Below is a list of frequently asked questions relating to the Commonwealth Games Federation.

 

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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 Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey, all compete in the Games as separate nations.
  
• What are the Commonwealth Games?
  The Commonwealth Games is a unique, friendly, world class, multi-sports Games, which is held once every four years.

• Does the Commonwealth Games Federation Organize 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.

• When was the first Games held?
  The first Commonwealth Games was held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1930.
  
• How many times has the Commonwealth Games been held?
  The 2002 Commonwealth Games was the 17th occasion on which the Games have been celebrated.
  
• Where was the last Games held?
  The 2006 Commonwealth Games were in Melbourne, Australia. The 2002 Games were in Manchester, England.

• Where will the next Games be?
  In 2010, the Games will be in Delhi, India.
  A decision on who hosts the 2014 Games will be taken in November 2007.

• How is the Host City for the Games chosen?
  The Commonwealth Games is awarded by the CGF to a country through its CGA, which will nominate the city to host it. The next country to host the Games is chosen by the CGF in General Assembly 7 years in advance. The CGF publishes a Bid Document with an associated questionnaire, which is circulated to CGAs. The Constitution of the CGF, which, you can view on this site, specifies the process for dealing with bids and choosing the Host CGA.

• What sports are in the Commonwealth Games?
  The Commonwealth Games sports programme consists of a minimum of ten sports, five of which are obligatory - athletics, aquatics - race swimming, lawn bowls, rugby 7s (Men), and netball (women).
  The host country selects other sports from an approved list of individual sports which are archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, canoeing, cycling, diving (as part of aquatics), fencing, gymnastics, judo, rowing, shooting, squash, synchronised swimming (as part of aquatics), table tennis, tennis, ten pin bowling, triathlon, weightlifting, wrestling and sailing. Additional team sports can be added subject to the approval of the CGF through the General Assembly.The host country may, in addition, be required to include events for athletes with a disability (EAD) if the CGF in the General Assembly so decide.
  Note - For the first time in the Games history in Manchester in 2002, indeed at any multi-sport event in the world, a limited number of full medal events for elite athletes with a disability (EAD) were included in a fully inclusive sports programme. The sports which included EAD events were Athletics, Lawn Bowls, Swimming, Table Tennis and Weightlifting.

• 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 4. Where a competitor was born in a Commonwealth country that has common citizenship/passport with other Commonwealth countries the competitor may initially represent either the Commonwealth country of birth; or the Commonwealth country of birth of his or her father or mother that shares such citizenship/passport.
  A competitor who is a citizen or subject of two or more countries at the same time may represent either one of them, as he/she may elect. However after having represented one country at the Commonwealth Games, he or she may not represent another country unless the provisions of and approvals required under clause 4 below have been met.
  A competitor who has already competed in the Commonwealth Games for one Commonwealth country may represent another Commonwealth country at a future celebration of the Commonwealth Games with the approval from the Federation and the permission of the CGAs of the two countries concerned, and of the International Federation.
  
  
  
• How many people take part in the Commonwealth Games?
  Almost 6000 athletes and officials representing 72 countries and territories took part in the 2002 Games in Manchester. This was the biggest sporting event ever staged in the United Kingdom.

• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.



• 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

• 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.

• 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 took place in Bendigo, Australia in December 2004 .
  The next Youth Games will be held in Delhi, India from 1 - 7 October 2008. All competitors in the Commonwealth Youth Games need to be 18 years or less (i.e, their 18th birthday is during the calendar year in which the Games is held). A maximum of 1000 competitors can take part.

• Is there an Athlete's Oath?
  An Oath is taken on behalf of all the competitors at the Opening Ceremony of each Game. 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".

• 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.

• 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.