible.

Past Games: Commonwealth Games Era

The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Canada. This was the first event to use the current name, "Commonwealth Games." Almost 1,500 athletes from 46 countries took part. Nigeria and Uganda boycotted the Games for political reasons.

Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony - Brisbane 1982
Opening ceremony of the 1982 Commonwealth Games at Brisbane, Australia

The 1982 Commonwealth Games were in Brisbane, Australia. Forty-six nations participated, with a new record of over 1,500 athletes. Australia topped the medal table. Zimbabwe made its first appearance under its new name.

The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland, for the second time. Many African, Asian, and Caribbean nations boycotted these Games. They were protesting the British Prime Minister's stance on apartheid in South Africa. Despite this, 26 nations attended.

The 1990 Commonwealth Games were in Auckland, New Zealand, also for the second time. A new record of 55 nations participated. Pakistan returned to the Games after 20 years away.

The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, Canada. This marked South Africa's return to the Games after the apartheid era. Namibia also made its debut. It was Hong Kong's last appearance before it became part of China.

The 1998 Commonwealth Games were in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This was the first time the Games were held in Asia. It was also the first time team sports like cricket, rugby sevens, netball, and field hockey were included. This made the Games much more popular. A record 70 countries sent over 5,000 athletes.

Commonwealth Games in the 21st Century

The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England. This was the first time England hosted since 1934. It was also part of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee celebrations. These Games were the largest ever at the time, with 281 events across 17 sports. Australia led the medal count.

MSC, 2006 Commonwealth Games
Athletics at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne

The 2006 Commonwealth Games were in Melbourne, Australia. The Queen's Baton visited every Commonwealth nation and territory for the first time. This was a journey of over 180,000 km! More than 4,000 athletes competed. Australia, England, and Canada were the top three medal winners.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games were held in Delhi, India. These were the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever. It was the first time India hosted and the second time the Games were held in Asia. Over 6,000 athletes from 71 nations competed. Australia led the medals, and India had its best performance ever, finishing second.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games were in Glasgow, Scotland. This was the biggest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland. Around 4,950 athletes from 71 nations competed in 18 sports. Famous sprinter Usain Bolt competed and set a Commonwealth Games record with his teammates. The Games were praised for being well-organized and exciting.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games were held in Gold Coast, Australia. This was the fifth time Australia hosted. These Games made history by having an equal number of events for men and women.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games were in Birmingham, England. This was England's third time hosting. It happened during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. These were the last Games held during her reign.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games were first planned for Victoria, Australia. But Victoria later pulled out. Now, Glasgow, Scotland, will host a smaller version of the Games. The 2030 Commonwealth Games might be held in Hamilton, Canada.

Special Games for Athletes

Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games Competitors Team Photograph
Athletes of the 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games at Perth

The Commonwealth Paraplegic Games were a multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities from Commonwealth countries. These athletes usually had spinal injuries or polio. The Games were held from 1962 to 1974 in the same country that hosted the main Commonwealth Games. Countries like Australia, England, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales always sent teams.

Including Disabled Athletes in the Main Games

Athletes with disabilities were first included in the main 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada. Events like athletics and lawn bowls were added for them. By the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, these events became a required part of the Games. This made the Commonwealth Games the first fully inclusive international multi-sport event. This means their results counted towards the medal count, and they were full members of their country's teams.

In 2007, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) made an agreement. They decided to work together to make sure athletes with disabilities would always be part of future Commonwealth Games. This partnership helps grow Paralympic sports in Commonwealth countries.

Commonwealth Winter Games

StMoritz
St. Moritz, the venue for all three Winter Games from 1958 to 1966

The Commonwealth Winter Games were a sports event for winter sports. They were held three times, from 1958 to 1966. These Games were meant to be like the Winter Olympics for Commonwealth countries. They were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland, to go along with the main Commonwealth Games. After 1966, the idea was stopped.

Commonwealth Youth Games

The Commonwealth Youth Games are another international multi-sport event organized by the Commonwealth Games Federation. These Games happen every four years. The idea started in 1997 to create a multi-sport event for young people. The first Youth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2000. Athletes aged 14 to 18 can compete.

How the Games are Organized

The Commonwealth Games Federation

London Shopping 002 (6166876525) (2)
Headquarters of the CGF at the Commonwealth House (centre) in London

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the main organization that runs the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games. Their main office is in London, England.

The Commonwealth Games Movement involves three main groups:

  • International Federations (IFs): These are the groups that manage each sport at an international level. For example, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is in charge of basketball worldwide.
  • Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs): These groups represent the Commonwealth Games in each country. They are similar to National Olympic Committees. There are 72 CGAs recognized by the CGF.
  • Organizing Committees for the Commonwealth Games (OCCWGs): These are temporary groups that plan and run each specific Games. They are dissolved after the Games are over.

English is the official language of the Commonwealth. At each Games, the language of the host country is also used. All announcements, like when countries parade into the stadium, are spoken in both English and the host country's language(s).

The Queen's Baton Relay

Bilston St.-Garrick St. - geograph.org.uk - 536739
The Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay for the 2002 Commonwealth Games

The Queen's Baton Relay is a special relay race held around the world before the Games begin. The Baton carries a secret message from the Head of the Commonwealth. The Relay starts at Buckingham Palace in London. The Queen (or King) gives the baton to the first runner. At the Opening Ceremony, the last runner gives the baton back to the Head of the Commonwealth or their representative. They then read the message aloud to officially open the Games. It's a bit like the Olympic Torch Relay.

The Relay started at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales. For a long time, it only went through England and the host nation. But for the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it traveled to other Commonwealth nations for the first time. The Relay for the 2018 Commonwealth Games was the longest ever, covering 230,000 km over 388 days!

Ceremonies

Opening Ceremony

Comm Games 2006 finale
Opening ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games at Melbourne

The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games is a big show. It happens before the sports events start. The ceremony usually begins with raising the host country's flag and playing its national anthem. The flags of the Commonwealth Games Federation, the last host nation, and the next host nation are also raised. The host nation then puts on amazing artistic shows. These include music, singing, dancing, and theater that show off their culture. These shows have become bigger and more complex over time.

After the artistic part, the athletes march into the stadium. They are grouped by their nation. The country that hosted the last Games usually enters first. Other nations enter in alphabetical order, and the host country's athletes enter last. Speeches are given to officially open the Games. Finally, the King's Baton is brought into the stadium. It is passed along until it reaches the final runner, who is often a famous athlete from the host nation. This person hands it to the Head of the Commonwealth or their representative.

Closing Ceremony

Commonwealth Games closing ceremony picture
Closing ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games at Delhi

The closing ceremony happens after all the sports events are finished. Flag-bearers from each country enter the stadium. Then, all the athletes enter together, without being separated by country. The head of the organizing committee and the CGF president give speeches. They officially close the Games and talk about how well the Games went. The mayor of the host city passes the CGF flag to the CGF president. Then, the president gives it to the mayor of the city hosting the next Games. The next host nation also gives a short artistic show to introduce itself. Many famous artists and singers have performed at these ceremonies.

At every closing ceremony, the CGF President gives an award called the 'David Dixon Award'. This award goes to an athlete who showed great sportsmanship and performance. Athletes are nominated by their teams, and a special group chooses the winner. This award started in Manchester 2002.

Medal Presentation

After each event, there is a medal ceremony. The first, second, and third-place athletes or teams stand on a special platform. They are given their gold, silver, and bronze medals. After the medals are given out, the national flags of the three medal winners are raised. The national anthem of the gold medallist's country is played. Volunteers from the host country help with the ceremonies.

Anthems

"God Save the King" is the official song for many Commonwealth countries. But because the different parts of the United Kingdom compete separately, this song is not used during medal ceremonies or before team matches. Instead, other anthems are used for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. For example, England uses "Jerusalem" since 2010.

List of Commonwealth Games

Overview of Commonwealth Games Editions

Overview of Commonwealth Games
Year Edition Host city Host Association Opened by Sports Events Associations Start date End date Competitors Top Association Ref
1911 – London United Kingdom United Kingdom King George V 4 9 4 12 May 1 June Unknown  Canada
1930 I Hamilton  Canada Viscount Willingdon 6 59 11 16 August 23 August 400  England [1]
1934 II London  England King George V 6 68 16 4 August 11 August 500  England align="center">[2]
1938 III Sydney  Australia Lord Wakehurst 7 71 15 5 February 12 February 464  Australia [3]
1942 – Montreal  Canada Cancelled due to World War II
1946 – Cardiff  Wales
1950 IV Auckland  New Zealand Sir Bernard Freyberg 9 88 12 4 February 11 February 590  Australia [4]
1954 V Vancouver  Canada Earl Alexander of Tunis 9 91 24 30 July 7 August 662  England [5]
1958 VI Cardiff  Wales Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 9 94 36 18 July 26 July 1122  England [6]
1962 VII Perth  Australia 9 104 35 22 November 1 December 863  Australia [7]
1966 VIII Kingston  Jamaica 9 110 34 4 August 13 August 1050  England [8]
1970 IX Edinburgh  Scotland 9 121 42 16 July 25 July 1383  Australia [9]
1974 X Christchurch  New Zealand 9 121 38 24 January 2 February 1276  Australia [10]
1978 XI Edmonton  Canada Queen Elizabeth II 10 128 46 3 August 12 August 1474  Canada [11]
1982 XII Brisbane  Australia Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 10 142 46 30 September 9 October 1583  Australia [12]
1986 XIII Edinburgh  Scotland Queen Elizabeth II 10 163 26 24 July 2 August 1662  England [13]
1990 XIV Auckland  New Zealand Prince Edward 10 204 55 24 January 3 February 2073  Australia [14]
1994 XV Victoria  Canada Queen Elizabeth II 10 217 63 18 August 28 August 2557  Australia [15]
1998 XVI Kuala Lumpur  Malaysia Tuanku Jaafar 15 213 70 11 September 21 September 3633  Australia [16]
2002 XVII Manchester  England Queen Elizabeth II 17 281 72 25 July 4 August 3679  Australia [17]
2006 XVIII Melbourne  Australia 16 245 71 15 March 26 March 4049  Australia [18]
2010 XIX Delhi  India Pratibha Patil and
Charles, Prince of Wales		 17 272 71 3 October 14 October 4352  Australia [19]
2014 XX Glasgow  Scotland Queen Elizabeth II 17 261 71 23 July 3 August 4947  England [20]
2018 XXI Gold Coast  Australia Charles, Prince of Wales 19 275 71 4 April 15 April 4426  Australia [21]
2022 XXII Birmingham  England 20 280 72 28 July 8 August 5054  Australia [22]
2026 XXIII Glasgow  Scotland King Charles III (expected) 10 (expected) TBC 75
(expected)		 TBC TBC TBC TBC
2030 XXIV TBD

Medal Table: Who Won the Most?

*Note : Nations in italics no longer participate at the Commonwealth Games.

Updated after 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Rank CGA Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  Australia (AUS) 1,003 834 767 2,604
2  England (ENG) 773 783 766 2,322
3  Canada (CAN) 510 548 589 1,647
4  India (IND) 203 190 171 564
5  New Zealand (NZL) 179 232 295 706
6  South Africa (RSA) 137 132 147 416
7  Scotland (SCO) 132 143 227 502
8  Kenya (KEN) 91 80 87 258
9  Nigeria (NGR) 82 84 105 271
10  Wales (WAL) 75 104 155 334
11  Malaysia (MAS) 69 78 91 238
12  Jamaica (JAM) 65 53 58 176
13  Singapore (SGP) 41 31 37 109
14  Northern Ireland (NIR) 37 46 59 142
15  Pakistan (PAK) 27 27 29 83
16  Cyprus (CYP) 25 16 23 64
17  Uganda (UGA) 19 16 25 60
18  Ghana (GHA) 15 20 28 63
19  Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) 13 23 26 62
20  Bahamas (BAH) 11 14 13 38
21  Cameroon (CMR) 11 12 17 40
22  Nauru (NRU) 10 11 10 31
23  Samoa (SAM) 6 12 11 29
24  Zimbabwe (ZIM) 6 9 14 29
25  Tanzania (TAN) 6 7 11 24
26  Zambia (ZAM) 5 13 24 42
27  Papua New Guinea (PNG) 5 8 2 15
28  Botswana (BOT) 5 6 8 19
29  Namibia (NAM) 5 4 15 24
30  Hong Kong (HKG) 5 2 10 17
31  Sri Lanka (SRI) 4 9 11 24
32  Fiji (FIJ) 4 7 12 23
33  Guyana (GUY) 4 6 6 16
34  Barbados (BAR) 3 4 8 15
35  Isle of Man (IOM) 3 3 6 12
36  Bermuda (BER) 3 2 3 8
37  Grenada (GRN) 3 2 2 7
38  Mozambique (MOZ) 2 4 3 9
39  Bangladesh (BAN) 2 4 2 8
40  Malaysia (MAL) (Malaya) 2 3 2 7
41  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) 2 0 1 3
42  British Virgin Islands (IVB) 2 0 0 2
43  Mauritius (MRI) 1 9 8 18
44  Guernsey (GUE) 1 4 3 8
45  Saint Lucia (LCA) 1 1 3 5
46  Lesotho (LES) 1 1 1 3
47  Jersey (JER) 1 0 3 4
48  Cayman Islands (CAY) 1 0 1 2
49  Kiribati (KIR) 1 0 0 1
 Saint Kitts and Nevis (SKN) 1 0 0 1
51  Seychelles (SEY) 0 3 4 7
52  Rhodesia and Nyasaland (FRN) 0 2 5 7
53  Dominica (DMA) 0 2 1 3
54  Malta (MLT) 0 1 6 7
55  Eswatini (SWZ) 0 1 3 4
56  The Gambia (GAM) 0 1 1 2
57  Ireland (IRE) 0 1 0 1
58  Malawi (MAW) 0 0 3 3
 Tonga (TON) 0 0 3 3
 Vanuatu (VAN) 0 0 3 3
61  Norfolk Island (NFI) 0 0 2 2
62  Cook Islands (COK) 0 0 1 1
 Niue (NIU) 0 0 1 1
 Solomon Islands (SOL) 0 0 1 1
Totals (64 entries) 3,613 3,608 3,929 11,150
  • Totals for Ghana include all medals won as  Gold Coast (GCO)
  • Totals for Zimbabwe include all medals won as  Southern Rhodesia (SRH)
  • Totals for Zambia include all medals won as  Northern Rhodesia (NRH)
  • Totals for Sri Lanka include all medals won as  Ceylon (CEY)
  • Totals for Guyana include all medals won as  British Guiana (BGU)

Commonwealth Sports: What Can Athletes Play?

Further information: Commonwealth Games sports and Commonwealth Games records

The Commonwealth Games have a flexible sports program. This means the sports can change a bit depending on the host city's facilities and needs. The dates can also change based on the weather. From 1930 to 1994, only individual sports were played. But in 1998, team sports were added, which was a huge success!

Now, each Games usually has 7 to 10 required sports. These must be approved four years in advance. So, there are at least 10 sports, and up to 17. Sometimes, extra sports are added if they are popular locally. For example, freestyle wrestling was added in Delhi 2010 and beach volleyball in Gold Coast 2018. The rules also make sure there's an equal number of events for men and women.

There are 23 approved sports (including three multi-sport events) and 10 para-sports for athletes with disabilities.

Sport Type Years
Archery Core 1982, 2010
Athletics Core 1930–present
Para Athletics Core 1994, 2002–present
Badminton Core 1966–present
Basketball 2006, 2018
Basketball 3x3 Core 2022–present
Boxing Core 1930–present
Cricket Core 1998, 2022–present
Cycling (Mountain Bike) Core 2002–2006, 2014–present
Cycling (Para Track) Core 2014–present
Cycling (Road) Core 1938–present
Cycling (Track) Core 1934–present
Diving 1930–present
Hockey Core 1998–present
Gymnastics (Artistic) Core 1978, 1990–present
Gymnastics (Rhythmic) Optional 1978, 1990–1998, 2006–present
Judo Core 1990, 2002, 2014, 2022
Lawn bowls Core 1930–1962, 1970–present
Sport Type Years
Para lawn bowls Core 1994, 2002, 2014–present
Netball (Women) Core 1998–present
Powerlifting Core 2002–present
Rugby sevens Core 1998–present
Shooting Optional 1966, 1974–2018
Squash Core 1998–present
Swimming Core 1930–present
Para swimming Core 2002–present
Table tennis Core 2002–present
Para table tennis Optional 2002–present
Triathlon Core 2002–2006, 2014–present
Volleyball (beach) Optional 2018–present
Weightlifting Core 1950–present
Wrestling (Freestyle) Core 1930–1986, 1994, 2002, 2010–2022

In 2015, the Commonwealth Games Federation made big changes to the sports program. They increased the number of core sports and removed some optional ones.

Who Participates in the Games?

Main article: List of participating nations at the Commonwealth Games

Only six teams have been to every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales. Australia has won the most medals in 13 Games. England has won the most in seven Games, and Canada in one.

Commonwealth Games years participants
      Countries that have hosted, or plan to host, the event
      Other countries that enter the games
      Countries that have entered the games but no longer do so
0•0 Host cities and year of games
Nation Years of participation
 Aden 1962
 Anguilla 1998–
 Australasia 1911
 Antigua and Barbuda 1966–1970, 1978, 1994–
 Australia 1930–
 Bahamas 1954–1970, 1978–1982, 1990–
 Bangladesh 1978, 1990–
 Barbados 1954–1982, 1990–
 Belize 1978, 1994–
 Bermuda 1930–1938, 1954–1982, 1990–
 Botswana 1974, 1982–
 British Guiana 1930–1938, 1954–1962
 British Honduras 1962–1966
 British Virgin Islands 1990–
 Brunei Darussalam 1990–
 Cameroon 1998–
 Canada 1911, 1930–
 Cayman Islands 1978–
 Ceylon 1938–1950, 1958–1970
 Cook Islands 1974–1978, 1986–
 Cyprus 1978–1982, 1990–
 Dominica 1958–1962, 1970, 1994–
 England 1930–
 Swaziland 2022–
 Falkland Islands 1982–
 Fiji 1938, 1954–1986, 1998–2006, 2014–
 Gambia 1970–1982, 1990–2010, 2018–
 Ghana 1958–1982, 1990–
 Gibraltar 1958–
 Gold Coast 1954
 Grenada 1970–1982, 1998–
 Guernsey 1970–
 Guyana 1966–1970, 1978–1982, 1990–
 Hong Kong 1934, 1954–1962, 1970–1994
 India 1934–1938, 1954–1958, 1966–1982, 1990–
Ireland 1930
 Irish Free State 1934
 Isle of Man 1958–
 Jamaica 1934, 1954–1982, 1990–
 Jersey 1958–
 Kenya 1954–1982, 1990–
 Kiribati 1998–
 Lesotho 1974–
 Malawi 1970–
 Malaya 1950, 1958–1962
 Malaysia 1966–1982, 1990–
 Maldives 1986–2014, 2022–
 Malta 1958–1962, 1970, 1982–
Nation Years of participation
 Mauritius 1958–1982, 1990–
 Montserrat 1994–
 Mozambique 1998–
 Namibia 1994–
 Nauru 1990–
 Newfoundland 1930–1934
 New Zealand 1930–
 Nigeria 1950–1958, 1966–1974, 1982, 1990–1994, 2002–
 Niue 2002–
 Norfolk Island 1986–
North Borneo 1958–1962
 Northern Ireland 1934–1938, 1954–
 Northern Rhodesia 1954–1958
 Pakistan 1954–1970, 1990–
 Papua New Guinea 1962–1982, 1990–
 Rhodesia and Nyasaland 1962
 Rwanda 2010–
 Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla 1978
 Saint Helena 1982, 1998–
 Saint Kitts and Nevis 1990–
 Saint Lucia 1962, 1970, 1978, 1994–
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1958, 1966–1978, 1994–
 Samoa 1998–
Crown Colony of Sarawak Sarawak 1958–1962
 Scotland 1930–
 Seychelles 1990–
 Sierra Leone 1958, 1966–1970, 1978, 1990–
 Singapore 1958–
 Solomon Islands 1982, 1990–
 South Africa 1911–1958, 1994–
 South Arabia 1966
 Southern Rhodesia 1934–1958
 Sri Lanka 1974–1982, 1990–
 Swaziland 1970–2018
 Tanganyika 1962
 Tanzania 1966–1982, 1990–
 Tonga 1974, 1982, 1990–
 Trinidad and Tobago 1934–1982, 1990–
 Turks and Caicos Islands 1978, 1998–
 Tuvalu 2002–
 Uganda 1954–1974, 1982, 1990–
 United Kingdom 1911
 Vanuatu 1982–
 Wales 1930–
 Western Samoa 1974–1994
 Zambia 1970–1982, 1990–
 Zimbabwe 1982, 1990–2002

New and Future Participants

Some Commonwealth nations and territories have not yet taken part in the Games.

  • Gabon and Togo joined the Commonwealth in 2022. They became part of the Commonwealth Games Federation in 2023. They are expected to join the Games in 2026.
  • Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand, was expected to join in 2010 but didn't. They need to be part of at least five international sports groups to be eligible.
  • Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which are Australian territories, have not yet sent their own teams.
  • The Pitcairn Islands are a British territory with a very small population. They do not compete.

Money Matters: The Cost of the Games

The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi cost around US$11 billion. This was much more than the first estimated budget of US$250 million. It is known as the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever.

However, hosting the Games can also bring benefits. A study looked at the 2002, 2006, 2014, and 2018 Games. It found that for every dollar spent by governments, US$2 was generated for the host city or state. Each event also created over 18,000 jobs. Host cities also saw long-term improvements to transport and other facilities.

For example, the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, created an estimated $2.5 billion for the economy. The new and improved sports venues now bring in over $60 million each year. The success of these Games even helped Brisbane win the bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics.

Amazing Athletes of the Commonwealth Games

  • Lawn bowler Willie Wood from Scotland was the first person to compete in seven Commonwealth Games (from 1974 to 2002). Andrew Roche, a cyclist from the Isle of Man, matched this record in 2014. David Calvert from Northern Ireland has now competed in 11 Games!
  • Sitiveni Rabuka was a Prime Minister of Fiji. Before that, he was an athlete! He competed in shot put, hammer throw, discus, and decathlon at the 1974 Games.
  • Greg Yelavich, a sports shooter from New Zealand, has won 12 medals in seven Games between 1986 and 2010.
  • Lawn bowler Robert Weale has represented Wales in 8 Commonwealth Games, winning 2 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze medal.
  • Nauruan weightlifter Marcus Stephen won 12 medals (7 gold) between 1990 and 2002. He later became the President of Nauru. His success helped Nauru, a tiny country, rank high on the all-time medal table.
  • Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe has won 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals and 1 silver. He won 4 golds in 1998 and 6 golds and 1 silver in 2002.
  • Chad le Clos, a swimmer from South Africa, has won 18 medals (7 gold) from four Commonwealth Games.
  • English actor Jason Statham actually competed as a diver in the 1990 Commonwealth Games!
  • At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Australian singer Cody Simpson won a gold medal as a swimmer in the men's 4 × 100 meter freestyle relay.

Images for kids

  • New Commonwealth Games logo 2019

    The current logo of the Commonwealth Games.

  • SLNSW 23801 Opening Empire Games Sydney Cricket Ground

    Opening ceremony of the 1938 British Empire Games at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

  • Bannister and Landy

    A statue in Vancouver celebrating the "Miracle Mile" between Roger Bannister and John Landy.

  • 1958 Commonwealth Games 3d Stamp

    A 3 pence British stamp for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales.

  • Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony - Brisbane 1982

    Opening ceremony of the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.

  • MSC, 2006 Commonwealth Games

    Athletics at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

  • London Shopping 002 (6166876525) (2)

    The headquarters of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) in London.

  • Bilston St.-Garrick St. - geograph.org.uk - 536739

    The Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

  • Comm Games 2006 finale

    Opening ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

  • Commonwealth Games closing ceremony picture

    Closing ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

  • 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games Competitors Team Photograph

    Athletes of the 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Perth.

  • StMoritz

    St. Moritz, Switzerland, where all three Commonwealth Winter Games were held.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Juegos de la Mancomunidad para niños

  • Commonwealth Youth Games
  • Commonwealth Mountain and Ultradistance Running Championships
  • List of Commonwealth Games venues
  • List of stamps depicting the Commonwealth Games
  • List of Commonwealth Games mascots
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