The Commonwealth Games date to 1930, though the idea for an athletic competition featuring nations of the British Empire can be traced to 1891. The Games have remained a quadrennial event, aside from the World War II years, and include sports from cricket, rugby and tenpin bowling to track and field, gymnastics and cycling.
English Roots
Though the first official Commonwealth Games weren't played until 1930, the genesis for the event can be traced back to Rev. Astly Cooper of England. In 1891, Cooper proposed in the magazine "Great Britain," a "Pan-Britannic Pan-Anglican Contest and Festival" to foster good will and understanding among the many disparate nations that composed the British Empire.
The First Games
Hamilton, Ontario, played host to the first Commonwealth Games in 1930. Eleven countries sent a total of 400 athletes to compete in 59 events spread across six major sports. The city of Hamilton helped defray the travel expenses for many of the nations and athletes. Held every four years, the event was called the British Empire Games through 1950.
Changes in the Games
From 1954 through 1966, the event was called the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Also in 1954, the number of nations participating doubled from 12 in 1950 to 24. In the 1958 Cardiff, Wales, Games, 35 countries sent 1,122 athletes. In 1970 and 1974, the event was called the British Commonwealth Games and continued to expand in the number of countries participating and the number of events. In 1974, 38 nations participated in 121 events.
The Name Sticks
The 1978 Edmonton, Alberta, Games were the first to use the title Commonwealth Games. Throughout the history of the Games, up through the 1994 event in Victoria, British Columbia, there were no team events. But in 1998, when the Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, team events such as hockey and rugby were added for the first time. By the early 21st century, the Games were regularly welcoming more than 70 countries and more than 3,000 athletes to compete in more than 200 events.
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