What are the Commonwealth Games ?

hi

Commonwealth Games, also called (1930–54) British Empire Games, or (1954–66) British Empire and Commonwealth Games, or (1966–74) British Commonwealth Games, quadrennial sports competition embracing athletics (track and field), gymnastics, bowls, and swimming events for both men and women, and boxing, cycling, shooting, weight lifting, and wrestling for men only. Rowing, shooting, badminton, and fencing have also been included occasionally.

Participants must be amateurs and must be qualified by birth or residence in some member country (or a dependency of a member country) of the Commonwealth.

The Reverend Astley Cooper of Yorkshire, Eng., broached the idea of such games in 1891, and the inaugural British Empire Games were held at Hamilton, Ont., in 1930.

Eleven countries sent teams for a program of athletics, lawn bowls, boxing, rowing, swimming, and wrestling, and the English team emerged with the largest share of medals.

It was agreed that the games would be held in varying Commonwealth cities at four-year intervals, preferably midway between the Olympic Games.

The Commonwealth Games are an international multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and has taken place every four years since then.

The games have been held except in the years 1942 and 1946. Women were included from the outset, and women’s athletics events began to be included in 1934.

The Commonwealth is a collection of countries that are linked in some way to Great Britain, all apart from Mozambique.

The Commonwealth Games are an international multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and has taken place every four years since then

Almost one in every three people in the whole world live in the Commonwealth, and it is made up of people of all faiths, races, languages, cultures and traditions.

Over the years, the Empire has disappeared as countries have taken charge of themselves, and has reformed and changed to become the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Games take place every four years - and, this year, they will be happening on the Gold Coast in Australia.They will take place from 4 to 15 April 2018.

You might remember the last time the Commonwealth Games happened, as they were held in 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Queen is head of the Commonwealth - and this is the reason that she officially opens the Commonwealth Games at the Opening Ceremony.

The event was first held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930, when 11 countries sent a total of 400 athletes to take part.

Fast-forward to Glasgow 2014 and more than 4,500 athletes from 71 nations competed in 17 sports over 11 days. So you can see how much the games have grown since they started.

This is a tradition where a message from the Queen herself calling the Commonwealth's athletes to come together in peaceful and friendly competition is placed in a baton, which travels around all of the nations and territories of the Commonwealth ahead of the games.

The Commonwealth is a collection of countries that are linked in some way to Great Britain, all apart from Mozambique.

This Commonwealth Games will be the largest sporting event that Australia has hosted for a decade - and the largest one EVER to come to the Gold Coast - so it's going to be a very exciting spectacle.

Over the years, the Empire has disappeared as countries have taken charge of themselves, and has reformed and changed to become the Commonwealth.

The Gold Coast will create its own slice of history when it hosts the 21st Commonwealth Games.

All 53 members have signed up to a set of values including democracy, gender equality and international peace and security.

The Commonwealth Games have been conducted by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) every four years (except for 1942 and 1946 due to World War II) since the first British Empire Games were held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930.

The Queen is head of the Commonwealth - and this is the reason that she officially opens the Commonwealth Games at the Opening Ceremony.