The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event that is held every four years. The event is often referred to as the "Friendly Games" because it brings together athletes from countries that were formerly part of the British Empire. The first Commonwealth Games was held in 1930 and has since grown to become one of the world's largest international sports events. The number of sports included in the Commonwealth Games has changed over the years. In this article, we will take a look at how many sports are currently in the Commonwealth Games and what they are.
A Brief History of the Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games was first held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930. The event was originally known as the British Empire Games, and only included 11 sports. The sports included athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming, and diving, among others. The event was held every four years, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, when it was cancelled due to World War II.
In 1954, the Games were renamed the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, to reflect the changing nature of the British Empire. In 1970, the event was again renamed the British Commonwealth Games, and in 1978, it was simply known as the Commonwealth Games.
How Many Sports are in the Commonwealth Games?
The number of sports included in the Commonwealth Games has changed over the years. In the most recent Games held in Gold Coast, Australia, in 2018, there were 18 sports included. These sports were:
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Cycling
- Diving
- Gymnastics
- Hockey
- Lawn Bowls
- Netball
- Rugby Sevens
- Shooting
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Triathlon
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
Each sport has its own set of events, such as swimming relays or weightlifting competitions. The number of events in each sport varies, with some sports having more events than others.
How are the Sports Chosen?
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is responsible for selecting the sports that will be included in the Games. The CGF considers a number of factors when selecting sports, including the popularity of the sport in Commonwealth countries, the level of competition in the sport, and the cost of hosting the sport. The CGF also takes into account the number of athletes and countries that participate in each sport.
While some sports, such as athletics and swimming, are included in every Commonwealth Games, other sports are rotated in and out. For example, basketball was not included in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, but was included in the 2018 Games.
Conclusion
The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event that brings together athletes from countries that were formerly part of the British Empire. The number of sports included in the Games has changed over the years, but in the most recent Games, held in Gold Coast, Australia, there were 18 sports included. The Commonwealth Games Federation is responsible for selecting the sports that will be included in the Games, taking into account factors such as popularity, level of competition, and cost.
