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The Commonwealth Games is a
multinational and multi-sport event. Held every four
years, it involves the elite athletes of the
Commonwealth of Nations. Attendance at the Commonwealth
Games is typically around 5,000 or more athletes. The
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organisation
that is responsible for the direction and control of the
Commonwealth Games held.
The first such event, then known as the British Empire
Games, was held in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
The name changed to British Empire and Commonwealth
Games in 1954, to British Commonwealth Games in 1970 and
assumed the current name of the Commonwealth Games in
1974.
As well as many Olympic sports, the Games also include
some sports that are played mainly in Commonwealth
countries, such as lawn bowls, rugby sevens and netball
etc...
There are currently 53 members of the Commonwealth of
Nations, and 71 teams participate in the Games. The four
constituent countries of the United Kingdom—England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland—send separate teams
to the Commonwealth Games, and individual teams are also
sent from the British Crown dependencies—Guernsey,
Jersey and the Isle of Man—and many of the British
overseas territories. The Australian external territory
of Norfolk Island also sends its own team, as do the
Cook Islands and Niue, two non-sovereign states in free
association with New Zealand.
Only six teams have attended every Commonwealth Games:
Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland and
Wales. Australia has been the highest scoring team for
ten games, England for seven and Canada for one.
At the 1930 games, women competed in Swimming and Diving
only. In 1934 women competed in some Athletics events
also. |
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