Commonwealth Games: The sports event has come a long way since its inception

Commonwealth Games: The sports event has come a long way since its inception

Updated on August 11, 2022 00:34 AM by Anna P

Commonwealth Games:

Today the Commonwealth Games came a long way. It has been acknowledged worldwide, and winning a medal in the Game is considered an iconic moment for the participants as their names go down into history.

This Game has brought name, fame, and acknowledgment to many athletes. They are known to gain recognition for their skills, brilliance, and hard work. However, there are certain facts which you might want to know regarding the prestigious Game other than the Olympics.

Let’s discuss the Commonwealth Games and learn something more about it.

Salute to the first Commonwealth:

Commonwealth Games go back to the 20th Century. The then-game authorities inaugurated the Commonwealth games in Canada in 1930.

However, acknowledgment of the athletes started in 1930. The sports event started way back in time, after World War I and just before World War II.

If you pick up the history, the name of the first set of participants must have been iconic. The first set of winners were also the ones whose names will always remain iconic as they were in their first year.

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A long way it has come:

You can conclude that The Commonwealth games have been around for a long time.

They started in 1930, their first ever games, and were held in Hamilton, Canada. Things were much different back then, much more simplistic and with some organic rules for the participants.

Previous British authorities never thought this Game would take the position after the majestic Olympics. However, they weren’t always known as the Commonwealth Games.

The naming of the sports event:

There was a time when Britain was the most powerful country in the world, and they made various colonies in other countries, giving them the maximum power to make new changes or even launch new ideas to encourage humanity.

So, the Commonwealth Games was the idea of the British monarchy. Back then first, it used to be known as the British Empire Games.

The Commonwealth Games haven’t always been known as this. The British Empire used to fund the games and decide the benchmarks for all the categories to be tested.

Even though it was known as the British Empire Games, participants from various countries used to light up the Game. So, slowly and steadily, the games started to cross the boundaries of the initial realm under the Empire of Britain.

In 1954 looking at the increase in the participants from around the world, they modified the name to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

Moreover, more and more territories were freeing them from the ruling of the British Empire.

Since Britain played an important role in funding the games even in 1954, they have a position and hold even the title of the Game. However, the participants from various countries increased the Game's cause and importance. Thus, it earned itself the word - Commonwealth.

Things kept changing, and various countries started participating in the Game. So, they changed the name to the British Commonwealth Games in 1970.

The ‘Empire’ word was removed in 1954, as it was just not the games of the British Empire; the funding was getting shared too.

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The formation of the Commonwealth

The popularity and development of the Game earned its place in the international world. The Game released itself from the name British as it was no longer centered around the Britains. People from various countries participated in the Game, taking the categories, respective sports, and medals seriously.

In 1978 they changed the name for the last and final time, which is what we know today - The Commonwealth Games.

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2022 Commonwealth Games

The present-day authorities have decided that the Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham in 2022.

However, this year the Commonwealth Games was iconic as loads of brilliant, hardworking, and talented participants participated in Birmingham.

The games happened between 28th July and 8th August 2022. They broadcast it all around the world, and various talented participants took part in the various categories. However, the categories have increased since its inception in 1930.

The games were held in the United Kingdom, including Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, and Manchester. Various spectators were present to celebrate this wonderful moment, especially after the tragic moments during the COVID pandemic.

The participants in Commonwealth Games

The most surprising part is that all people participating in the Commonwealth Games are amateurs; in a sense, all athletes participating in the various categories have to be amateurs.

Of course, the staff members helping keep the event going get their remuneration. Still, the participants are not paid as they get selected based on their talent and previous performance in each country.

So, when the Commonwealth Games are held, the participants who are not paid to participate have to earn their position through talent even to get the chance to perform in the Games in the first place.

The added advantage is that if they win the medals, the respect, dignity, appreciation, and honor are much higher than any cash could bring to these athletes. 

These athletes are all very good at their chosen sport, so participation turns out to be a huge honor.

The idea of the Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth was a group of countries that used to be a part of the British Empire. Over time, these countries released themselves from British rule and became independently participating in representing their flags.

Many countries that Britain once ruled are now participating with the British in the games.

Today the British Empire is no more, but the Commonwealth Games are still acknowledged internationally as a game that unites the world in terms of talent, hard work, and prosperity.

When these countries started to become independent, they still had a link to the United Kingdom.

The countries still wanted to remain friends, so this is how the Commonwealth started as a game event that brought all the countries to a common realm.

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The different categories of the sports

The categories of games include lots of different sports categories. Each classification has its own set of benchmarks and rules to follow.

So, during the Commonwealth Games, there are so many sports to choose from that participants can choose according to their skills and knack in the specific category.

The categories include aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, bowls, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, netball, squash, table tennis, triathlon, weightlifting, wrestling, and more categories that have been added over the years.

The Commonwealth Games comes back every four years, just like the Olympics.

So, the Commonwealth Games aren’t held yearly, so the countries come together every four years to celebrate their skills and talent.

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The only two times it didn’t happen

The Games happen every four years and have been like this since the 1930s.

However, the Commonwealth Games have only been paused twice in so many years.

Since it started in 1930, it fell in-between World War II. So, during the notorious World War ll, the games were canceled as the allies and axis were involved in saving themselves from the war.

The Commonwealth Games were canceled twice, once in 1942 and the second in 1946.

The damage which Nazis caused due to World War ll was enough for all the continents to put on hold the games and nurse themselves up from the after-effects of the wounds of the war.

The success of the Commonwealth Games has increased over the years. The World War didn’t stop the Games from good. It gave the countries more opportunities to come together to celebrate the unity of the countries and humanity as a whole.

The success of 2022 Commonwealth

Seventy-two countries and territories have competed in the 2022 Commonwealth games.

It is a proud moment for the world and the Commonwealth Games authorities that they have brought seventy-two countries and territories together to participate in the 2022 games.

This year, over six thousand athletes competed in various categories against each other. It is a proud moment for the winners and the participants who were able to represent their country.

The Commonwealth Games have grown over the years and have been through ups and downs but did not stop as it showed that unity in humanity wins in the end.

When it all started in 1930

When it started in 1930, it was just an enthused interest of the British empire to bring in all the countries that fell under their commonwealth realms. In the first Commonwealth games, only around four hundred athletes competed.

It was shocking that only eleven countries participated in the sports categories when the first ever Commonwealth games started in 1930.

It is expected that the number of categories was also less.

Those four hundred athletes marked the start of great encouraging sports, bringing many diverse talents together.

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