Commonwealth Games

Sport is central to the "Commonwealth brand" - largely thanks to the prominence of the Commonwealth Games.

This unique celebration of Commonwealth excellence and diversity highlights the spirit of friendship that runs throughout the Commonwealth.

For more information on the history of the Commonwealth Games, visit the Commonwealth Games Federation website at http://www.thecgf.com/

The Commonwealth Games are held every four years.

The XX Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from 23 July to 3 August 2014. For more information on Glasgow 2014, visit the official Games website at http://www.glasgow2014.com/.

In 2010 the games were held from 3-14 October in New Delhi, India. For more information on Delhi 2010, visit the official Games website at http://www.cwgdelhi2010.org/

The XVIIIth Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Australia, from 15 to 26 March 2006. Around 4,500 athletes took part in the Games, which was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth. The dignitaries included Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Victorian Premier Steve Bracks and HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex.

The Melbourne Games were a wonderful showpiece of Commonwealth sporting excellence, delivered in a series of magnificent sporting arenas. More than two million spectators attended the Games and the television pictures were beamed to an estimated 1.5 billion people around the world.

The Commonwealth Secretariat played an important role at the Melbourne Games, in particular through the Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting.

The III Commonwealth Youth Games took place from 12-18 October 2008 in Pune, India. The Youth Games were established to provide a Commonwealth multi-sport event for young people. The inaugural youth games were held in Edinburgh in 2000.

For more information on the Commonwealth Youth Games Pune 2008, visit the official Games website at http://www.cygpune2008.com/