British Empire and Commonwealth Games
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The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games or simply the Comm Games, are a quadrennial international
multi-sport event A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports among organized teams of athletes from (mostly) nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of interna ...
among athletes from the
Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the C ...
. The event was first held in
1930 Events January * January 15 – The Moon moves into its nearest point to Earth, called perigee, at the same time as its fullest phase of the Lunar Cycle. This is the closest moon distance at in recent history, and the next one will b ...
, and, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 (cancelled due to
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
), have successively run every four years since. The Games were called the British Empire Games from 1930 to
1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 crashes in a snowstorm. All 19 ...
, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from
1954 Events January * January 1 – The Soviet Union ceases to demand war reparations from West Germany. * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown-IBM experiment: The fir ...
to
1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo ...
, and British Commonwealth Games from
1970 Events January * January 1 – Unix time epoch reached at 00:00:00 UTC. * January 5 – The 7.1 Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (''Extreme''). Between 10,000 and ...
to
1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War determined politics; ...
. Athletes with a disability are included as full members of their national teams since 2002, making the Commonwealth Games the first fully inclusive international multi-sport event. In 2018, the 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. Inspired by the Inter-Empire Championships, part of the 1911
Festival of Empire The 1911 Festival of Empire was the biggest single event held at The Crystal Palace in London since its opening. It opened on 12 May and was one of the events to celebrate the coronation of King George V. The original intention had been that E ...
,
Melville Marks Robinson Melville Marks Robinson (April 8, 1888 – June 6, 1974) was a Canadian journalist and sports executive, also known as M. M. Robinson and Bobby Robinson. He was the sports editor of ''The Hamilton Spectator'', and founded the British Empire Games ...
founded the British Empire Games which were first held in
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilto ...
,
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...
in 1930. As time progressed, the Games evolved, adding the
Commonwealth Paraplegic Games The Commonwealth Paraplegic Games were an international, multi-sport event involving athletes with a disability from the Commonwealth countries. The event was sometimes referred to as the Paraplegic Empire Games and British Commonwealth Paraplegi ...
for athletes with a disability (who were barred from competing from 1974 before being fully integrated by
1990 File:1990 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1990 FIFA World Cup is played in Italy; The Human Genome Project is launched; Voyager I takes the famous Pale Blue Dot image- speaking on the fragility of humanity on Earth, astrophysicis ...
) and the
Commonwealth Youth Games The Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) is an international multi-sport event organized by the Commonwealth Games Federation. The games were held in the years, mid-way between when the Commonwealth Games are held, until 2008. They continued to be held ...
for athletes aged 14 to 18. The Games are overseen by the
Commonwealth Games Federation The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), currently known as Commonwealth Sport, is the international organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, and is governing body of the ...
(CGF), which controls the sporting programme and selects host cities. The games movement consists of international sports federations (IFs),
Commonwealth Games Associations A Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) is a national sports council of the Commonwealth Sports movement. Each association is responsible for organising, supporting and overseeing their national team for both the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwe ...
(CGAs) and organising committees for each specific Commonwealth Games. Certain traditions, such as the hoisting of the Commonwealth Games flag and King's Baton Relay, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies, are unique to the Games. Over 4,500 athletes competed at the latest Commonwealth Games in 25 sports and over 250 medal events, including Olympic and Paralympic sports and those popular in Commonwealth countries:
bowls Bowls, also known as lawn bowls or lawn bowling, is a sport in which the objective is to roll biased balls so that they stop close to a smaller ball called a "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a bowling green, which may be flat (for "flat-gr ...
and
squash Squash may refer to: Sports * Squash (sport), the high-speed racquet sport also known as squash racquets * Squash (professional wrestling), an extremely one-sided match in professional wrestling * Squash tennis, a game similar to squash but pla ...
. Usually,the first, second and third-place finishers in each event are awarded gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively. ⁹ Although there are 56 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, there are 72
Commonwealth Games Associations A Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) is a national sports council of the Commonwealth Sports movement. Each association is responsible for organising, supporting and overseeing their national team for both the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwe ...
. They are divided into 6 regions (Africa, Americas, Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Oceania) and each of them has a similar function to the
National Olympic Committee A National Olympic Committee (NOC) is a national constituent of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, NOCs are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games ...
s in relation with their countries or territories. In some like
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
and
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...
, the CGA functions are assumed by their NOCs. 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 The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for the United Kingdom. It is responsible for organising and overseeing the participation of athletes from the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team, at both ...
, 1 is part of
Australian Olympic Committee Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...
and another one is part of the
New Zealand Olympic Committee The New Zealand Olympic Committee (before 1994, The ''New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association'') is both the National Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Association in New Zealand responsible for selecting athletes to re ...
as their Paralympic counterparts. They are: the four
Home Nations Home Nations is a collective term with one of two meanings depending on context. Politically it means the nations of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). In sport, if a sport is g ...
of the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
(
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
,
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
and
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is #Descriptions, variously described as ...
), the
British Overseas Territories The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. They are the last remnants of the former Bri ...
(
Anguilla Anguilla ( ) is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin. The terr ...
,
Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands (; es, Islas Malvinas, link=no ) is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about from Cape Dubouze ...
,
Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = "Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gibr ...
,
Montserrat Montserrat ( ) is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is part of the Leeward Islands, the northern portion of the Lesser Antilles chain of the West Indies. Montserrat is about long and wide, with roughly of coastline. It is n ...
,
Saint Helena Saint Helena () is a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote volcanic tropical island west of the coast of south-western Africa, and east of Rio de Janeiro in South America. It is one of three constit ...
and
Turks and Caicos Islands The Turks and Caicos Islands (abbreviated TCI; and ) are a British Overseas Territory consisting of the larger Caicos Islands and smaller Turks Islands, two groups of tropical islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and ...
), the Crown Dependencies (
Guernsey Guernsey (; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; french: Guernesey) is an island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy that is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency. It is the second largest of the Channel Islands ...
,
Isle of Man ) , anthem = " O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europ ...
, and
Jersey Jersey ( , ; nrf, Jèrri, label= Jèrriais ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey (french: Bailliage de Jersey, links=no; Jèrriais: ), is an island country and self-governing Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west France. It is the ...
),
Niue Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between T ...
and
Norfolk Island Norfolk Island (, ; Norfuk: ''Norf'k Ailen'') is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, directly east of Australia's Evans Head and about from Lord Howe Island. Together wit ...
send separate teams. It is expected that
Gabon Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the nort ...
and
Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...
will send a team for the first time at the
2026 Commonwealth Games The 2026 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Victoria 2026, is a multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth scheduled to take place across four regional sites in the Australian state ...
, as the two countries were admitted to the Commonwealth in June 2022 and they didn’t have time to organise their associations for the 2022 Games which was scheduled for the end of July. 20 cities in nine countries (counting
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
and
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
separately) have hosted the games.
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...
has hosted the Commonwealth Games five times (
1938 Events January * January 1 ** The new constitution of Estonia enters into force, which many consider to be the ending of the Era of Silence and the authoritarian regime. ** State-owned railway networks are created by merger, in France ...
,
1962 Events January * January 1 – Western Samoa becomes independent from New Zealand. * January 3 – Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro for preaching communism. * January 8 – Harmelen train disaster: 93 die in the wor ...
,
1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C ...
,
2006 File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro votes to declare independence from Serbia; The 2006 ...
and
2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...
and will host the next edition in 2026), more than any other nation. Two cities have hosted Commonwealth Games more than once:
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
(
1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 crashes in a snowstorm. All 19 ...
,
1990 File:1990 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1990 FIFA World Cup is played in Italy; The Human Genome Project is launched; Voyager I takes the famous Pale Blue Dot image- speaking on the fragility of humanity on Earth, astrophysicis ...
) and
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
(1970,
1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal en ...
). Only six nations have participated in every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
and
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
. Of these six, Australia, England, Canada and New Zealand have each won at least one gold medal in every Games. Australia has been the highest achieving team for thirteen editions of the Games, England for seven, and Canada for one. These three teams also top the all-time Commonwealth Games medal table in that order. The most recent Commonwealth Games, the 22nd, were held in Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August 2022. 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.


History

A sporting competition bringing together the members of the
British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...
was first proposed by John Astley Cooper in 1891, who wrote letters and articles for several periodicals suggesting a "Pan Brittanic, Pan
Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of t ...
Contest every four years as a means of increasing goodwill and understan’ding of the British Empire." John Astley Cooper Committees were formed in Australia,
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...
and
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...
to promote the idea and inspired
Pierre de Coubertin Charles Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin (; born Pierre de Frédy; ...
to start the international
Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a multi ...
movement. In 1911, an Inter-Empire Championship was held alongside the
Festival of Empire The 1911 Festival of Empire was the biggest single event held at The Crystal Palace in London since its opening. It opened on 12 May and was one of the events to celebrate the coronation of King George V. The original intention had been that E ...
, at
The Crystal Palace The Crystal Palace was a cast iron and plate glass structure, originally built in Hyde Park, London, Hyde Park, London, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. The exhibition took place from 1 May to 15 October 1851, and more than 14,000 exhibit ...
in London to celebrate the
coronation of George V The coronation of George V and his wife Mary as King and Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and as Emperor and Empress of India, took place at Westminster Abbey, London, on Thursday 22 June 1911. This was the second of fo ...
, and were championed by The Earl of Plymouth and
Lord Desborough William Henry Grenfell, 1st Baron Desborough, (30 October 1855 – 9 January 1945) was a British athlete, sportsman, public servant and politician. He sat in the House of Commons first for the Liberal Party and then for the Conservatives betwee ...
. Teams from Australasia (Australia and New Zealand), Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom competed in events for athletics, boxing, swimming and wrestling. Canada won the championships and was presented with a silver cup (gifted by
Lord Lonsdale Earl of Lonsdale is a title that has been created twice in British history, firstly in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1784 (becoming extinct in 1802), and then in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1807, both times for members of the Lowth ...
) which was high and weighed . A correspondent of the ''
Auckland Star The ''Auckland Star'' was an evening daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand, from 24 March 1870 to 16 August 1991. Survived by its Sunday edition, the ''Sunday Star'', part of its name endures in '' The Sunday Star-Times'', created i ...
'' criticised the Games, calling them a "grievous disappointment" that were "not worthy of the title of 'Empire Sports'".
Melville Marks Robinson Melville Marks Robinson (April 8, 1888 – June 6, 1974) was a Canadian journalist and sports executive, also known as M. M. Robinson and Bobby Robinson. He was the sports editor of ''The Hamilton Spectator'', and founded the British Empire Games ...
, who went to the
1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated fro ...
in Amsterdam to serve as the manager of the Canadian track and field team, strongly lobbied for the proposal of organising the first British Empire Games in
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilto ...
in 1930.


Editions


British Empire Games

The
1930 British Empire Games The 1930 British Empire Games were the inaugural edition of what now is known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, Ontario, from 16 to 23 August 1930. The games were organized by ''Hamilton Spectator'' sportswriter Bobby Robinso ...
were the first of what later become known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilto ...
, in the province of
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
in Canada from 16–23 August 1930 and opened by
Lord Willingdon Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon (12 September 1866 – 12 August 1941), was a British Liberal politician and administrator who served as Governor General of Canada, the 13th since Canadian Confederation, and as Viceroy and ...
. Eleven countries: Australia,
Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = "Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , es ...
,
British Guyana British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies, which resides on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana. The first European to encounter Guiana was ...
, Canada, England,
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is #Descriptions, variously described as ...
,
Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
, New Zealand,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
, South Africa and
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
, sent a total of 400 athletes to compete in athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming and diving and wrestling. The opening and closing ceremonies as well as athletics took place at Civic Stadium. The cost of the Games were $97,973. Women competed in only the aquatic events. Canadian triple jumper
Gordon Smallacombe Gordon Smallacombe (10 February 1907 – 1957) was a Canadian track and field athlete who competed in jumping events. A Torontonian based out of the West End YMCA, he was the gold medallist in the triple jump The triple jump, sometimes ...
won the first ever gold medal in the history of the Games. The
1934 British Empire Games The 1934 British Empire Games were the second edition of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games, held in England, from 4–11 August 1934. The host city was London, with the main venue at Wembley Park, although the track cycling events we ...
were the second of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games, held in London, England. The host city was London, with the main venue at
Wembley Park Wembley Park is a district of the London Borough of Brent, England. It is roughly centred on Bridge Road, a mile northeast of Wembley town centre and northwest from Charing Cross. The name Wembley Park refers to the area that, at its broades ...
, although the track cycling events were in
Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...
. The 1934 Games had originally been awarded to
Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a Megacity#List of megacities, megacity, and is List of urban areas by p ...
, but were given to London instead because of serious concerns about prejudice against Asian and black athletes in South Africa. The affiliation of Irish athletes at the 1934 Games representation remains unclear but there was no official
Irish Free State The Irish Free State ( ga, Saorstát Éireann, , ; 6 December 192229 December 1937) was a state established in December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. The treaty ended the three-year Irish War of Independence between ...
team. Sixteen national teams took part, including new participants
Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a List of cities in China, city and Special administrative regions of China, special ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
,
Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of Hispa ...
,
Southern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia was a landlocked self-governing colony, self-governing British Crown colony in southern Africa, established in 1923 and consisting of British South Africa Company (BSAC) territories lying south of the Zambezi River. The reg ...
and
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...
. The
1938 British Empire Games The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the event that evolved to become the Commonwealth Games. Held in Sydney, Australia from 5–12 February 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary (150 yea ...
were the third
British Empire Games The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games or simply the Comm Games, are a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exc ...
, which were held in
Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mounta ...
,
New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...
, Australia. They were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary (150 years since the foundation of British settlement in Australia). Held in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time, the III Games opening ceremony took place at the famed
Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is a sports stadium in Sydney, Australia. It is used for Test, One Day International and Twenty20 cricket, as well as, Australian rules football and occasionally for rugby league, rugby union and association f ...
in front of 40,000 spectators. Fifteen nations participated down under at the Sydney Games involving a total of 464 athletes and 43 officials.
Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consis ...
and
Ceylon Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
made their debuts. Seven sports were featured in the Sydney Games – athletics, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming and diving and wrestling. The
1950 British Empire Games The 1950 British Empire Games was the fourth staging of what is now called the Commonwealth Games. It was held in Auckland, New Zealand between 4 and 11 February 1950, after a 12-year gap from the third edition of the games. The main venue was ...
were the fourth edition and was held in
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
, New Zealand after a 12-year gap from the third edition of the games. The fourth games were originally awarded to
Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple- ...
, Canada and were to be held in 1942 but were cancelled due to the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
. The opening ceremony at
Eden Park Eden Park is New Zealand's largest sports stadium, with a capacity of 50,000. Located in central Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, it is three kilometres southwest of the Auckland CBD, CBD, on the boundary between the suburbs of Mount E ...
was attended by 40,000 spectators, while nearly 250,000 people attended the Auckland Games. Twelve countries sent a total of 590 athletes to
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
. Malaya and
Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
made their first appearances.


British Empire and Commonwealth Games

The fifth edition of the Games, the
1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Events January * January 1 – The Soviet Union ceases to demand war reparations from West Germany. * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown-IBM experiment: The fir ...
, were held in
Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. ...
, British Columbia, Canada. These were the first Games since the name change from
British Empire Games The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games or simply the Comm Games, are a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exc ...
took effect in 1952. The fifth edition of the Games placed
Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. ...
on a world stage and featured memorable sporting moments as well as outstanding entertainment, technical innovation and cultural events. The 'Miracle Mile', as it became known, saw both the gold medallist,
Roger Bannister Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister (23 March 1929 – 3 March 2018) was an English neurologist and middle-distance athlete who ran the first sub-4-minute mile. At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Bannister set a British record in the 1500 metres an ...
of England and silver medallist
John Landy John Michael Landy OLY (12 April 1930 – 24 February 2022) was an Australian middle-distance runner and state governor. He was the second man to break the four-minute mile barrier in the mile run and held the world records for the 1500-metre ...
of Australia, run sub-four-minute races in an event that was televised live across the world for the first time.
Northern Rhodesia Northern Rhodesia was a British protectorate in south central Africa, now the independent country of Zambia. It was formed in 1911 by amalgamating the two earlier protectorates of Barotziland-North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesi ...
and
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
made their debuts and both performed well, winning eight and six medals respectively. The
1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games (Welsh: Gemau Ymerodraeth Prydain a'r Gymanwlad 1958) were held in Cardiff, Wales, from 18–26 July 1958. Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games ...
were held in
Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...
,
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
. The sixth edition of the games marked the largest sporting event ever held in Wales and it was the smallest country ever to host a British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...
had to wait 12 years longer than originally scheduled to become host of the Games, as the 1946 event was cancelled because of the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
. The Cardiff Games introduced the
Queen's Baton Relay The Queen's Baton Relay is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently King Charles III. The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingha ...
, which has been conducted as a prelude to every British Empire and Commonwealth Games ever since. Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,122 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including for the first time, Singapore,
Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Tog ...
,
Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...
and the
Isle of Man ) , anthem = " O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europ ...
. In the run up to the Cardiff games, many leading sports stars including
Stanley Matthews Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE (1 February 1915 – 23 February 2000) was an English footballer who played as an outside right. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the British game, he is the only player to have been knighted while sti ...
,
Jimmy Hill James William Thomas Hill, OBE (22 July 1928 – 19 December 2015) was an English footballer and later a television personality. His career included almost every role in the sport, including player, trade union leader, coach, manager, director, ...
and
Don Revie Donald George Revie OBE (10 July 1927 – 26 May 1989) was an England international footballer and manager, best known for his successful spell with Leeds United from 1961 until 1974, which immediately preceded his appointment as England mana ...
were signatories in a letter to ''The Times'' on 17 July 1958 deploring the presence of white-only South African sports, opposing 'the policy of apartheid' in international sport and defending 'the principle of racial equality which is embodied in the Declaration of the Olympic Games'. The
1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Australia, from 22 November to 1 December 1962. Athletic events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium in the suburb of Floreat and swimming events at Beatty Park in North Perth. The ...
were held in
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
,
Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to t ...
, Australia. Thirty-five countries sent a total of 863 athletes and 178 officials to
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
.
Jersey Jersey ( , ; nrf, Jèrri, label= Jèrriais ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey (french: Bailliage de Jersey, links=no; Jèrriais: ), is an island country and self-governing Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west France. It is the ...
was among the medal winners for the first time, while
British Honduras British Honduras was a British Crown colony on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, from 1783 to 1964, then a self-governing colony, renamed Belize in June 1973,
,
Dominica Dominica ( or ; Kalinago: ; french: Dominique; Dominican Creole French: ), officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. It is geographical ...
, Papua and New Guinea and
St Lucia Saint Lucia ( acf, Sent Lisi, french: Sainte-Lucie) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs, two Amerindi ...
all made their inaugural Games appearances.
Aden Aden ( ar, عدن ' Yemeni: ) is a city, and since 2015, the temporary capital of Yemen, near the eastern approach to the Red Sea (the Gulf of Aden), some east of the strait Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000 peopl ...
also competed by special invitation.
Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
,
North Borneo (I persevere and I achieve) , national_anthem = , capital = Kudat (1881–1884);Sandakan (1884–1945);Jesselton (1946) , common_languages = English, Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau, Murut, Sabah Malay, Chinese etc. , ...
and Malaya competed for the last time before taking part in 1966 under the
Malaysian flag The national flag of Malaysia, also known as the Stripes of Glory ( ms, Jalur Gemilang), is composed of a field of 14 alternating red and white stripes along the fly and a blue canton bearing a crescent and a 14-point star known as the ''Bintan ...
. In addition, Rhodesia and Nyasaland competed in the Games as an entity for the first and only time. The
1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica, from 4 to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions. They were followed by the 1966 Commonwealth P ...
were held in
Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley Inte ...
. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions. Thirty-four nations (including Federation of South Arabia, South Arabia) competed in the Kingston, Jamaica, Kingston Games sending a total of 1,316 athletes and officials.


British Commonwealth Games

The 1970 British Commonwealth Games were held in
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
. This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, the first time Metric system, metric units rather than imperial units were used in events, the first time the games were held in
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
and also the first time that HM Queen Elizabeth II attended in her capacity as Head of the Commonwealth. The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Games were officially named ''"the friendly games"'', and was also the first edition to feature a theme song. Following the 1972 Munich attack, massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Summer Olympics, 1972 Munich Olympics, the tenth games at Christchurch were the first
multi-sport event A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports among organized teams of athletes from (mostly) nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of interna ...
to place the safety of participants and spectators as its uppermost requirement. Security guards surrounded the athlete's village and there was an exceptionally high-profile police presence. Only 22 countries succeeded in winning medals from the total haul of 374 medals on offer, but first time winners included Western Samoa, Lesotho and Swaziland (since 2018 named Eswatini). The theme song for the 1974 British Commonwealth Games was called "Join Together".


Commonwealth Games

The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This event was the first to bear the current day name of the Commonwealth Games and also marked a new high as almost 1,500 athletes from 46 countries took part. They were boycotted by
Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
in protest against
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...
's sporting contacts with apartheid-era
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...
, as well as by Uganda in protest at alleged Canadian hostility towards the government of Idi Amin. The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Forty-six nations participated in the Brisbane Games with a new record total of 1,583 athletes and 571 officials. As hosts, Australia headed the medal table leading the way ahead of England, Canada,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
and New Zealand respectively. Zimbabwe made its first appearance at the Games, having earlier competed as Southern Rhodesia and as part of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The theme song for the 1982 Commonwealth Games was called "You're Here To Win". The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
and were the second Games to be held in
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
. Participation at the 1986 Commonwealth Games, 1986 Games was affected by a boycott by 32 African, Asian and Caribbean nations in protest at British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's refusal to condemn sporting contacts of apartheid era South Africa in 1985, but the Games rebounded and continued to grow thereafter. Twenty-six nations did attend the second
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
Games and sent a total of 1,662 athletes and 461 officials. The theme song for the 1986 Commonwealth Games was called "Spirit Of Youth". The 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
, New Zealand. It was the fourteenth Commonwealth Games, the third to be hosted by New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games, New Zealand and
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
's second. A new record of 55 nations participated in the second
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
Games sending 2,826 athletes and officials. Pakistan returned to the Commonwealth in 1989 after withdrawing in 1972, and competed in the 1990 Games after an absence of twenty years. The theme song for the 1990 Commonwealth Games was called "This Is The Moment". The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, the fourth to take place in Canada. 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 1958 Commonwealth Games, Games in 1958. Namibia made its Commonwealth Games debut. It was also Hong Kong's last appearance at the games before the Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, transfer of sovereignty from Britain to China. Sixty-three nations sent 2,557 athletes and 914 officials. The theme song for the 1994 Commonwealth Games was called "Let Your Spirit Take Flight". The 1998 Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For the first time in its 68-year history, the Commonwealth Games were held in Asia. The sixteenth games were also the first Games to feature team sports – an overwhelming success that added large numbers to both participant and TV audience numbers. A new record of 70 countries sent a total of 5,065 athletes and officials to the Kuala Lumpur Games. The top five countries in the medal standing were Australia, England, Canada, Malaysia and South Africa. Nauru also achieved an impressive haul of three gold medals. Cameroon, Mozambique, Kiribati and Tuvalu debuted. The theme song for the 1998 Commonwealth Games was called "Forever As One".


During the 21st century

The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in
Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...
, England. 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 of Nations, Commonwealth. In terms of sports and events, the 2002 Games were until the 2010 edition the largest Commonwealth Games in history featuring 281 events across 17 sports. The final medal tally was led by Australia, followed by host England and Canada. 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. The theme song for the 2002 Commonwealth Games was called "Faith of the Heart, Where My Heart Will Take Me". The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Australia. The only difference between the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 2006 games and the 2002 Commonwealth Games, 2002 games was the absence of Zimbabwe, which withdrew from the
Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the C ...
. For the first time in the history of the Games the Queen's Baton Relay, Queen's Baton visited every single Commonwealth nation and territory taking part in the Games, a journey of . Over 4000 athletes took part in the sporting competitions. Again the Top 3 on the medal table is Australia, followed by England and Canada. The theme song for the 2006 Commonwealth Games was called "Together We Are One". The 2010 Commonwealth Games were held in Delhi, India. The Games cost $11 billion and are the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever. It was the first time that the Commonwealth Games were held in India, also the first time that a Republics in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth republic hosted the games and the second time they were held in Asia after Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 The Commonwealth, Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events. The final 2010 Commonwealth Games medal table, medal tally was led by Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Australia. The host nation
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
achieved its India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, best performance ever in any sporting event, finishing second overall. Rwanda made its Games debut. The theme song for the 2010 Commonwealth Games was called "Live, Rise, Ascend, Win". The 2014 Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow, Scotland. It was the largest
multi-sport event A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports among organized teams of athletes from (mostly) nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of interna ...
ever held in
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
with around 4,950 athletes from 71 different nations and territories competing in 18 different sports, outranking the 1970 and 1986 Commonwealth Games in
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
, capital city of
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
. Usain Bolt competed in the Athletics at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, 4×100 metres relay of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and set a List of Commonwealth Games records in athletics#Men.27s records, Commonwealth Games record with his teammates. The Games received acclaim for their organisation, attendance, and the public enthusiasm of the people of Scotland, with
Commonwealth Games Federation The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), currently known as Commonwealth Sport, is the international organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, and is governing body of the ...
chief executive Mike Hooper hailing them as "the standout games in the history of the movement". The 2018 Commonwealth Games were held in Gold Coast, Queensland, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, the fifth time Australia hosted the Games. There were an equal number of events for men and women, the first time in history that a major
multi-sport event A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports among organized teams of athletes from (mostly) nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of interna ...
had equality in terms of events. The 2022 Commonwealth Games were held in Birmingham, England. They are be the third Commonwealth Games to be hosted in England following 1934 British Empire Games, London 1934 and 2002 Commonwealth Games, Manchester 2002. The 2022 Commonwealth Games coincided with the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II and the 10th anniversary of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Paralympics, both staged in London. The 2022 Commonwealth Games were held for the last time under Queen Elizabeth II before her death on 8 September 2022. On 16 February 2022 it was announced that the
2026 Commonwealth Games The 2026 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Victoria 2026, is a multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth scheduled to take place across four regional sites in the Australian state ...
will be held for a record sixth time in
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...
, but for the first time they will be decentralised, as the state of Victoria (Australia), Victoria signed as host city. The games will have 4 regional clusters mainly focused in Bendigo region and another 3 regional centres. It was also confirmed that the Commonwealth Games, scheduled for 2030 were likely to be awarded to
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilto ...
,
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...
. The three nations to have hosted the Commonwealth Games the most times are Australia (5), Canada (4) and New Zealand (3). With the 2022 games, England increased its number to three and in 2026 Australia will have hosted six times. Six Games have taken place in the countries within the United Kingdom (
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
(3) and
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
(1)), two in Asia (Malaysia (1) and
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
(1)) and one in the Caribbean (Jamaica (1)).


Paraplegic Games

The Commonwealth Paraplegic Games were an international,
multi-sport event A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports among organized teams of athletes from (mostly) nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of interna ...
involving athletes with a disability from the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth countries. The event was sometimes referred to as the Paraplegic Empire Games and British Commonwealth Paraplegic Games. Athletes were generally those with spinal injuries or Poliomyelitis, polio. The event was first held in 1962 and disestablished in 1974. The Games were held in the country hosting the Commonwealth Games for able-bodied athletes. The countries that had hosted the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games were Australia, Jamaica, Scotland and New Zealand in 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, 1962, 1966 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, 1966, 1970 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, 1970 and 1974 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, 1974. Six countries – Australia, England, New Zealand,
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is #Descriptions, variously described as ...
,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
and
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
— had been represented at all Commonwealth Paraplegic Games. Australia and England had been the top-ranking nation two times each: 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, 1962, 1974 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, 1974 and 1966 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, 1966, 1970 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, 1970.


Inclusion of EAD events

Athletes with a disability were then first included the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia when this events was added to athletics and lawn bowls, As at 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, they were included as compulsory events, making them the first fully inclusive international multi-sport games. This meant that results were included in the medal count and the athletes are full members of each country delegation. During the 2007 General Assembly of the
Commonwealth Games Federation The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), currently known as Commonwealth Sport, is the international organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, and is governing body of the ...
(CGF) at Colombo, Sri Lanka, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and CGF signed a co-operative agreement to ensure a formal institutional relationship between the two bodies and secure the future participation of elite athletes with a disability (EAD) in future Commonwealth Games. Then,IPC President Philip Craven said during the General Assembly: The co-operation agreement outlined the strong partnership between the IPC and the CGF. It recognised the IPC as the respective sport body and have the function to oversee the co-ordination and delivery of the Commonwealth Games EAD sports programme and committed both organisations to work together in supporting the growth of the Paralympic and Commonwealth Games Movements.


Winter Games

The Commonwealth Winter Games was a
multi-sport event A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports among organized teams of athletes from (mostly) nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of interna ...
comprising winter sports, last held in 1966. Three editions of the Games have been staged. The Winter Games were designed as a counterbalance to the Commonwealth Games, which focuses on summer sports, to accompany the Winter Olympic Games, Winter Olympics and Summer Olympic Games. The winter Games were founded by T.D. Richardson.Semanticus.info
T.D. Richardson
(accessed 7 July 2012)
The 1958 Commonwealth Winter Games were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland and was the inaugural games for the winter edition. The 1962 Games were also held in St. Moritz, complementing the
1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Australia, from 22 November to 1 December 1962. Athletic events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium in the suburb of Floreat and swimming events at Beatty Park in North Perth. The ...
in Perth, Western Australia, Perth, Australia, and the 1966 event was held in St. Moritz as well, following which the idea was discontinued.


Youth Games

The Commonwealth Youth Games is an international
multi-sport event A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports among organized teams of athletes from (mostly) nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of interna ...
organised by the
Commonwealth Games Federation The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), currently known as Commonwealth Sport, is the international organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, and is governing body of the ...
. The Games are held every four years with the current Commonwealth Games format. The
Commonwealth Games Federation The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), currently known as Commonwealth Sport, is the international organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, and is governing body of the ...
discussed the idea of a Millennium Commonwealth Youth Games in 1997. In 1998 the concept was agreed on for the purpose of providing a Commonwealth multi-sport event for young people born in the calendar year 1986 or later. The first version was held in
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
from 10 to 14 August 2000. The age limitation of the athletes is 14 to 18.


Commonwealth Games Federation

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the international organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and
Commonwealth Youth Games The Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) is an international multi-sport event organized by the Commonwealth Games Federation. The games were held in the years, mid-way between when the Commonwealth Games are held, until 2008. They continued to be held ...
, and is the foremost authority in matters relating to the games. The Commonwealth House in London, England hosts the headquarters of CGF. The Commonwealth House also hosts the headquarters of the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum. As the International Olympic Committee the Commonwealth Games Movement is made of three major elements: * List of international sport federations, International Federations (IFs) are the Sport governing body, governing bodies that supervise a sport at an international level. For example, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is the international governing body for basketball. *
Commonwealth Games Associations A Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) is a national sports council of the Commonwealth Sports movement. Each association is responsible for organising, supporting and overseeing their national team for both the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwe ...
(CGAs) represent and regulate the Commonwealth Games Movement within each country and perform similar functions as the National Olympic Committees. For example, the Commonwealth Games England (CGE) is the CGA of England. There are currently 72 CGAs recognised by the CGF. * Organising Committees for the Commonwealth Games (OCCWGs) are temporary committees responsible for the organisation of each Commonwealth Games. OCCWGs are dissolved after each Games once the final report is delivered to the CGF. English is the official language of the Commonwealth. The other language used at each Commonwealth Games is the language of the host country (or languages, if a country has more than one official language apart from English). Every proclamation (such as the announcement of each country during the parade of nations in the opening ceremony) is spoken in these two (or more) languages. If the host country does this, it is their responsibility to chose the language{s) and their order.


King's Baton Relay

The King's Baton Relay, is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently King Charles III. The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London as a part of the city's Commonwealth Day festivities. The King entrusts the baton to the first relay runner. At the Opening Ceremony of the Games, the final relay runner hands the baton back to the King or his representative, who reads the message aloud to officially open the Games. The King's Baton Relay is similar to the Olympic Torch Relay. The Relay was introduced at the
1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games (Welsh: Gemau Ymerodraeth Prydain a'r Gymanwlad 1958) were held in Cardiff, Wales, from 18–26 July 1958. Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games ...
in
Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...
, Wales as the Queen's Baton Relay. Up until, and including, the 1994 Commonwealth Games, 1994 Games, the Relay only went through England and the host nation. The Relay for the 1998 Commonwealth Games, 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was the first to travel to other nations of the Commonwealth. The Queen's Baton Relay#Gold Coast 2018, Gold Coast 2018 Queen's Baton Relay was the longest in Commonwealth Games history. Covering 230,000 km (150,000 miles) over 388 days, the Baton made its way through the six Commonwealth regions of Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Oceania. For the first time, the Queen's Baton was presented at the
Commonwealth Youth Games The Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) is an international multi-sport event organized by the Commonwealth Games Federation. The games were held in the years, mid-way between when the Commonwealth Games are held, until 2008. They continued to be held ...
during its 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, sixth edition in 2017 which were held in Nassau, Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas.


Ceremonies


Opening

Various elements frame the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. This ceremony takes place before the events have occurred. The ceremony typically starts with the hoisting of the host country's flag and a performance of its national anthem. The flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation, flag of the last hosting nation and the next hosting nation are also hosted during the opening ceremony. The host nation then presents artistic displays of music, singing, dance and theatre representative of its culture. The artistic presentations have grown in scale and complexity as successive hosts attempt to provide a ceremony that outlasts its predecessor's in terms of memorability. The opening ceremony of the Delhi Games reportedly cost $70 million, with much of the cost incurred in the artistic segment. After the artistic portion of the ceremony, the athletes parade into the stadium grouped by nation. The last hosting nation is traditionally the first nation to enter. Nations then enter the stadium alphabetical or continental wise with the host country's athletes being the last to enter. Speeches are given, formally opening the Games. Finally, the Queen's Baton Relay, King's Baton is brought into the stadium and passed on until it reaches the final baton carrier, often a successful Commonwealth athlete from the host nation, who hands it over to the Head of the Commonwealth or his representative.


Closing

The closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games takes place after all sporting events have concluded. Flag-bearers from each participating country enter the stadium, followed by the athletes who enter together, without any national distinction. The president of the organising committee and the CGF president make their closing speeches and the Games are officially closed. The CGF president also speaks about the conduct of the games. The mayor of the city that organised the Games transfers the CGF flag to the president of the CGF, who then passes it on to the mayor of the city hosting the next Commonwealth Games. The next host nation then also briefly introduces itself with artistic displays of dance and theatre representative of its culture. Many great artists and singers had performed at the ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games. At the closing ceremony of every Commonwealth Games the CGF President makes an award and presents a trophy to one athlete who has competed with particular distinction and honour both in terms of athletic performance and overall contribution to his or her team. Athletes are nominated by their Commonwealth Games Association at the end of the final day of competition and the winner is selected by a panel comprising the CGF President and representatives from each of the six Commonwealth Regions. The ‘David Dixon Award’ as it is called was introduced in 2002 Commonwealth Games, Manchester 2002, after the late David Dixon, former Honorary Secretary of the Commonwealth Games Federation, CGF, in honour of his monumental contribution to Commonwealth sport for many years.


Medal presentation

A medal ceremony is held after each event is concluded. The winner, second and third-place competitors or teams stand on top of a three-tiered rostrum to be awarded their respective medals. After the medals are given out by a CGF member, the national flags of the three medallists are raised while the national anthem of the gold medallist's country plays. Volunteering citizens of the host country also act as hosts during the medal ceremonies, as they aid the officials who present the medals and act as flag-bearers.


Anthems

"God Save the King" is an official or national anthem of God Save the King#Use in other Commonwealth countries, multiple Commonwealth countries. As a result, and due to the countries of the United Kingdom competing individually, it is not played in some official events, medal ceremonies or before matches in team events. Anthems used at the Commonwealth Games which differ from a currently-eligible country's national or official anthem(s): {, class="wikitable" , - !Country !Anthem used at the Commonwealth Games !National/official anthem(s) , - , , "God Bless Anguilla" , rowspan="4" , "God Save the King" , - , , "Hail to Bermuda" , - , , "Oh, Beautiful Virgin Islands" , - , , "Beloved Isle Cayman" , - , , "Land of Hope and Glory" (until 2010)
"And did those feet in ancient time#Use as a national anthem, Jerusalem" (since 2010) , ''None''; "God Save the King" as part of the United Kingdom , - , , "Song of the Falklands" , rowspan="5" , "God Save the King" , - , , "Gibraltar Anthem" , - , , "Sarnia Cherie" , - , , "Island Home (anthem), Island Home" , - , , "National Song (Montserrat), Motherland" , - , , "God Defend New Zealand" , "God Defend New Zealand" (since 1976)
"God Save the King" , - , , "Ko e Iki he Lagi" , "God Defend New Zealand" (since 1976)
"God Save the King" , - , , "Come Ye Blessed" , "Advance Australia Fair" , - , , "Londonderry Air" , ''None''; "God Save the King" as part of the United Kingdom , - , , "My Saint Helena Island" , "God Save the King" , - , , "Scotland the Brave" (until 2010)
"Flower of Scotland, O Flower of Scotland" (since 2010) , ''None''; "God Save the King" as part of the United Kingdom , - , , "This Land of Ours" , "God Save the King" , - , , "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" , "God Save the King" as part of the United Kingdom
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau"


List of Commonwealth Games

{, class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 80%; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;" , - ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Year ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Edition ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Host city ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Host Association ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Opened by ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Sports ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Events ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Teams ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Start date ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , End date ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Competitors ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Top Association ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Ref , - ! colspan="13" , Festival of Empire#Inter-Empire Championships, Inter-Empire Championships , - , align="center" , 1911 , align=center, Festival of Empire#Inter-Empire Championships, – , align=left, London , align=left, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom , George V , align="center" , 4 , , align="center" , 9 , , align="center" , 4 , align=center, 12 May , align=center, 1 June , , align="center" , Unknown , align=left, Note The 1911 Festival of Empire#Inter-Empire Championships, Inter-Empire Championships held in London (as part of a festival to celebrate the coronation of King George V) is seen as a precursor to the modern Commonwealth Games, but is not normally considered an official edition of the Games themselves. Also, the United Kingdom competed as one country, unlike the Commonwealth Games today when they compete as
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, and
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. Canada topped the medal table by winning 4 events.


Editions

{, class="wikitable sortable" width= align="center" , +Overview of Commonwealth Games ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Year ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Edition ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Host city ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Host Association ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Opened by ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Sports ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Events ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Associations ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Start date ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , End date ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Competitors ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Top Association ! rowspan=1 style="background:#2874A6; color:white;" , Ref , - , align=center, 1930 , align="center" , , align=left,
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilto ...
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, - , - , align=center, 1934 , align="center" , , align=left, London , align=left,
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, George V, King George V , align="center" , 6 , , align="center" , 68 , , align="center" , 16 , align=center, , align=center, , , align="center" , 500 , align=left, , align=center

, - , align=center, 1938 , align="center" , , align=left,
Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mounta ...
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, - , align="center" , 1942 , align=center, – , align=left,
Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple- ...
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Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...
, rowspan="2" colspan=12 align=center , ''Cancelled due to
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
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, - , align=center, 1950 , align="center" , , align=left,
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New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...
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, - , align=center, 1954 , align="center" , , align=left,
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, - , align=center, 1958 , align="center" , , align=left,
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, - , align=center, 1962 , align="center" , , align=left,
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
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, - , align=center, 1966 , align="center" , , align=left, Kingston, Jamaica, Kingston , align=left, Jamaica , align="center" , 9 , , align="center" , 110 , , align="center" , 34 , align=center, , align=center, , , align="center" , 1050 , align=left, , align=center

, - , align=center, 1970 , align="center" , , align=left,
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, - , align=center, 1974 , align="center" , , align=left, Christchurch , align=left,
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...
, align="center" , 9 , , align="center" , 121 , , align="center" , 38 , align=center, , align=center, , , align="center" , 1276 , align=left, , align=center

, - , align=center, 1978 , align="center" , , align=left, Edmonton , align=left,
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, - , align=center, 1982 , align="center" , , align=left, Brisbane , align=left,
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, - , align=center, 1986 , align="center" , , align=left,
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, - , align=center, 1990 , align="center" , , align=left,
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, - , align=center, 1994 , align="center" , , align=left, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria , align=left,
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, Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth II , align="center" , 10 , , align="center" , 217 , , align="center" , 63 , align=center, , align=center, , , align="center" , 2557 , align=left, , align=center

, - , align=center, 1998 , align="center" , , align=left, Kuala Lumpur , align=left, Malaysia , Tuanku Jaafar , align="center" , 15 , , align="center" , 213 , , align="center" , 70 , align=center, , align=center, , , align="center" , 3633 , align=left, , align=center

, - , align=center, 2002 , align="center" , , align=left,
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, - , align=center, 2006 , align="center" , , align=left, Melbourne , align=left,
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, align="center" , 16 , , align="center" , 245 , , align="center" , 71 , align=center, , align=center, , , align="center" , 4049 , align=left, , align=center

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, - , align=center, 2014 , align="center" , , align=left, Glasgow , align=left,
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, - , align=center, 2018 , align="center" , , align=left, Gold Coast, Queensland, Gold Coast , align=left,
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, - , align=center, 2022 , align="center" , , align=left, Birmingham , align=left,
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, align="center" , 20 , , align="center" , 280 , , align="center" , 72 , align=center, , align=center, , , align="center" , 5054 , align=left, , align=center

, - , align=center, 2026 , align="center" , , align=left, Victoria (Australia), State of Victoria , align=left,
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Medal table

*Note : Nations in ''italics'' no longer participate at the Commonwealth Games. :''Updated after 2022 Commonwealth Games'', * Totals for
Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Tog ...
include all medals won as
* Totals for Zimbabwe include all medals won as * Totals for Zambia include all medals won as * Totals for Sri Lanka include all medals won as * Totals for Guyana include all medals won as


Commonwealth sports

There are a total of 23 sports (with three multi-disciplinary sports) and a ten seven para-sports which are approved by the Commonwealth Games Federation. Core sports must be included in each program. Several optional sports may be picked by the host nation, which may consist of some team sports such as basketball. {, cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin:1em auto;" , - , valign="top", {, class="wikitable sortable" , - !Sport !Type !Years , - , Archery at the Commonwealth Games, Archery , Core , 1982, 2010 , - , Athletics at the Commonwealth Games, Athletics , Core , 1930–present , - , Athletics at the Commonwealth Games, Para Athletics , Core , 1994, 2002–present , - , Badminton at the Commonwealth Games, Badminton , Core , 1966–present , - , Basketball at the Commonwealth Games, Basketball , , 2006, 2018 , - , Basketball at the Commonwealth Games, Basketball 3x3 , Core , 2022-present , - , Boxing at the Commonwealth Games, Boxing , Core , 1930–present , - , Cricket at the Commonwealth Games, Cricket , Core , 1998, 2022-present , - , Cycling at the Commonwealth Games, Cycling (Mountain Bike) , Core , 2002–2006, 2014–present , - , Cycling at the Commonwealth Games, Cycling (Para Track) , Core , 2014–present , - , Cycling at the Commonwealth Games, Cycling (Road) , Core , 1938–present , - , Cycling at the Commonwealth Games, Cycling (Track) , Core , 1934–present , - , Diving at the Commonwealth Games, Diving , , 1930–present , - , Hockey at the Commonwealth Games, Hockey , Core , 1998–present , - , Gymnastics at the Commonwealth Games, Gymnastics (Artistic) , Core , 1978, 1990–present , - , Gymnastics at the Commonwealth Games, Gymnastics (Rhythmic) , Core , 1978, 1990–1998, 2006–2022 , - , Judo at the Commonwealth Games, Judo , Core , 1990, 2002, 2014,2022 , - , Lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games, Lawn bowls , Core , 1930–1962, 1970–present , - , valign="top", {, class="wikitable sortable" , - !Sport !Type !Years , - , Lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games, Para lawn bowls , Core , 1994, 2002, 2014–present , - , Netball at the Commonwealth Games, Netball (Women) , Core , 1998–present , - , Weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games, Powerlifting , Core , 2002–present , - , Rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games, Rugby sevens , Core , 1998–present , - , Shooting at the Commonwealth Games, Shooting , Optional , 1966, 1974–2018,2026 , - , Squash at the Commonwealth Games, Squash , Core , 1998–present , - , Swimming at the Commonwealth Games, Swimming , Core , 1930–present , - , Swimming at the Commonwealth Games, Para swimming , Core , 2002–present , - , Table tennis at the Commonwealth Games, Table tennis , Core , 2002–present , - , Table tennis at the Commonwealth Games, Para table tennis , Optional , 2002–present , - , Triathlon at the Commonwealth Games, Triathlon , Core , 2002–2006, 2014–present , - , Beach volleyball, Volleyball (beach) , Optional , 2018–present , - , Weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games, Weightlifting , Core , 1950–present , - , Wrestling at the Commonwealth Games, Wrestling (Freestyle) , Core , 1930–1986, 1994, 2002, 2010–2022 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. {, cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin:1em auto;" , - , valign="top", {, class="wikitable sortable" , - !Sport !Type !Years , - , Canoeing , Optional , Never , - , Rowing at the Commonwealth Games, Rowing , Optional , 1930, 1938–1962,1986,2026 , - , Sailing (sport), Sailing , Optional , Never , - , Softball , Optional , Never , - , Synchronised swimming at the Commonwealth Games, Synchronised swimming , Optional , 1986–2006 , - , valign="top", {, class="wikitable sortable" , - !Sport !Type !Years , - , Taekwondo , Optional , Never , - , Tennis at the Commonwealth Games, Tennis , Optional , 2010 , - , Ten-pin bowling , Optional , 1998 , - , Wrestling at the Commonwealth Games, Wrestling (Greco-Roman) , Optional , 2010 Sports such as the following are sports which have been analyzed by the Commonwealth Games Federation but which are deemed to need expansion in areas such as participation levels within the Commonwealth both at a national (International Federation) and grassroots athletics level, Marketability, Television Rights, Equity, and Hosting Expenses, per Regulation 6 of the Commonwealth Games Constitution;
.
Commonwealth Games Federation The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), currently known as Commonwealth Sport, is the international organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, and is governing body of the ...
. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
host nations may not pick these sports for their program until the Federation's requirements are fulfilled.Sports Programme
.
Commonwealth Games Federation The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), currently known as Commonwealth Sport, is the international organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, and is governing body of the ...
. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
{, cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin:1em auto;" , - , valign="top", {, class="wikitable sortable" , - !Sport !Type !Years , - , Billiards , Recognised , Never , - , Fencing at the Commonwealth Games, Fencing , Recognised , 1950–1970 , - , Association Football , Recognised , Never , - , Golf , Recognised , 2026 , - , European Handball, Handball , Recognised , Never , - , valign="top", {, class="wikitable sortable" , - !Sport !Type !Years , - , Life saving , Recognised , Never , - , Rugby league , Recognised , Never , - , Volleyball (indoor) , Recognised , Never , - , Water Polo , Recognised , 1950 , -


Participation

Only six teams have attended every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales. Australia has been the highest scoring team for thirteen games, England for seven, and Canada for one. {, class="wikitable collapsible collapsed plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%; margin:1em auto;" , - ! colspan=24 , Table of Team Participation by Commonwealth Games Edition , - ! rowspan="6" style="background:#cedaf2;", Team !Edition , 1930 British Empire Games, I , 1934 British Empire Games, II , 1938 British Empire Games, III , 1950 British Empire Games, IV , 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, V , 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, VI , 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, VII , 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, VIII , 1970 British Commonwealth Games, IX , 1974 British Commonwealth Games, X , 1978 Commonwealth Games, XI , 1982 Commonwealth Games, XII , 1986 Commonwealth Games, XIII , 1990 Commonwealth Games, XIV , 1994 Commonwealth Games, XV , 1998 Commonwealth Games, XVI , 2002 Commonwealth Games, XVII , 2006 Commonwealth Games, XVIII , 2010 Commonwealth Games, XIX , 2014 Commonwealth Games, XX , 2018 Commonwealth Games, XXI , - ! Year , 1930 , 1934 , 1938 , 1950 , 1954 , 1958 , 1962 , 1966 , 1970 , 1974 , 1978 , 1982 , 1986 , 1990 , 1994 , 1998 , 2002 , 2006 , 2010 , 2014 , 2018 , - ! Host Flag , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - ! Host City ,
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilto ...
, London ,
Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mounta ...
,
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
,
Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. ...
,
Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...
,
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
, Kingston, Jamaica, Kingston ,
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
, Christchurch , Edmonton , Brisbane ,
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
,
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria , Kuala Lumpur ,
Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...
, Melbourne , Delhi , Glasgow , Gold Coast, Queensland, Gold Coast , - ! Participation \\ Host nation , Canada , England , Australia , New Zealand , Canada ,
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
, Australia , Jamaica ,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
, New Zealand , Canada , Australia ,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
, New Zealand , Canada , Malaysia , England , Australia ,
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
, Australia , - ! colspan=22, , - , align=left, , , 1962 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1998– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1966–1970, 1978, 1994– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:pink;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1930– , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1954–1970, 1978–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1978, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1954–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1978, 1994– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1930–1938, 1954–1982, 1990– , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1974, 1982– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1930–1938, 1954–1962 , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1962–1966 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1998– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1930– , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1978– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1938–1950, 1958–1970 , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1974–1978, 1986– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1978–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1958–1962, 1970, 1994– , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , style="background:pink;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1930– , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1982– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1938, 1954–1986, 1998–2006, 2014– , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1970–1982, 1990–2010, 2018– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1958–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1958– , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1954 , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1970–1982, 1998– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1970– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1966–1970, 1978–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1934, 1954–1962, 1970–1994 , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1934–1938, 1954–1958, 1966–1982, 1990– , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, Ireland , , 1930 , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1958– , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1934, 1954–1982, 1990– , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1958– , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1954–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1998– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1974– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1970– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1950, 1958–1962 , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1966–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1986–2014, 2022– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , - , align=left, , , 1958–1962, 1970, 1982– , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1958, 1966–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1994– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1998– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1994– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1930–1934 , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1930– , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1950–1958, 1966–1974, 1982, 1990–1994, 2002– , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 2002– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1986– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left,
North Borneo (I persevere and I achieve) , national_anthem = , capital = Kudat (1881–1884);Sandakan (1884–1945);Jesselton (1946) , common_languages = English, Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau, Murut, Sabah Malay, Chinese etc. , ...
, , 1958–1962 , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1934–1938, 1954– , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1954–1958 , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1954–1970, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1962–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1962 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 2010– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1978 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1982, 1998– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1962, 1970, 1978, 1994– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:pink;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1958, 1966–1978, 1994– , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:pink;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1998– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left,
Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
, , 1958–1962 , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1930– , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1958, 1966–1970, 1978, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1958– , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1930–1958, 1994– , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1966 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1934–1958 , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1974–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1970–2018 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1962 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1966–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1974, 1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1934–1982, 1990– , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1978, 1998– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1998– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1954–1974, 1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1982– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1930– , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1974–1994 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , align=left, , , 1970–1982, 1990– , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , - , align=left, , , 1982, 1990–2002 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:pink;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgreen;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , , style="background:lightgrey;", , - , colspan=24 style="text-align:center , Legend , - , colspan=24 style="text-align:center , ---- {, cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin:1em auto;" , - , valign="top", {, class="wikitable sortable" , - ! Nation , , Years participated , - , , , 1962 , - , , , 1998– , - , , , 1911 , - , , , 1966–1970, 1978, 1994– , - , , , 1930– , - , , , 1954–1970, 1978–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1978, 1990– , - , , , 1954–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1978, 1994– , - , , , 1930–1938, 1954–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1974, 1982– , - , , , 1930–1938, 1954–1962 , - , , , 1962–1966 , - , , , 1990– , - , , , 1990– , - , , , 1998– , - , , , 1911, 1930– , - , , , 1978– , - , , , 1938–1950, 1958–1970 , - , , , 1974–1978, 1986– , - , , , 1978–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1958–1962, 1970, 1994– , - , , , 1930– , - , , , 1982– , - , , , 1938, 1954–1986, 1998–2006, 2014– , - , , , 1970–1982, 1990–2010, 2018– , - , , , 1958–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1958– , - , , , 1954 , - , , , 1970–1982, 1998– , - , , , 1970– , - , , , 1966–1970, 1978–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1934, 1954–1962, 1970–1994 , - , , , 1934–1938, 1954–1958, 1966–1982, 1990– , - , Ireland , , 1930 , - , , , 1934 , - , , , 1958– , - , , , 1934, 1954–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1958– , - , , , 1954–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1998– , - , , , 1974– , - , , , 1970– , - , , , 1950, 1958–1962 , - , , , 1966–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1986–2014, 2020– , - , , , 1958–1962, 1970, 1982– , valign="top", {, class="wikitable sortable" , - ! Nation , , Years participated , - , , , 1958–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1994– , - , , , 1998– , - , , , 1994– , - , , , 1990– , - , , , 1930–1934 , - , , , 1930– , - , , , 1950–1958, 1966–1974, 1982, 1990–1994, 2002– , - , , , 2002– , - , , , 1986– , - ,
North Borneo (I persevere and I achieve) , national_anthem = , capital = Kudat (1881–1884);Sandakan (1884–1945);Jesselton (1946) , common_languages = English, Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau, Murut, Sabah Malay, Chinese etc. , ...
, , 1958–1962 , - , , , 1934–1938, 1954– , - , , , 1954–1958 , - , , , 1954–1970, 1990– , - , , , 1962–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1962 , - , , , 2010– , - , , , 1978 , - , , , 1982, 1998– , - , , , 1990– , - , , , 1962, 1970, 1978, 1994– , - , , , 1958, 1966–1978, 1994– , - , , , 1998– , - ,
Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
, , 1958–1962 , - , , , 1930– , - , , , 1990– , - , , , 1958, 1966–1970, 1978, 1990– , - , , , 1958– , - , , , 1982, 1990– , - , , , 1911–1958, 1994– , - , , , 1966 , - , , , 1934–1958 , - , , , 1974–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1970–2018 , - , , , 1962 , - , , , 1966–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1974, 1982, 1990– , - , , , 1934–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1978, 1998– , - , , , 2002– , - , , , 1954–1974, 1982, 1990– , - , , , 1911 , - , , , 1982– , - , , , 1930– , - , , , 1974–1994 , - , , , 1970–1982, 1990– , - , , , 1982, 1990–2002


Commonwealth nations yet to send teams

Very few Commonwealth dependencies and nations have yet to take part: *
Gabon Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the nort ...
and
Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...
, the most recent members to join the Commonwealth in 2022 have not as of that date instigated Commonwealth Games federations in their nation. It is expected both nations will make their debut in 2026. * Tokelau, a dependency of
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...
was Tokelau at the Commonwealth Games, expected to take part the for the first time at the 2010 Games in Delhi but did not do so. * Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, former dependencies of
Saint Helena Saint Helena () is a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote volcanic tropical island west of the coast of south-western Africa, and east of Rio de Janeiro in South America. It is one of three constit ...
and current parts of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, have never formed their own teams independent from the Saint Helena team. * Other states, territories, and autonomous administrative division, territorial autonomies with native populations within the Commonwealth that may be eligible include Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (States and territories of Australia, territories of Australia), Nevis (a federal entity of the Saint Kitts and Nevis, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis), Rodrigues (Outer Islands of Mauritius), and Zanzibar (a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania). * Cornwall, represented by the Cornwall Commonwealth Games Association (CCGA), sent a bid for participation in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in 2004. However, their application was rejected by the CGF, who stated that the constitutional status of Cornwall was not an issue that should be resolved through this medium. * The British Indian Ocean Territory currently has no permanent population although there is a sizeable Chagossian, population who were ''born'' in the BIOT but currently live in Mauritius and the United Kingdom and so would be eligible to compete on birth criteria. * Northern Cyprus, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has made applications to the CGF to send teams. * It is also conceivable that any future members of the Commonwealth such as Commonwealth of Nations#Applicants, applicants (for example South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen) may participate in future games. The Colony of Aden and Federation of South Arabia, precursors to modern Yemen, participated before in 1962 and in 1966. Sudan was an Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian protectorate until independence in 1956. * The Pitcairn Islands' tiny population (currently 50 to 60 people) would appear to prevent this British overseas territory from competing. * The lack of a permanent population would seem to prevent the British overseas territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and British Antarctic Territory, the New Zealand territory of Ross Dependency and the Australian external territories of Australian Antarctic Territory, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Coral Sea Islands and Heard Island and McDonald Islands from competing.


Controversies


Host city contract

The
1934 British Empire Games The 1934 British Empire Games were the second edition of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games, held in England, from 4–11 August 1934. The host city was London, with the main venue at Wembley Park, although the track cycling events we ...
, originally awarded in 1930 to
Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a Megacity#List of megacities, megacity, and is List of urban areas by p ...
, were moved to London after South Africa's pre-apartheid government refused to allow participants of colour. The 2022 Commonwealth Games were originally awarded to Durban on 2 September 2015, at the Commonwealth Games Federation, CGF General Assembly in
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
. It was reported in February 2017 that Durban may be unable to host the games due to financial constraints. On 13 March 2017, the CGF stripped Durban of their rights to host and reopened the bidding process for the 2022 games. Many cities from Australia, Canada, England and Malaysia expressed interest to host the games. However, the CGF received only one official bid and that was from Birmingham, England. On 21 December 2017, Birmingham was awarded for the 2022 Games as Durban's replacement host.


Boycotts

Much like the
Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a multi ...
, the Commonwealth Games have also experienced boycotts:
Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
boycotted the 1978 Commonwealth Games at Edmonton in protest of New Zealand's sporting contacts with apartheid-era South Africa. Uganda also stayed away, in protest of alleged Canadian hostility towards the government of Idi Amin. During the 1986 Commonwealth Games at
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
, a majority of the Commonwealth nations staged a boycott, so that the Games appeared to be a whites-only event. Thirty two of the eligible fifty nine countries—largely African, Asian and Caribbean states—stayed away because of the Margaret Thatcher, Thatcher government's policy of keeping Britain's sporting links with apartheid South Africa in preference to participating in the general sporting boycott of that country. Consequently, Edinburgh 1986 witnessed the lowest number of athletes since Auckland 1950. The boycotting nations were Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Bahamas, Bangladesh,
Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = "Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , es ...
, Belize, Cyprus,
Dominica Dominica ( or ; Kalinago: ; french: Dominique; Dominican Creole French: ), officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. It is geographical ...
, The Gambia, Gambia,
Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Tog ...
, Guyana, Grenada,
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia,
Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
,
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Lucia, Mauritius,
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...
, Tanzania,
Turks and Caicos Islands The Turks and Caicos Islands (abbreviated TCI; and ) are a British Overseas Territory consisting of the larger Caicos Islands and smaller Turks Islands, two groups of tropical islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and ...
, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Bermuda was a particularly late withdrawal, as its athletes appeared in the opening ceremony and in the opening day of competition before the Bermuda Olympic Association decided to formally withdraw.


Financial implications

The estimated cost of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi were US$11 billion, according to ''Business Today (India), Business Today'' magazine. The initial total budget estimated by the Indian Olympic Association in 2003 was US$250 million. In 2010, however, the official total budget soon escalated to an estimated US$1.8 billion, a figure which excluded non-sports-related infrastructure development. Until today,the 2010 Commonwealth Games are reportedly the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever. An analysis conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers on the 2002, 2006, 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games found that each dollar spent by governments on operating costs, games venues and athletes’ villages generated US$2 for the host city or state economies, with an average of more than 18,000 jobs generated by each of the events. Additionally, all four cities enjoyed long-term improvements to transport or other infrastructure through hosting the Games, while some also benefited from the revival of struggling precincts.


Notable competitors

Lawn bowler Willie Wood (bowler), Willie Wood from
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
was the first competitor to have competed in seven Commonwealth Games, from 1974 to 2002, a record equalled in 2014 by
Isle of Man ) , anthem = " O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europ ...
cyclist Andrew Roche. They have both been surpassed by David Calvert of Northern Ireland who in 2018 attended his 11th games. Sitiveni Rabuka was a Prime Minister of Fiji. Beforehand he represented Fiji in shot put, hammer throw, discus and the decathlon at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games held in Christchurch, New Zealand. Greg Yelavich, a sports shooter from New Zealand, has won 12 medals in seven games from 1986 to 2010. Lawn bowler Robert Weale has represented Wales in 8 Commonwealth Games, 1986–2014, winning 2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze. Nauruan weightlifter Marcus Stephen won twelve medals at the Games between 1990 and 2002, of which seven gold, and was elected President of Nauru in 2007. His performance has helped place Nauru (the smallest independent state in the Commonwealth, at and with a population of fewer than 9,400 in 2011) in twenty-second place on the all-time Commonwealth Games medal table. Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe has won 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals and 1 silver medal. At the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, he won 4 gold medals. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, he won 6 gold medals and 1 silver medal. Chad le Clos, South Africa's most decorated swimmer, has won 18 medals from four Commonwealth Games (2010, 2014, 2018 & 2022), seven of which are gold. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he won two gold medals, one silver medal, and four bronze medals. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Queensland, Gold Coast, he won three golds, a silver and a bronze. English actor Jason Statham took part 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 at the Swimming at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay.


See also


Notes


References


Sources

* Brown, Geoff and Hogsbjerg, Christian. ''Apartheid is not a Game: Remembering the Stop the Seventy Tour campaign.'' London: Redwords, 2020. .


Further reading

* Phillips, Bob. ''Honour of Empire, Glory of Sport: the history of athletics at the Commonwealth Games.'' Manchester: Parrswood Press, 2000. .


External links

*
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) at the Commonwealth website

"Commonwealth Games"
''Encyclopædia Britannica'' Online. *
insidethegames – the latest and most up to date news and interviews from the world of Olympic, Commonwealth and Paralympic Games

ATR – Around the Rings – the Business Surrounding the Multi-sport events

GamesBids.com – An Authoritative Review of Games Bid Business (home of the BidIndex™)
{{Authority control Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth sports competitions, * Events in the British Empire Multi-sport events Politics and sports Quadrennial sporting events Recurring sporting events established in 1930