59 Fun Facts About Commonwealth Games

How often are the Commonwealth Games held?

They fall in the even year between Summer Olympics, which is why so many Olympic stars use them as a mid-cycle target.

When the event was first held in 1930, what was it called?

The name changed three more times before settling on its current form.

The Games have been officially known simply as the Commonwealth Games since which edition?

Between 1970 and 1974 they were the British Commonwealth Games, and before that the British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

What is the event's affectionate nickname?

Christchurch 1974 was the first edition to adopt the label officially, complete with a theme song called 'Join Together'.

Which Canadian city hosted the very first Games in 1930?

Eleven countries sent 400 athletes to compete in six sports; women were allowed only in the pool.

Which Hamilton Spectator journalist lobbied for and organised the first Games in 1930?

'Bobby' Robinson then managed the Canadian track and field team at the Games he had created.

Who won the first ever gold medal in the history of the Games, in 1930?

He won it a few hours after Governor General Lord Willingdon opened the Games at Hamilton's Civic Stadium.

The idea for the Games traces back to a 1911 Inter-Empire Championship held at which London landmark?

It was staged with the Festival of Empire to mark George V's coronation, and Canada won a 340-ounce silver cup.

How many national teams have competed at every single Commonwealth Games?

Only four of the six have won a gold medal at every Games.

The 1934 Games were moved to London after originally being awarded to which city?

Organisers feared prejudice against Asian and Black athletes in South Africa; London used Wembley Park with track cycling in Manchester.

The 1938 Games in Sydney were timed to coincide with what anniversary?

The opening ceremony drew 40,000 to the Sydney Cricket Ground, the first Games in the Southern Hemisphere.

Which city was due to host the cancelled 1942 Games?

After the twelve-year wartime gap the fourth Games went to Auckland in 1950, where nearly 250,000 spectators attended.

The 'Miracle Mile' at Vancouver 1954 saw which two runners both break four minutes in the same race?

It was the first Games event televised live around the world; Bannister took gold for England, Landy silver for Australia.

Which tradition was introduced at the Cardiff Games?

Cardiff had waited twelve extra years after the 1946 event was cancelled by the war, and remains the smallest country to host.

Where does the Baton Relay traditionally begin?

The monarch places a sealed message inside; the last runner returns it at the opening ceremony and the message is read aloud to open the Games.

For 2026 the traditional relay was renamed to honour whom?

Charles III became Head of the Commonwealth on his mother's death in September 2022.

Why were the 1966 Games in Kingston, Jamaica a landmark?

Thirty-four nations, including South Arabia, sent 1,316 athletes and officials to the Caribbean.

Edinburgh 1970 was the first Games to use what?

It was also the first time Elizabeth II attended as Head of the Commonwealth and the first Games in Scotland.

What prompted Christchurch 1974 to become the first multi-sport event to prioritise participant safety?

Security guards ringed the athletes' village and police presence was exceptionally high.

Nigeria boycotted the 1978 Edmonton Games over which country's sporting contacts with apartheid South Africa?

Uganda also stayed away, citing alleged Canadian hostility to Idi Amin's government.

How many nations boycotted the 1986 Edinburgh Games over Margaret Thatcher's stance on apartheid sport?

Only 26 nations attended, but the Games rebounded and grew steadily afterwards.

South Africa returned to the Games in 1994 in Canada. When had it last competed?

Namibia, newly independent from South Africa, made its debut at the same Games.

Kuala Lumpur 1998 was the first Games held in Asia and the first to include what?

Ten-pin bowling and squash also debuted, and Malaysia finished fourth on the medal table, its best ever showing.

Which tiny Pacific nation won three gold medals at Kuala Lumpur 1998?

Its weightlifters delivered; Cameroon, Mozambique, Kiribati and Tuvalu all debuted at the same Games.

Manchester 2002 was timed to coincide with which royal milestone?

It was the first English-hosted Games since 1934 and set a new legacy-focused benchmark for future bids.

Which five-time Olympic champion opened the 2002 Manchester ceremony by banging a giant drum?

The main venue later became Manchester City's home ground, replacing Maine Road.

What was the official mascot of the 2002 Manchester Games?

The Manchester Velodrome, built in 1994 for an Olympic bid, finally got its Games that year.

Which country was absent from Melbourne 2006 after quitting the Commonwealth following its 2002 suspension?

It was the only change from the 2002 line-up; the Baton also visited every participating nation for the first time, a 180,000 km trip.

Delhi 2010 was the first Games hosted by a Commonwealth republic. Roughly what did they cost?

They were the most expensive Games ever, dogged by criticism over slow preparations, security and hygiene.

Which venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies at Delhi 2010?

With a 60,000 capacity it was the largest venue; the ceremony was directed by Bharat Bala.

Which sprinting superstar set a Games record in the 4×100 m relay at Glasgow 2014?

It was his only Commonwealth Games appearance; England topped the medal table for the first time since 1986.

Which football ground hosted the opening ceremony of Glasgow 2014?

Hampden Park was converted into the athletics stadium for the Games.

What were the Glasgow 2014 volunteers nicknamed?

The name riffed on both the River Clyde and Clyde the thistle mascot.

Gold Coast 2018 was a first for major multi-sport competitions in what respect?

By Birmingham 2022 women's events actually outnumbered men's.

Which venue hosted athletics and both ceremonies at Gold Coast 2018?

The nearby Anna Meares Velodrome, built for the Games, was the first with full LED broadcast lighting.

Who read the Baton's message aloud to open the Gold Coast 2018 Games?

The baton had spent 100 days travelling around Australia after arriving in December 2017.

How many para athletes competed at Birmingham 2022, the largest para programme in Games history?

Eight parasports were included, and it was the first major multi-sport event with more women's events than men's.

Which city was stripped of the 2022 Games over financial problems, costing Africa its first ever hosting?

The Games have been awarded to Africa but never held there; Birmingham stepped in.

Which Australian state pulled out of hosting the 2026 Games in July 2023 over costs?

It was to have been the first decentralised Games with the state itself as 'host city'; Glasgow took over with a slimmed-down programme.

How many sports were staged at the scaled-down Glasgow 2026 Games?

They were spread across just four venues, with a promise that public money would not be needed.

Which city was awarded the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2025?

They are slated to be the XXIV Games, a hundred years after Hamilton 1930.

Which South African swimmer became the most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete with 21 medals?

He tied Ian Thorpe's record of seven medals at a single Games in 2014 and won the 200 m butterfly three times running.

Which of these Commonwealth-wide sports is a Games staple but not on the Olympic programme?

Netball and squash are the other two Commonwealth-specific favourites.

Which non-sovereign Commonwealth Games participants are also recognised by the IOC as independent NOCs?

The Home Nations, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories all compete separately at the Games but not the Olympics.

Which two countries debuted at the 1950 Auckland Games?

Twelve countries and 590 athletes took part after the twelve-year wartime gap.

Where were the 1962 Games held?

Rhodesia and Nyasaland competed as a single entity for the first and only time there.

Which country returned to the Games in 1990 after a twenty-year absence, having left the Commonwealth in 1972?

A record 55 nations came to Auckland that year.

Which four countries hosted the separate Commonwealth Paraplegic Games between 1962 and 1974?

They were always staged in the country hosting the main Games; disabled athletes have been full team members at the main event since 2002.

How many sports were contested at the first Games in Hamilton in 1930?

Athletics, boxing, bowls, rowing, aquatics and wrestling; women were allowed only in the pool.

At the 1930 Games, women were permitted to compete in which sport only?

It took decades for the women's programme to grow; by Birmingham 2022 women's events outnumbered men's.

Where were the first three editions of the Commonwealth Winter Games held, starting in 1958?

Founded by T.D. Richardson as a winter counterpart, the event was staged only four times and discontinued after 1970.

The first Commonwealth Youth Games were held in August 2000 in which city?

Athletes must be aged 14 to 18; the concept was agreed in 1998 for young people born in 1986 or later.

What honour, given at each closing ceremony, goes to one athlete for performance and team contribution?

Introduced at Manchester 2002, it honours the CGF's late honorary secretary; a panel from the six Commonwealth regions picks the winner.

Why is 'God Save the King' banned from medal ceremonies at the Commonwealth Games?

Because the UK's home nations compete separately and many territories share the anthem, alternative anthems are used instead.

Which English county's campaigners were refused a separate team for the 2006 Games?

The CGF ruled it was 'no more than an English county'; the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was rejected the same year for lack of recognition.

What nickname did Aboriginal activists give the 1982 Brisbane event during mass protests?

Queensland passed a special act to restrict protests near the event and hundreds were arrested; the name resurfaced in 2006 and 2018.

Which Northern Ireland competitor attended his 11th Commonwealth Games in 2018, a record?

Scottish bowler Willie Wood was first to reach seven Games, a mark equalled by Manx cyclist Andrew Roche in 2014.

Which Nauruan weightlifter won seven Commonwealth golds and later became his country's president?

His 12 medals from 1990 to 2002 lifted the smallest independent Commonwealth state to 22nd on the all-time table.

Which action-film star competed as a diver for England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games?

Australian singer Cody Simpson later won relay gold in the pool at Birmingham 2022.