Commonwealth Games Explanation

The Commonwealth games is an international, multi - sporting event,  held every four years, for athletes from the Commonwealth countries. These nations are the United Kingdom and states that were previously part of the British Empire. The first Commonwealth Games took place first in 1930 , Hamilton Canada. Many people from  different countries came and represented their country.

The XX (20th) Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow, Scotland. This years Commonwealth Games are between July 23 to August 3, 2014. 6,500 athletes from 71 countries will compete in 17 sports over 11 days.It will be the third time the Commonwealth Games have been held in Scotland, previous events were held in Edinburgh in 1970 and 1986. 

Bobby Robinson, a major influence within athletics in Canada at the time, finally implemented the event that had been talked about amongst Commonwealth nations for over thirty years with the City of Hamilton providing $30,000 to help cover travelling costs of the participating nations. Since then, the Games have been conducted every four years (except for 1942 and 1946 due to World War II) and the event has seen many changes, not least in its name.

From 1930 to 1950 the Games were known as the British Empire Games, from 1954 until 1966 the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and from 1970 to 1974 they took on the title of British Commonwealth Games.  It was the 1978 games in Edmonton that saw this unique, world class, multi-sports event change its name to the Commonwealth Games.

To host the Commonwealth Games you need to make a bid to the Commonwealth Games Federation. The higher the bid the more likely you are to host the next Commonwealth Games.

There are 17 sports in Commonwealth Games they are athletics, table tennis, cycling mountain bike, triathlon, squash , cycling road , artistic gymnastics , netball, rugby sevens , shooting , badminton , power-lifting ,  diving , cycling track , lawn bowls , hockey , wrestling ,  judo , boxing , swimming , rhythmic gymnastics and weightlifting.

The Commonwealth Games are one of the most popular games in the world.