Commonwealth Sport, formerly known as the Commonwealth Games Federation, is the international organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, and is the governing body of the Commonwealth Games Associations (CGA). It is headquartered in London, England.

History Due to the success of the first 1930 British Empire Games in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, a meeting of representatives from Great Britain, its dominions, colonies and territories decided that the games, similar to the Olympic Games should be held every four years, and that an authoritative organisation should be formed. Following the 1932 Summer Olympics, it was decided to form the "British Empire Games Federation" who would be responsible for the organising of the games. The name of the federation was changed in 1952 to the "British Empire and Commonwealth Games Federation", and again in Jamaica in 1966 to the "British Commonwealth Games Federation", until eventually being changed again in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1974 to the "Commonwealth Games Federation". It would again be changed to simply "Commonwealth Sport" in 2025.

The youth version of the Commonwealth Games was launched in August 2000, which is known as the Commonwealth Youth Games. The inaugural edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games was first held in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Executive board

The following people are in the executive board: Designation Name Country Vice-Patron Prince Edward PresidentDonald RukareVice-Presidents Sandra Osborne Hugh Graham Regional Vice-Presidents Africa Botsang Tshenyego Americas Claire Carver-Dias Asia Chris ChanCaribbean Ephraim Penn Europe Helen Phillips Oceania Craig Phillips Athlete Representative Brendan Williams Audit & Risk Committee ChairMary HardyMedical AdvisorPeter HarcourtCEOKatie Sadleir The following people are the Honorary members of the CGF executive board: DesignationNameCountryHonorary Life PresidentsHon. Michael Fennell, OJ, CDHRH Tunku ImranDame Louise Martin, DBEHonorary Life Vice-PresidentsAlexander B. Chapman, HBMSharad RaoSir Austin Sealy, SCMDr. Manikavasagam JegathesanGideon SamBruce Robertson

Organisation

General Assembly The General Assembly is the ultimate governance and authority in Commonwealth Sport, with powers to vote on decisions, including on which cities and Commonwealth Games Association's will host the Commonwealth Games. It consists of 3 or more representatives of a Commonwealth Games Association of each member countries and territories, the Vice-Patron, Life Vice-Presidents and the members of the Executive Board.

Sessions of the General Assembly are chaired by the Commonwealth Sport President, with each CGA and the President having one vote. However the Vice-Patron, Life Vice-Presidents, the Executive Board, representatives of an Organising Committee (OC) of a Commonwealth Games and observers invited by the President may deliberate but do not have voting powers at the General Assembly.

Honours As well as awarding medals to athletes, Commonwealth Sport may award membership of the Order of Merit (Commonwealth Sport) for distinguished services rendered to the Commonwealth Games movement, including the games themselves, to the federation and to a Commonwealth Games Association. The honour is awarded on the recommendation of the Executive Board at the General Assembly.

On recommendation of the Executive Board, at General Assembly the federation may also elect Life Vice-Presidents, providing there are no more than six Life Vice-Presidents at a time as an award for services to Commonwealth Sport. Former Chairmen and presidents automatically become a Life Vice-President.

Leadership

The President of Commonwealth Sport is responsible for chairing the Executive Board and the General Assembly. A candidate is elected to the position by the General Assembly the year following the Commonwealth Games. Other duties include inviting the Head of the Commonwealth for the opening and closing declaration of the games and overseeing the preparations for upcoming events.

Previously before the XVI Commonwealth Games in 1998, the President was a ceremonial role, taking on the duties of the Vice-Patron. The late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh served as the president between 1955 and 1990. The chairman was elected by the General Assembly as head of Commonwealth Sport.

No. Name Origin Took office Left office Games 1 Sir James Leigh-Wood, KBE, CB, CMG 1930 1938 1930: I British Empire Games 1934: II British Empire Games 1938: III British Empire Games 2 Arthur Porritt, Baron Porritt, Bt., KCMG CBE 1950 1966 1950: IV British Empire Games 1954: V British Empire and Commonwealth Games 1958: VI British Empire and Commonwealth Games 1962: VII British Empire and Commonwealth Games 1966: VIII British Empire and Commonwealth Games 3 Sir Alexander Ross 1968 19821970: IX British Commonwealth Games 1974: X British Commonwealth Games 1978: XI Commonwealth Games 1982: XII Commonwealth Games 4 Peter Heatly, CBE, DL 1982 19901986: XIII Commonwealth Games 1990: XIV Commonwealth Games 5 Arnaldo de Oliveira Sales GBM, OBE, JP 1994 1997 1994: XV Commonwealth Games 6 Michael Fennell, OJ, CD 1997 2010 1998: XVI Commonwealth Games 2000: I Commonwealth Youth Games 2002: XVII Commonwealth Games 2004: II Commonwealth Youth Games 2006: XVIII Commonwealth Games 2008: III Commonwealth Youth Games 2010: XIX Commonwealth Games 7 Prince Tunku Imran of Negeri Sembilan 2010 2014 2011: IV Commonwealth Youth Games 2014: XX Commonwealth Games 8 Dame Louise Martin, DBE 2014 2023 2015: V Commonwealth Youth Games 2017: VI Commonwealth Youth Games 2018: XXI Commonwealth Games 2022: XXII Commonwealth Games 2023: VII Commonwealth Youth Games 9 Christopher Jenkins 2023 2025 None 10 Donald Rukare 2025 present 2026: XXIII Commonwealth Games 2027: VIII Commonwealth Youth Games 2030: XXIV Commonwealth Games

See also Global Association of International Sports Federations International Olympic Committee

References

External links