Commonwealth Games (CWG)

News: Ahmedabad has been recommended as host for the centenary 2030 Commonwealth Games, with formal approval expected at the Glasgow General Assembly in November 2025.

About Commonwealth Games (CWG)

• The Commonwealth Games is a unique, world class, multi-sports event which is held once every four years.
• It is often referred to as the ‘Friendly Games’.
• Headquarters: It’s headquartered is in London, United Kingdom.
• History
  • The first Games were held in 1930 at Hamilton, Canada.
  • Origin name: British Empire Games (1930).
  • It was the brainchild of Canadian sportswriter and editor Melville Marks Robinson, who came up with the idea of hosting the event after attending the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928.
  • Later names: British Empire and Commonwealth Games (1954), British Commonwealth Games (1970), and Commonwealth Games (from 1978).
  • To date, nine different countries – Australia, Canada, England, Wales, Scotland, Jamaica, India, New Zealand and Malaysia – have hosted the CWG.
  • Australia and Canada have hosted the most number of Commonwealth Games – five editions each.
  • The prestigious David Dixon Award ( first given in 2002) is given to the standout athlete at each Commonwealth Games. (Indian shooter Samaresh Jung won the David Dixon Award in 2006)
  • Each Commonwealth Games spans eleven days and is hosted by a member nation that bids to host the event eight years in advance.
  • The host location changes for each Commonwealth Games.
  • Para-sports : A unique feature is the integration of para-sports events (fully included since 2002) within the main programme, reflecting inclusivity.
• Organised by: The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)—branded as Commonwealth Sport—is the organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games.
• 2026 Edition: Scotland will host the 2026 edition in Glasgow.

India and CWG

• India first participated in 1934, won its first CWG medal through wrestler Rashid Anwar (bronze), and claimed its first CWG gold when Milkha Singh triumphed in 1958.
• India has hosted the CWG once, at New Delhi in 2010, delivering its best-ever showing with 101 medals, including 38 golds, to finish second overall.
• At Birmingham 2022, India finished fourth with 61 medals, including 22 gold.
• Cumulatively, India has won 564 medals (203 gold, 190 silver, 171 bronze) at the CWG since its debut.

About CWG 2030

• The Commonwealth Sport Executive Board has recommended Ahmedabad as the proposed host for the centenary 2030 Commonwealth Games.
• Venue: Planned venues include the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave (with Narendra Modi Stadium) and the Naranpura Sports Complex.
• This move is widely viewed as a boost to India’s 2036 Olympic ambitions.

Recent and upcoming CWG