Commonwealth Games 39173 223810497 2008-07-05T22:41:48Z Plasticup 2666389 clean up, Replaced: January 1st → [[January 1]] using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] [[Image:Cg-flag.gif|right|thumb|Current flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation]] <!--[[Image:Bcg.gif|100px|thumb|<small>British Commonwealth Games seal</small>]] commenting out image with no source/bad FairUse claim--> <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Commgamesfed.gif|100px|thumb|<small>Commonwealth Games Federation seal, adopted in 2001</small>]] --> The '''Commonwealth Games''' is a multinational, [[multi-sport event]]. Held every four years, it involves the elite athletes of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. Attendance at the Commonwealth Games is typically around 5,000 athletes. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games. The first such event, then known as the '''British Empire Games''', was held in 1930 in [[Hamilton, Ontario]], [[Canada]]. The name changed to '''British Empire and Commonwealth Games''' in 1954, to '''British Commonwealth Games''' in 1970 and assumed the current name of the Commonwealth Games in 1974. As well as many [[Olympic sport]]s, the Games also include some sports that are played mainly in Commonwealth countries, such as [[lawn bowls]], [[rugby sevens]] and [[netball]]. There are currently 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and 71 teams participate in the Games. The four [[constituent country|constituent countries]] of the [[United Kingdom]]—[[England]], [[Scotland]], [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]]—send separate teams to the Commonwealth Games, and individual teams are also sent from the British [[crown dependency|Crown dependencies]]—[[Guernsey]], [[Jersey]] and the [[Isle of Man]]—and many of the [[British overseas territories]]. The [[Australia]]n external territory of [[Norfolk Island]] also sends its own team, as do the [[Cook Islands]] and [[Niue]], two non-sovereign states in free association with [[New Zealand]]. Only six teams have attended every Commonwealth Games: [[Australia]], [[Canada]], [[England]], [[New Zealand]], [[Scotland]] and [[Wales]]. [[Australia]] has been the highest scoring team for ten games, [[England]] for seven and [[Canada]] for one. At the 1930 games, women competed in Swimming and Diving only. In 1934 women competed in some Athletics events also. [[Image:Commonwealth Games years participants.PNG|500px|right|Locations of the games, and participating countries]] == Origins == [[Image:Cwn-beg.gif|thumb|<small>The Empire Games flag was donated in 1930 by the British Empire Games Association of Canada. The year and location of subsequent games were added until the 1950 games. The name of the event was changed to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and the flag was retired as a result. </small>]] A sporting [[competition]] bringing together the members of the [[British Empire]] was first proposed by the Reverend Astley Cooper in 1891 when he wrote an article in ''[[The Times]]'' suggesting a "Pan-Britannic-Pan-Anglican Contest and Festival every four years as a means of increasing the goodwill and good understanding of the British Empire". In 1911, the [[Festival of the Empire]] was held in [[London]] to celebrate the [[coronation]] of King [[George V of the United Kingdom|George V]]. As part of the festival an Inter-Empire Championships was held in which teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom competed in events such as boxing, wrestling, swimming and athletics. In 1928, [[Melville Marks Robinson|Melville Marks (Bobby) Robinson]] of Canada was asked to organise the first [[British Empire Games]]. These were held in [[Hamilton, Ontario]] two years later. == Opening ceremony traditions == *From 1930 through 1950, the parade of nations was led by a single flagbearer carrying the [[Union Flag]], symbolising Britain's leading role in the British Empire. *Since 1958, there has been a [[Queen's Baton Relay|relay]] of athletes carrying a baton from [[Buckingham Palace]] to the Opening Ceremony. This baton has within it the Queen's Message of Greeting to the athletes. The baton's final bearer is usually a famous sporting personage of the host nation. *All other nations march in [[English language|English]] alphabetical order, except that the first nation marching in the [[Parade of Athletes]] is the host nation of the previous games, and the host nation of the current games marches last. In 2006 countries marched in alphabetical order in geographical regions. *Three national flags fly from the stadium on the poles that are used for medal ceremonies: Previous host nation, Current host nation, Next host nation. *The [[military]] is more active in the Opening Ceremony than in the [[Olympic Games]]. This is to honour the British Military traditions of the Old Empire. ==Boycotts== The Commonwealth Games, like the Olympic Games, has also suffered from political [[boycott]]s. [[Nigeria]] boycotted the [[1978 Commonwealth Games|1978 Games]] in protest of [[New Zealand]]'s sporting contacts with [[apartheid]]-era [[South Africa]], and 32 of 59 nations from Africa, Asia, and the [[Caribbean]] boycotted the [[1986 Commonwealth Games]] due to the [[Margaret Thatcher|Thatcher]] government's attitude towards South African sporting contacts. Boycotts were also threatened in 1974, 1982, and 1990 because of South Africa. == Editions == === British Empire Games === *{{flagicon|CAN|1921}} [[1930 British Empire Games]] - [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[1934 British Empire Games]] - [[London]], [[England]], {{flag|United Kingdom}} *{{flagicon|AUS}} [[1938 British Empire Games]] - [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]] *{{flagicon|NZL}} [[1950 British Empire Games]] - [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]] === British Empire and Commonwealth Games === *{{flagicon|CAN|1921}} [[1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]] - [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]] *{{flagicon|WAL}} [[1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]] - [[Cardiff]], [[Wales]], {{flag|United Kingdom}} *{{flagicon|AUS}} [[1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]] - [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]], [[Western Australia]], [[Australia]] *{{flagicon|JAM}} [[1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]] - [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], [[Jamaica]] === British Commonwealth Games === [[Image:British Commonwealth Games flag.gif|thumb|right|<center>Flag of the <br>British Commonwealth Games]] *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[1970 British Commonwealth Games]] - [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]], {{flag|United Kingdom}} *{{flagicon|NZL}} [[1974 British Commonwealth Games]] - [[Christchurch]], [[New Zealand]] === Commonwealth Games === *{{flagicon|CAN}} [[1978 Commonwealth Games]] - [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]], [[Canada]] *{{flagicon|AUS}} [[1982 Commonwealth Games]] - [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]], [[Australia]] *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[1986 Commonwealth Games]] - [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]], {{flag|United Kingdom}} *{{flagicon|NZL}} [[1990 Commonwealth Games]] - [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]] *{{flagicon|CAN}} [[1994 Commonwealth Games]] - [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]] *{{flagicon|MAS}} [[1998 Commonwealth Games]] - [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Malaysia]] *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] - [[Manchester]], [[England]], {{flag|United Kingdom}} *{{flagicon|AUS}} [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] - [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]] *{{flagicon|IND}} [[2010 Commonwealth Games]] - [[Delhi]], [[India]] *{{flagicon|SCO}} [[2014 Commonwealth Games]] - [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]], {{flag|United Kingdom}} * [[2018 Commonwealth Games]] - Host city to be announced in 2011. == List of nations/dependencies to compete == ===Nations/dependencies that have competed === {| |- | valign="top" | *{{flag|Aden}}<sup>1</sup> 1962 *{{AIA}} 1982, 1998&mdash; *{{ATG}} 1966&ndash;1970, 1978, 1994&mdash; *{{AUS}} 1930&mdash; *{{BHS}} 1954&ndash;1970, 1978&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{BGD}} 1978, 1990&mdash; *{{BRB}} 1954&ndash;1966, 1970&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{BLZ}} 1978, 1994&mdash; *{{BMU}} 1930&ndash;1938, 1954&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{BWA}} 1974, 1982&mdash; *{{flag|British Guiana}}² 1930&ndash;1938, 1954&ndash;1962 *{{flag|British Honduras}}³ 1962&ndash;1966 *{{VGB}} 1990&mdash; *{{flag|Brunei Darussalam}} 1958, 1990&mdash; *{{CMR}} 1998&mdash; *{{CAN}} 1930&mdash; *{{CYM}} 1978&mdash; *{{flag|Ceylon}}<sup>4</sup> 1938&ndash;1950, 1958&ndash;1970 *{{COK}} 1974&ndash;1978, 1986&mdash; *{{CYP}} 1978&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{DMA}} 1958&ndash;1962, 1970, 1994&mdash; *{{ENG}} 1930&mdash; *{{FLK}} 1982&mdash; *{{FJI}} 1938, 1954&ndash;1986, 1998&mdash; *{{flag|The Gambia}} 1970&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{GHA}} 1958&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{GIB}} 1958&mdash; *{{flag|Gold Coast}}<sup>5</sup> 1954 *{{GRD}} 1970&ndash;1974, 1994&mdash; *{{GGY}} 1970&mdash; *{{GUY}} 1966&ndash;1970, 1978&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{flag|Hong Kong|colonial}}<sup>6</sup> 1934, 1954&ndash;1962, 1970&ndash;1994 *{{IND}} 1934&ndash;1938, 1954&ndash;1958, 1966&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Irish Free State]]<sup>7</sup> 1934 *{{IMN}} 1958&mdash; *{{JAM}} 1934, 1954&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{JEY}} 1958&mdash; *{{KEN}} 1954&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{KIR}} 1998&mdash; *{{LSO}} 1974&mdash; *{{MWI}}<sup>12</sup> 1970&mdash; *{{flag|Malaya}}<sup>8</sup> 1950, 1958&ndash;1962 *{{MYS}} 1966&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{MDV}} 1986&mdash; *{{MLT}} 1958&ndash;1962, 1970, 1982&mdash; | valign="top" | *{{MUS}} 1958, 1966&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{MSR}} 1994&mdash; *{{MOZ}} 1998&mdash; *{{NAM}} 1994&mdash; *{{NRU}} 1990&mdash; *{{flag|Newfoundland}}<sup>9</sup> 1930&ndash;1934 *{{NZL}} 1930&mdash; *{{NGA}} 1950&ndash;1958, 1966&ndash;1974, 1982, 1990&ndash;1994, 2002&mdash; *{{NIU}} 2002&mdash; *{{NFK}} 1986&mdash; *{{flag|North Borneo}}<sup>8</sup> 1958&ndash;1962 *{{NIR}}<sup>7</sup> 1930&ndash;1938, 1954&mdash; *{{flag|Northern Rhodesia}}<sup>10</sup> 1954 *{{PAK}} 1954&ndash;1970, 1990&mdash; *{{PNG}} 1962&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{flag|Rhodesia}}<sup>11</sup> 1934&ndash;1950 *{{flag|Rhodesia and Nyasaland}}<sup>10</sup> 1958&ndash;1962 *{{flag|Saint Helena}} 1982, 1998&mdash; *{{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} ([[Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla]] 1978), 1990&mdash; *{{LCA}} 1962, 1970, 1978, 1994&mdash; *{{VCT}} 1958, 1966&ndash;1978, 1994&mdash; *{{flagicon|WSM}} [[Samoa|Samoa ''and Western Samoa'']] 1974&mdash; *{{SCO}} 1930&mdash; *{{SYC}} 1990&mdash; *{{SLE}} 1966&ndash;1970, 1978, 1990&mdash; *{{SGP}}<sup>8</sup> 1958&mdash; *{{SLB}} 1982, 1990&mdash; *{{ZAF}} 1930&ndash;1958, 1994&mdash; *{{flag|South Arabia}}<sup>1</sup> 1966 *{{flag|Southern Rhodesia}}<sup>10</sup> 1954 *{{LKA}} 1974&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{SWZ}} 1970&mdash; *{{flag|Tanganyika}}<sup>13</sup> 1962 *{{TZA}} 1966&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{TON}} 1974, 1982, 1990&mdash; *{{TTO}} 1934&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{flag|Turks and Caicos Islands}} 1978, 1998&mdash; *{{TUV}} 1998&mdash; *{{UGA}} 1954&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{VUT}} 1982&mdash; *{{WAL}} 1930&mdash; *{{ZMB}}<sup>12</sup> 1970&ndash;1982, 1990&mdash; *{{ZWE}}<sup>12,14</sup> 1982, 1990&ndash;2002 |} ''Notes:'' <small>1: [[Aden]] became [[South Arabia]] which left the Commonwealth in 1968.<br> 2: Became [[Guyana]] in 1966.<br> 3: Became [[Belize]] in 1973.<br> 4: Became [[Sri Lanka]] in 1972.<br> 5: Became [[Ghana]] in 1957.<br> 6: Left the Commonwealth when handed over to [[China]] in 1997.<br> 7: [[Ireland]] was represented as the [[Irish Free State]] and [[Northern Ireland]] in 1934. The [[Irish Free State]] , subsequently known as [[Eire]] (1937 to 1948), left the Commonwealth as the [[Republic of Ireland]] on [[January 1]] 1949.<br> 8: [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]], [[North Borneo]], [[Sarawak]] and [[Singapore]] federated as [[Malaysia]] in 1963. Singapore left the federation in 1965.<br> 9: Joined [[Canada]] in 1949.<br> 10: [[Southern Rhodesia]] and [[Northern Rhodesia]] federated with [[Nyasaland]] from 1953 as [[Rhodesia and Nyasaland]] which lasted till 1963.<br> 11: Divided into [[Southern Rhodesia]] and [[Northern Rhodesia]] in 1953.<br> 12: Competed from 1958&ndash;1962 as part of [[Rhodesia and Nyasaland]].<br> 13: [[Zanzibar]] and [[Tanganyika]] federated to form [[Tanzania]] in 1964.<br> 14: Withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003.<br></small> ===Commonwealth nations/dependencies yet to send teams === Very few Commonwealth dependencies and nations have yet to take part. * {{flag|Tokelau}} is expected to take part in the [[2010 Commonwealth Games|2010]] Games in Delhi. * {{flagicon|Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus}} The [[Northern Cyprus|Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]] have made applications to the CGF to send teams. *{{flagicon|Pitcairn Islands}} The [[Pitcairn Islands]]' tiny population (50 as of July 2007) would appear to prevent the country from competing. *Other states and territories with native populations within the Commonwealth that may be eligible include {{CXR}} and the {{flag|Cocos (Keeling) Islands}}. *It is also conceivable that any future members of the Commonwealth such as [[Commonwealth_of_Nations#Current_and_possible_future_applicants|applicants]] {{RWA}} and {{YEM}} may participate in future games. ===List of sports at the Commonwealth Games=== The current regulations state that a minimum of ten and no more than fifteen sports must be included in a Commonwealth Games schedule. There is a list of core sports, which must be included, and a further list of approved sports from which the host nation may choose to include. The host nation may also apply for the inclusion of other team sports to the CGF General Assembly, as the Melbourne organising committee did with [[basketball]] for the 2006 Games. The current core sports consist of [[Athletics (track and field)|athletics]], [[List of water sports|aquatics]] ([[swimming]], [[diving]] and [[Synchronized swimming|synchronised swimming]]), [[Bowls|lawn bowls]], [[netball]] (for women) and [[rugby sevens]] (for men). These will all remain core sports until at least the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The approved list of sports also includes [[archery]], [[badminton]], [[Cue sports|billiards]] and [[snooker]], [[boxing]], [[canoeing]], [[cycling]], [[fencing]], [[gymnastics]], [[judo]], [[Rowing (sport)|rowing]], [[sailing]], [[shooting]], [[Squash (sport)|squash]], [[table tennis]], [[tennis]], [[ten-pin bowling]], [[triathlon]], [[weightlifting]], and [[wrestling]]. Some of these are often included in the programme, while others, like billiards and sailing, have not yet been approved. In 2002, the CGF introduced the [[David Dixon Award]] for the outstanding athlete of the Games. There is also a requirement to include some events for Elite Athletes with a Disability (EAD). This was introduced in the 2002 Games.{{fact|date=February 2008}} On [[November 18]], [[2006]], tennis and archery were added to the list of disciplines for the [[2010]] games in New Delhi, bringing the total number of sports to 17. Billiards and snooker were considered but not accepted. ===Sports currently included=== ''The years, in brackets, show when the sports have appeared at the games.'' *[[Aquatics]] (1930&mdash;) **[[Swimming]] **[[Synchronised swimming]] **[[Diving]] *[[Athletics (track and field)|Athletics]] (men: 1930&mdash;, women: 1934&mdash;) *[[Badminton]] (1966&mdash;) (see also [[Badminton at the Commonwealth Games|Medalists]]) *[[Basketball]] (2006&mdash;) *[[Boxing]] (1930&mdash;) *[[Cycling]] (1934&mdash;) *[[Gymnastics]] (1978, 1990&mdash;) ** [[Rhythmic gymnastics]] (1994&ndash;1998, 2006&mdash;) *[[Field hockey]] (1998&mdash;) (see also [[Hockey at the Commonwealth Games]]) *[[Lawn bowls]] (1930&ndash;1962, 1972&mdash;) *[[Netball]] (1998&mdash;) *[[Rugby sevens]] (1998&mdash;) (see also [[Commonwealth Rugby Sevens Championships]]) *[[Shooting]] (1966, 1974&mdash;) *[[Squash (sport)|Squash]] (1998&mdash;) *[[Table tennis]] (2002&mdash;) *[[Triathlon]] (2002&mdash;) *[[Weightlifting]] (1950&mdash;) *Events for Athletes with a Disability (2002&mdash;) **Athletics **Swimming **Table tennis **[[Powerlifting]] ===Events on hiatus=== *[[Archery]] (1982 probably 2010) *[[Cricket]] (1998) *[[fencing (sport)|Fencing]] (1950&ndash;1970) (See also [[Commonwealth Fencing Championships]]) *[[Amateur wrestling|Freestyle wrestling]] (1930&ndash;1986, 1994, 2002,come back in 2010) *[[Judo]] (1990, 2002) (See also [[Commonwealth Judo Championships]]) *[[Sport rowing|Rowing]] (1930, 1938&ndash;1962, 1986) (maybe held in 2014) *[[Ten-pin bowling]] (1998) (see also [[Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships]]) ===Events which have not yet been held=== *[[Karate]] - see also [[Commonwealth Karate Championships]] *[[Tennis]] *[[Snooker]] *[[Yachting]] *[[Taekwondo]] - see also [[Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships]] *[[Water Polo]] *[[Lifesaving]] - see also [[Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships]] ==See also== {{commonscat|Commonwealth Games}} *[[Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships]] *[[Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championships]] *[[Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships]] *[[Commonwealth Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship]] *[[Commonwealth Rowing Championships]] *[[Commonwealth Rugby Sevens Championships]] *[[Commonwealth Sailing Championships]] *[[Commonwealth Shooting Championships]] *[[Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships]] *[[Commonwealth Water Polo Championships]] *[[Commonwealth Youth Games]] *[[Indian Empire Games]] *[[Jeux de la Francophonie]] *[[Lusophony Games]] ==External links== *[http://www.commonwealthgames.com/ Commonwealth Games Official website] *[http://www.commonwealthgames.org.au/Templates/Games_Results_StatisticsTable.htm Statistics by game from 1911 to 2006] *[http://www.breakingnewsblog.com/commonwealth-games/ Commonwealth Games Blog] *[http://www.commonwealthgamesflags.com/ Flags and emblems of the Commonwealth Games] - evolution of the emblems of the Games *[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/sportsf/stories/s614556.htm The Empire Strikes Back] - 2002 Australian radio programme (with transcript) on the history and future of the "friendly games". *[http://www.athletics.hitsites.de Track and Field Results Almanac] === Official games sites === *[http://www.glasgow2014.com/ Glasgow 2014 Official website] *[http://www.cwgdelhi2010.com/ Delhi 2010 Official website] *[http://www.commonwealth2010.in/ India & Commonwealth games 2010: Specific information] *[http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/ Melbourne 2006 Official website] *[http://213.131.178.162/home/ Manchester 2002 Official website] *[http://213.131.178.160/kl98/default.html/ Kuala Lumpur 1998 Official Website] === Countries === *[http://www.commonwealthgames.org.au Australian Commonwealth Games Association] *[http://www.cga.iofm.net/ Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man] *[http://www.cgaj.org Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey] *[http://www.cgce.co.uk Commonwealth Games Council for England] *[http://www.guernseycga.org.gg Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association] {{Commonwealth Games years}} {{Commonwealth Games Host Cities}} {{Commonwealth Games Associations at the Commonwealth Games}} [[Category:Recurring events established in 1930]] [[Category:Multi-sport events]] [[Category:Commonwealth of Nations]] [[Category:Commonwealth Games| ]] [[Category:Commonwealth Sport|Games]] [[ca:Jocs de la Commonwealth]] [[cy:Gemau'r Gymanwlad]] [[da:Commonwealth Games]] [[de:Commonwealth Games]] [[et:Rahvaste Ühenduse mängud]] [[es:Juegos de la Mancomunidad]] [[fr:Jeux du Commonwealth]] [[gl:Xogos da Commonwealth]] [[ko:영연방 경기대회]] [[hi:राष्ट्रमण्डल खेल]] [[hr:Igre Commonwealtha]] [[id:Commonwealth Games]] [[it:Giochi del Commonwealth]] [[hu:Nemzetközösségi Játékok]] [[ms:Sukan Komanwel]] [[nl:Gemenebestspelen]] [[ja:コモンウェルスゲームズ]] [[no:Samveldelekene]] [[pl:Igrzyska Wspólnoty Narodów]] [[pt:Jogos da Commonwealth]] [[ru:Игры Содружества]] [[simple:Commonwealth Games]] [[fi:Kansainyhteisön kisat]] [[sv:Samväldesspelen]] [[zh-yue:英聯邦運動會]] [[zh:英聯邦運動會]]