The Commonwealth Games is a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations, which mostly consists of territories of the former British Empire. The event was first held in 1930 and, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, has successively run every four years since. The event was called the British Empire Games from 1930 to 1950, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1954 to 1966, and British Commonwealth Games from 1970 to 1974. Athletes with a disability are included as full members of their national teams since 2002, making the Commonwealth Games the first fully inclusive international multi-sport event. In 2018, the Games became the first global multi-sport event to feature an equal number of men's and women's medal events, and four years later they became the first global multi-sport event to have more events for women than men.
Tania (Tanya) Roxanne Moss is a New Zealand former gymnast who competed in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She performed in rhythmic gymnastics. She is a multi-time New Zealand and Australasian Champion. In 1983 she was ranked #2 in the Commonwealth. She also won the New Zealand Gymnast of the year 6 times. On her retirement from competitive gymnastics she went on to coach one of the top clubs in the country and had many national champions and national representatives from her club, Xtreme Rhythmix. Tanya travelled extensively for New Zealand either as a coach or judge for various national teams.
The Queen's Baton Relay is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently King Charles III. The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London as a part of the city's Commonwealth Day festivities. The King entrusts the baton to the first relay runner. At the Opening Ceremony of the Games, the final relay runner hands the torch back to the King or his representative, who reads the message aloud to officially open the Games. The Queen's Baton Relay is similar to the Olympic Torch Relay. As a result of Queen Elizabeth II's death on 8 September 2022, the Baton Relay could be renamed after her successor, King Charles III, for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Kyle Marshall Pontifex is a New Zealand professional field hockey player. He plays as a goalkeeper. He earned his first cap for the New Zealand national team, nicknamed The Black Sticks, in 2001 against Malaysia.
Liam Justin Messam is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays TOP14 for RC Toulonnais. In Super Rugby, he previously played for the Chiefs, and for Waikato in the ITM Cup. Messam predominantly plays as a blindside flanker but can fill in at Number 8 as well as openside flanker. After the retirement of then Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina, Messam was named the team's new co-captain from 2012 onwards, alongside Aaron Cruden.
The 2015 Pacific Games, also known as Port Moresby 2015 or POM 2015, was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, from 4 to 18 July 2015. It was the fifteenth staging of the Pacific Games as well as the third to be hosted in Port Moresby.
Joelle King is a New Zealand professional squash player. She reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 4 in April 2014.
Joseph Dennis Parker, OM is a New Zealand professional boxer. He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title from 2016 to 2018. At regional level, he has held multiple heavyweight championships, including the WBO Oriental, Africa, and Oceania titles; as well as the PABA, OPBF, and New Zealand titles. As an amateur, he represented New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the super-heavyweight division, and narrowly missed qualification for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
David Kieran Nyika is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he won a gold medal at both the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as competing at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships. Nyika and Sarah Hirini were the New Zealand flag bearers at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Nyika gained significant media attention after an incident during the Round of 16 at the 2020 Summer Olympics in which Moroccan boxer Youness Baalla attempted to bite Nyika's ear.
David Light is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he competed in the men's heavyweight division at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where he won the silver medal against Canada's Samir El-Mais. Professionally, Light is a former WBO World Crusierweight title contender, where he fought Lawrence Okolie in March 2023.
Kelsey May Cottrell is an Australian international lawn bowler.
Reece Papuni is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he reached the quarterfinals of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Uaine Fa Junior is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur he represented Tonga at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in the super-heavyweight division; he also represented Tonga at the Oceania Championships, winning gold and multiple silver medals. His knockout-to-win percentage stands at 53%.
Shakira Baker is a New Zealand rugby union player. She has represented New Zealand in both the fifteens and sevens rugby.
Rusila Nagasau is a Fijian rugby union player. She plays rugby sevens for Fiji and was also a representative soccer player. She was included in the squad for the 2016 France Women's Sevens.
Ting Chen also known as Kyle Chen, is an amateur boxer residing from New Zealand. Chen has competed in New Zealand, Taiwan, Australia, Junior World Championship in Russia and Commonwealth Youth Games in Bahamas. Chen's most notable title is winning a bronze medal at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Patrick Pakuliki Mailata is a Samoan born, New Zealand raised professional boxer. As an amateur, he won three New Zealand national elite championships from 2012 to 2014 and a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Shadir Musa Bwogi is a Ugandan boxer and current captain of the Bombers, Uganda's national boxing team. He competes in the welterweight division and is a southpaw. He competed in the men's welterweight event at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Ainsley Thorpe is a New Zealand professional triathlete.
Bowyn Morgan is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur he competed in the men's welterweight division at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where he would reach the quarter-finals before losing to Scott Fitzgerald, who went on to claim the gold medal.
