Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of frequently asked questions relating to the Commonwealth Games Federation.
If you do not find what you are looking for, please email your question to faq@thecgf.com.

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 2 billion people make up 30% of the world's population and are of many faiths, races, languages and cultures.

For more information on the Commonwealth please visit www.thecommonwealth.org

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
What are the Commonwealth Games?
The Commonwealth Games is a unique, friendly, world class, multi-sports Games, which is held once every four years.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
What is the Commonwealth Games Federation?
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games. The CGF is the supreme authority in all matters concerning the Commonwealth Games. In effect the CGF “owns” the Commonwealth Games in the same way as the International Olympic Committee “owns” the Olympic Games.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
How many Commonwealth countries can take part in the Games?
Although there are 53 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 England, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales all compete in the Games as separate nations.

For a full list of participating nations visit Regulation 5 of the CGF Constitution.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
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.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
When were the first Games held?
The first Commonwealth Games were held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1930.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
Where was the last Games held?
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were in Melbourne, Australia. The 2002 Games were in Manchester, England.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
Where will the next Games be?
The 2010 Games will be held in Delhi, India. The 2014 Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
How many times has the Commonwealth Games been held?
The 18th Commonwealth Games were held in the Australian city of Melbourne in 2006. The Indian city of Delhi will host the 19th edition of the Games in 2010.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
What sports are in the Commonwealth Games and are there separate events for elite athletes with a disability?
6 sports made up the Programme of the first Commonwealth Games in Hamilton 1930; Athletics, Aquatics
(Swimming & Diving) Boxing, Lawn Bowls, Rowing, and Wrestling.

Now each candidate city looking to host a Commonwealth Games must include a minimum of 10 core sports on their Programme. They can then include up to an additional 7 from a list of optional sports, with a maximum of 4 team sports on their Programme.

The CGF and International Paralympic Committee have also established a list of core Para-Sports for elite athletes with a disability. Cities must include events across 4 core Para-Sports. They can then include events from up to an additional 3 listed optional Para-Sports but not exceeding 15 events, which must be fully integrated into the overall Sports Programme.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
Are there team sports on the Commonwealth Games programme?
Yes. These were first introduced at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur where nations participated in cricket (50 over game), hockey (men and women), netball (women) and rugby 7's men).

In Manchester in 2002 hockey, netball and rugby 7's graced the programme again and at the 2006 Games in Melbourne basketball accompanied hockey, netball and rugby 7's on the programme. In Delhi in 2010 hockey, netball and rugby 7’s will again feature.

From the 2014 Games onwards hockey (men and women) netball (women) and rugby 7's (men) will be obligatory sports on the CGF sports programme.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
How are new sports and disciplines considered for inclusion of the sports programme?
Regulation 6 of the CGF’s Constitution outlines the factors and criteria that are considered before recommendations are made to the General Assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation where affiliated Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) decide if a new event or sport can be considered for the sports programme.

This process ensures that any sports and events within the Commonwealth Games maintain high standards of excellence and pan Commonwealth participation.

These factors and criteria include, but not limited to, participation levels within the Commonwealth, excellence, equity, marketability and expense.

To view Regulation 6 in its entirety click here to view the CGF Constitution.
Who can represent a country in the Commonwealth Games?
A competitor in the Commonwealth Games must be a citizen or subject of the country that enters him/her as defined in Article 24 of the CGF’s Constitution.

Where a competitor was born in a Commonwealth country that has common citizenship/passport with other Commonwealth countries, for example, the UK, the competitor may initially represent either the competitor’s Commonwealth country of birth or the Commonwealth country of birth of his/her father or mother that shares the same citizenship/passport.

To view Article 24 in its entirety click here to view the CGF Constitution.
How many people take part in the Commonwealth Games?
At the 2002 Games in Manchester 5717 athletes and team officials represented 72 nations and territories. This was the biggest sporting event ever staged in the United Kingdom with 17 sports on the programme. At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne 5766 athletes and team officials represented 71 participating nations and territories in 16 sports.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
Is there an Athlete's Oath?
An Oath is taken on behalf of all the competitors at the Opening Ceremony of each Games. The oath is: " We declare that we will take part in the Commonwealth Games of (year) in the spirit of true sportsmanship, recognising the rules which govern them and desirous of participating in them for the honour of our Commonwealth and for the glory of sport".

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
Is there an award for the most outstanding athlete at a Commonwealth Games?
The Commonwealth Games Federation established an award to honour the memory of the late David Dixon who served the CGF for 17 years in the capacity of Honorary Secretary. The award is presented to the outstanding athlete at a Commonwealth Games and is based on their performance, fair play and an overall contribution to their team’s participation in the Games.

The inaugural winner in 2002 was Natalie du Toit, an EAD athlete who took four swimming gold medals back home to South Africa. In 2006 the award was presented to Samaresh Jung, a shooter from India, who won two individual gold in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol and Men’s 50m Pistol, as well as three team gold, one team silver, and one individual bronze. He also set three new Games records.

Click here to search for all athletes that have competed in the Commonwealth Games from 1930 onwards.
Are there any cultural activities associated with the Commonwealth Games?
The CGF encourages each Organising Committee to organise a cultural programme of national and international items, to take place in the host city during the Games.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
What is the Queen's Baton Relay (QBR)?
The Queen is Head of the Commonwealth, and Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, the Queen's Baton Relay is one of the great traditions of the Commonwealth Games. It signifies a call to the Commonwealth athletes to come together to celebrate the Games. It also carries the Queen's message to be read at the opening of the Games.

For the first time in its history the Queen's Baton visited every Commonwealth nation prior to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. Click here to retrace the relay from Buckingham Palace to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
Does the Commonwealth Games Federation organise each Commonwealth Games?
No. The Federation entrusts the CGA of the Host Country with the organisation of the Games. The CGA establishes an Organising Committee, which has legal status and is responsible for organising and staging the Games.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
How is the Host City for the Games chosen?
The Commonwealth Games is awarded to a Commonwealth Games Association’s (CGA) candidate city by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) at its General Assembly. This city is chosen 7 years in advance of the eventual hosting with the host city of the 2018 Games being selected in 2011.

Click here for information relating to the bid and selection process for 2018.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation and the voting procedures at a General Assembly click here to view the CGF Constitution.
How are the Games funded?
Through the sale of international broadcasting rights; corporate sponsorship programmes; ticket sales; licensing and merchandising sales; and contributions from Central and Local Government.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
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.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
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.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
What are the core values of the Commonwealth Games movement?
The three core values of the Commonwealth Games movement are Humanity, Equality and Destiny. These core values were adopted by the Games movement back in 2001 at the time of a review of the CGF's business plan and brand identity.

These values help inspire and unite millions of people and symbolise the broad mandate of the CGF within the Commonwealth. For example through the Games we celebrate the spirit of humanity, we celebrate the triumph of equality among nations and people of the Commonwealth as every 4 years we come together to also celebrate the Commonwealth's shared values, traditions and language and for the competitors the Games represent the arc of destiny as the Games for them serve as a moment of truth, an opportunity to push the envelope of human performance to new heights on the field of play.

The CGF's brand identity symbolises these core values of the Commonwealth Games. Called "The Bar", the logo features a three-pointed structure that forms for want of a better term a stylized "W" beneath a horizontal bar, which in turn serves as the foundation for the both the CGF's and many of our member Commonwealth Games Associations emblems. The three points of the "W" stand for Humanity, Equality and Destiny. The CGF logo therefore strives to express the core values of the Commonwealth itself, which seeks to unify humanity, promote equality and give all athletes a chance to realise their destiny at the Commonwealth Games.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
Does the influence of the CGF extend beyond the Commonwealth Games?

Yes. The CGF also supports the Commonwealth Youth Games and Single Sport Commonwealth Championships. It also encourages and assists education through sports development and physical education throughout the Commonwealth.
Underlying every decision of the CGF are three core values - Humanity, Equality and Destiny. These values help to inspire and unite millions of people and they symbolise the broad mandate of the CGF within the Commonwealth.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
Where is the headquarters of the Commonwealth Games Federation?
The headquarters of the CGF is in London.
The address is:

2nd Floor
138 Piccadilly
London W1J 7NR
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7491 8801
Fax: +44 (0)20 7409 7803

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
Is there a Commonwealth Games for young people?
The first Commonwealth Youth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland in August 2000 where 733 Athletes from 14 countries competed in 8 sports over 3 days. The second edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games took place in Bendigo, Australia in December 2004. The 2008 Youth Games were held in the Indian city of Pune from 12 - 18 October 2008.

A decision was taken by the Commonwealth Games Federation at their General Assembly in 2005 to move the Youth Games outside of the Olympic Games year and in doing so awarded the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games to the Isle of Man. A decision was taken at the General Assembly in 2008 to award the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games to Samoa and also to subsequently adjust the quadrennial cycle, so that future events will take place in 2017, 2021 and so on.

All competitors in the Commonwealth Youth Games need to be a minimum of 14 and a maximum of 18 in the year of competition (i.e, their 18th birthday is during the calendar year in which the Games is held) and a maximum number of 1000 competitors are invited to participate from every Commonwealth Games Association.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
How did the Games in 2002 and 2006 impact on the cities of Manchester and Melbourne respectively?
For information relating to on the impact of the 2002 Commonwealth Games on Manchester including research material, images and a media library please visit www.gameslegacy.co.uk.

For the 2006 Games in Melbourne visit the Government of Victoria website http://www1.dvc.vic.gov.au/ocgc/news.htm to view all of the pre and post Games publications from the Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination (OCGC).

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.
Is it possible to obtain images, photographs and video footage from previous Commonwealth Games?
All of the Commonwealth Games moving footage is managed by the BBC with photographs or still images being managed by Getty Images. Their contact details can be found via the media library menu tab and in the links section.

For full details of the role of the Commonwealth Games Federation, click here to view the CGF Constitution.