Articles : Commonwealth Games

The vision of Commonwealth Games is to promote a unique, friendly,world class games and to develop sports for the benefit of the people, the nation and the territories of the Commonwealth and thereby strengthen the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sporting event. They are held every four years except for 1942 and 1946, when World War II intervened. It involves the athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. Bobby Robbinson formed the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) in the year 1930. It is a union of around 70 countries lying in the major continents, organizes the Common Wealth Games: Asia, Africa, America, Europe, Caribbean and Oceania.

Asia - Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka.

Africa - Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia.

America -Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Falkland Islands, Guyana, St Helena.

Europe -England, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales.

Caribbean -Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Oceania -Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

The Games were started to promote and celebrate an atmosphere of unique, friendly, world class Games in these member countries and strengthen the harmonious mutual relations between them.

The three foundation principles of the Common Wealth Games Federation are:

* Humanity
* Equality
* Destiny

History

The Commonwealth Games was first proposed by Englishman, Astley Cooper in 1891. He introduced the concept of a sporting contest amongst the countries of the British Commonwealth combining sporting, military and literary events that would draw closer the ties and increase the goodwill and understanding of the Empire. He wrote an article in The Times newspaper suggesting a "Pan-Britannic-Pan-Anglican Contest and Festival every four years as a means of increasing the goodwill and good understanding of the British Empire". The Games were held in 1911 in London to celebrate the coronation of King George V and was known as the 'Festival of Empire'. The Games consisted of track and field athletics, boxing, wrestling and swimming events. The teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom competed in events .The trophy given to the winner was in the form of a silver cup. The winning country was Canada.

• From 1930 to 1950- the Games were known as the British Empire Games.
• Until 1962- the British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
• From 1966 to 1974- British Commonwealth Games.
• From 1978 onwards- Commonwealth Games.

Important Features

1. The first Commonwealth Games, known as the British Empire Games at the time, were held in Canada in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario. The first Games included 400 athletes from 11 countries. . Eleven nations with a total of 400 athletes participated in it.
2. A unique characteristic of the Commonwealth Games is being the only Games, which share a common language that is English. This has led to the Commonwealth Games being long known as the "Friendly Games".
3. There are currently 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and 71 teams participate in the Games.
4. The four constituent countries of the United Kingdom—England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland—send separate teams to the Commonwealth Games.
5. The Queen is the Head of the Commonwealth and patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation; the Queen’s Baton Relay is one of the great traditions of the Commonwealth Games. Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 member countries and is headed by Queen Elizabeth II.

Countries which have been the Host of Commonwealth games:

1. 1911 –London, England.
2. 1930-Hamilton, Canada.
3. 1934-London, England.
4. 1938-Sydney, Australia.
5. 1950-Auckland, New Zealand.
6. 1954-Vancouver, Canada.
7. 1958-Cardiff,Wales.
8. 1962-Perth,Australia.
9. 1966-Kingston,Jamaica.
10. 1970-Edinburgh,Scotland.
11. 1974-Chirstchurch,New Zealand.
12. 1978-Edmonton,Canada.
13. 1982-Brisbane,Australia.
14. 1986-Edinburgh,Scotland.
15. 1990-Auckland,New Zealand.
16. 1994-Victoria,Canada.
17. 1998-Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.
18. 2002-Manchester,England.
19. 2006-Melbourne,Australia.
20. 2010-Delhi,India.

2010 Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games in 2010 will be hosted in the city of New Delhi, India. This will be the first time India has hosted the Games and only the second time the event has been held in Asia (Kuala Lumpur in 1998).In Jamaica on November 13, 2003 Delhi received 46 votes compared with 22 for Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in a vote of the Commonwealth Games Federation. The proposed dates for the Games are 3 - 14 October 2010 inclusive of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Games Included

Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Net Ball, Shooting, Squash, Rugby 7”s Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Basketball, Triathlon.
TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS - Running, Jumping, Walking ,marathon ,Shot-put, Javelin, Hammer throw and Discus.
AQUATICS EVENTS - Diving, Swimming and Synchronized swimming.

Mascot of 2010 Commonwealth Games

The Tiger Cub is chosen as the mascot for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.