Sports Programme
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 4 core Para-Sports for elite athletes with a disability, which host cities must include. 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.
Regulation 6 of the CGF Constitution outlines the factors and criteria considered by the CGF’s Sports Committee and Executive Board for new sports in the Programme of the Commonwealth Games.
The sports listed here have all been included on the Programme of at least one Commonwealth Games and are either classed as core, optional or recognised. Recognised sports require further growth within the Commonwealth before they can be classed as an option for a candidate city to choose in the future. Other sports currently recognised by the CGF that have not yet been included on the Programme of a Commonwealth Games are; Billiards/Snooker, Canoeing, Golf, Handball, Life Saving, Softball, Yachting/Sailing, and Volleyball. Cricket appeared on the Programme in Kuala Lumpur 1998 but is not currently listed as recognised.
The Commonwealth Youth Games Programme must consist of a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 8 sports, with no more than 2 team sports, selected by the host city. Athletics and Swimming are compulsory and the other sports must be chosen from those classed as either core or optional by the CGF.
The next 2 editions of the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man 2011 and Samoa in 2015 will feature 7 sports.
Click on each sport to find out more and details of the International Federation.
