The Friendly Games

(What are the Commonwealth Games?)

1. The Commonwealth is a voluntary organisation of 54 independent countries who all share a common history as part of Britain’s imperial past. The countries are as diverse as Canada, New Zealand, Pakistan, Barbados, Sri Lanka and Zambia, and Queen Elizabeth is head of the organisation. Today the Commonwealth works to advance democracy, human rights and social and economic development, and organizes special programmes to help promote trade, science, health, young people and many other specific issues in its member countries.

2. The Olympic-style Commonwealth Games are held every four year in a different member country. Known as the Empire Games until 1930, the first event was held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930. There were only eleven participating countries and the sports included athletics, boxing, bowls, rowing, swimming and wrestling.

3. England has only hosted the Games twice: in London in 1934 and in Manchester in 2002. They have only been held twice outside of Canada, Britain or Australia – in Jamaica in 1966 and in Malaysia in 1998. The number of countries participating in the Games has slowly grown to over 70, and thousands of athletes now participate. Without competition from the USA and the major European countries, Australia, Canada and the British countries (which compete separately) usually win the most medals.

4. As happens for the Olympics, host countries usually build special new facilities for the Games. Manchester spent 20 years preparing for the 2002 Games and built a new 48000 – seat stadium which cost over £100 million. Luckily, the Games attracted around 1 million visitors to the city and were a financial success.

5. The Commonwealth Games have their own version of the Olympic torch ceremony. On Commonwealth Day (May, 11th) in a Games year the Queen hands a baton containing a message to an athlete. This is then passed in a relay style to other athletes. They run though different Commonwealth countries until they reach the host nation. The baton is opened and the Queen’s message is read out at the opening ceremony of the Games.