FAQs

What are the Commonwealth Games?
The Commonwealth Games is a unique, friendly, world class, multi-sports Games, which is held once every four years.

What is the Commonwealth?
The Commonwealth is a unique family of developed and developing nations, a voluntary association of independent sovereign states spread over every continent and ocean. From Africa to Asia, from Pacific shores to the Caribbean, the Commonwealth's 1.7 billion people make up 30% of the world's population and are of many faiths, races, languages and cultures.

Who can take part?
The Commonwealth Games is open to eligible competitors of the Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) of all Commonwealth countries, colonies, and dependent or associated territories of a Commonwealth country.

How many Commonwealth countries can take part in the Games? Although there are 54 Commonwealth countries, there are 71 Commonwealth Games Associations that can enter a team in the Commonwealth Games. This is because some Commonwealth countries have more than one CGA. An example of this is the United Kingdom, which is a single Commonwealth country, but which has seven CGAs, as Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey, all compete in the Games as separate nations.

Where will the next games be held?
In 2006, the Games will be in Melbourne, Australia. The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be held in Delhi, India.

What sports are in the Commonwealth Games?
The Commonwealth Games consists of at least ten and no more that fifteen sports. From 2010 five are obligatory, Athletics, Race Swimming, Lawn Bowls, Rugby 7s (Men), and Netball (Women). The host country selects the rest of its Sports Programme from an approved list of Individual Sports. These are - Archery, Badminton, Billiards and Snooker, Bowls, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, EAD Events, Fencing, Gymnastics, Judo, Rowing, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis, Ten Pin Bowling, Triathlon, Weightlifting, Wrestling, and Sailing. The host country may also select one or more additional Team Sports.

Note: EAD Events = Elite Athletes with a Disability

Who can represent a country in the Commonwealth Games?
A competitor must be a citizen or subject of a Commonwealth country, and may represent either the Commonwealth country of birth or the Commonwealth country in which he or she is a citizen and has been resident for at least two of the three years prior to the Games. A competitor, who has already competed in a Commonwealth Games for one Commonwealth country, may represent another Commonwealth country at a future celebration of the Commonwealth Games with the approval of the Federation and the permission of the two CGAs concerned.

Is there a Commonwealth Games for Young People?
The first Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2000. 596 Athletes from 15 countries competed in 8 sports. The second edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games will be in Bendigo, Australia in December 2004.

All competitors in the Commonwealth Youth Games will be 18 years or less (i.e, their 18th birthday is during the calendar year in which the Games is held).

Who governs the Commonwealth Games Federation?
The governance of the CGF is through the General Assembly and the Executive Board of the Federation. Ultimate authority lies with the General Assembly of member countries and territories, which meets once per year. The Executive Board consists of the Officers of the CGF and a Regional Vice President from each of the CGF' six regions.

How are the members of the CGF's Executive Board appointed?
The process is open, transparent and democratic. The President, 2 Vice-Presidents, Hon Secretary, and Hon Treasurer are elected by the General Assembly from nominations drawn from member countries and territories. The Hon Legal Advisor, the Hon Medical Advisor, and the Athletes' Representative (all of whom are non-voting members of the Board), are also appointed by the Executive Board from nominations received from CGAs. The Regional Vice-Presidents are elected by the CGAs in their region. The Federation's Chief Executive Officer is also a non-voting member of the Board.