Commonwealth Games

international sports · Commonwealth nations · friendly competition

Quadrennial sporting spectacle. The Commonwealth Games happen every four years and bring together athletes from about 50 countries, mostly former territories of the British Empire, to compete in dozens of sports.

Started in 1930. The very first games were called the British Empire Games and took place in 1930, making them one of the oldest multi-sport events in the world after the Olympic Games.

The Friendly Games. The Commonwealth Games are also called the Friendly Games because they celebrate connection and camaraderie between nations rather than intense rivalry.

Names changed over time. As countries became independent and the British Empire changed, the games were renamed several times, from British Empire Games to Commonwealth Games by 1978, showing how the event grew and evolved.

Inspired similar events. The Commonwealth Games were so successful that other regions created their own versions, like the Jeux de la Francophonie for French-speaking countries and the Lusofonia Games for Portuguese-speaking countries.