HISTORY
Commonwealth Games History
The first Commonwealth Games was held in 1930 in Hamilton Ontario, Canada, eleven countries with 400 athletes in total participated in them. Since then, the Games have been conducted every four years except for 1942 and 1946, due to World War II.
From 1930 to 1950 the Games were known as the British Empire Games, then the British Empire and Commonwealth Games until 1962. From 1966 to 1974 they took on the title of British Commonwealth Games and from 1978 onwards they have been known as simply the Commonwealth Games.
While other Games around the globe have been founded on geographic or climatic factors such as the Asian, Pan Am, African Games and Winter Olympics, the Commonwealth Games has been founded on history. Unique characteristics of the Commonwealth Games include being the only Games which shares a common language. All athletes and officials can converse with each other in English, creating an atmosphere that has led to the Commonwealth Games being long known as the 'Friendly Games'.
The bonds of the Commonwealth Games help to encourage and support the pursuit of health and fitness in each of the 71 member countries and provide an inspiration for youth to strive for excellence.
Wales has competed in all 18 Commonwealth Games and in the most recent in Melbourne in 2006 won 19 medals.
In 2000 the first Youth Commonwealth Games was held in Edinburgh for athletes aged 18 or under. In 2008 Pune, India will host the third Youth Games.
The next Commonwealth Games will be held in Delhi in 2010.
