History of the Commonwealth Games

The first such event, then known as the British Empire Games, was held in 1930.

The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event held every four years involving the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. The first such event, then known as the British Empire Games, was held in 1930. The name changed to British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1954, to British Commonwealth Games in 1970 and assumed the current name of the Commonwealth Games in 1978.

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The initial concept of the Commonwealth Games can be credited to the Rev Astly Cooper of England, who in July 1891 in a magazine 'Greater Britain' and later, on 31st October 1891 in 'The Times' suggested a "Pan-Britannic-Pan Anglican Contest and Festival … every four years as a means of increasing the goodwill and good understanding of the Empire".

Although the first Games was not to take place for nearly forty years it is fitting to make reference to this chapter in it’s history.

Mr Richard Coombs, for thirty-five years President of the Amateur Athletic Union of Australia, later on, both before and after the “Festival of Empire” in 1911, continually drew attention to the value of an “Empire Sports” gathering.

Mention must also be made of the so-called “Inter-Empire Championships” which took place in 1911 as part of the “Festival of Empire” held in London to mark the coronation of King George V Teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom competed against each other in Athletics, Boxing, Swimming and Wrestling.

All such plans were overshadowed by the first world war. Nevertheless, in 1920 after the Olympic Games in Antwerp and those in 1924 in Paris, track and field events between British Empire and the USA were held at Queen’s Club and Stamford Bridge, in London.

It was not until the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam that the first practical steps were taken to organise the British Empire Games. It was Mr M. M. (Bobby) Robinson of Canada who called a meeting of representatives of all Empire countries, and made the proposal that the British Empire Games should be held in Canada in 1930. These Games in Hamilton, Canada, are regarded as the true starting point of the present series of Commonwealth Games.

The name, British Empire Games, was changed in 1950 to British Empire and Commonwealth Games. In 1966, it was again changed to British Commonwealth Games and on the 27th January 1974, a General Assembly decision, reflecting the growth in Commonwealth membership, changed the name to Commonwealth Games and the international body became The Commonwealth Games Federation.

The opening of the Games is symbolised by the raising of the Commonwealth Games Ceremonial Flag. The first ceremonial flag was presented by the British Empire Games Association of Canada after the first Games in Hamilton in 1930.

The new ceremonial flag was presented by the British Empire and Commonwealth Games Association of Canada for use at the Games in Vancouver in 1954. This incorporated the symbol of the Games on a white background.

With the change of name in 1966 to British Commonwealth Games the former flags were no longer appropriate. Subsequently the British Commonwealth Games Association of Canada presented a new flat bearing the symbol of the crown encircled by a continuous chain of 35 links representing the number of countries taking part, with the letters B.C.G., in gold on a solid dark blue field.

The ceremonial flags of the period 1954-1966 and from 1970 on, were presented to the Chairman of the British Commonwealth Games Federation by Colonel Jack Davies, President of the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada.

The ceremonial flag is hoisted at the Opening of the Games, and flies continuously night and day during the period of the Games until it is lowered at the Closing ceremony. It is then handed to the Chief Citizen of the Host City for safe-keeping until it is sent by him four years later to the Chief-Citizen of the next host city to stage the Games.

For the VI British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, 1958, Her Majesty The Queen handed over at Buckingham Palace, a specially designed baton, containing a message from herself to the carried by a series of runners to Cardiff, and to be handed over at the Opening Ceremony and there read to all those assembled in the stadium. Six hundred and sixty four runners carried the baton.

This relay, conveying The Queen’s message, is now an integral part of the Games.

On 20th July 1952, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games adopted a symbol for the Games, and requested all its affiliated Associations to ensure that it be used only in connection with the Games and not for commercial purposes.

The symbol consisted of a Crown with “B.E & C.G” below these being in gold and surrounded by a gold linked chain superimposed on a dark blue circular background, itself edged with gold. The working “B.E & C.G” now reads “C.G”. This symbol was first used in connection with the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Vancouver 1954.

The Earl of Lonsdale presented the Lonsdale Trophy for the winning team at the “Inter-Empire Sports Meeting” held at Crystal Palace, London and staged as part of the celebrations of the “Festival of Empire” in 1911. This trophy was won by the Canadian Team by one point, and was retained by Canada until presented to the British Empire Games Federation in 1934. The Cup stood 2ft 6ins high and weighed 340 ounces (27lbs troy).

In 1934, with the approval of the Earl of Lonsdale and of Canada, the Trophy was melted down and on principal cup, in the design of an original Queen Anne Cup and cover made by Richard Bayley in 1712, was presented to the Federation. It is now on display in the Royal Commonwealth Society in London. Replicas of this principal cup were presented to:-

Opening Ceremony Traditions

From 1930 through 1950, the parade of nations was led by a single flagbearer carrying the Union Jack, symbolising Britain's leading role in the British Empire.

Since 1958, there has been a relay of athletes carrying a baton from Buckingham Palace to the Opening Ceremony. This baton has within it the Queen's Message of Greeting to the athletes. The baton's final bearer is usually a famous sporting personage of the host nation.

All other nations march in English alphabetical order, except that the first nation marching in the Parade of Athletes is the host nation of the previous games, and the host nation of the current games marches last. In 2006 countries marched in alphabetical order in geographical regions.

Three national flags fly from the stadium on the poles that are used for medal ceremonies: Previous host nation, Current host nation, Next host nation.

Boycotts

The Commonwealth Games, like the Olympic Games, has also suffered from political boycotts. Nigeria boycotted the 1978 Games in protest of New Zealand's sporting contacts with apartheid-era South Africa, and 32 of 59 nations from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean boycotted the 1986 Games due to the Thatcher government's attitude to South African sporting contacts. Boycotts were also threatened in 1974, 1982, and 1990 because of South Africa.

List of Sports

The current regulations state that a minimum of ten and no more than fifteen sports must be included in a Commonwealth Games schedule. There is a list of core sports, which must be included, and a further list of approved sports from which the host nation chooses which to include.

The current core sports consist of Athletics, Aquatics (swimming, diving and synchronised swimming), Lawn Bowls, Netball (for women) and Rugby sevens (for men).

The approved list of sports also includes archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, canoeing, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, judo, rowing, shooting, squash, table tennis, tennis, tenpin bowling, triathlon, weightlifting, wrestling and sailing.