Commonwealth Games Federation

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Commonwealth Games Federation
PredecessorBritish Commonwealth Games Federation
Formation1932;91 years ago (1932)
as British Empire Games Federation
Type Sports federation
Headquarters London, England
Membership
72 member associations [1]
Official language
English [2]
President
Dame Louise Martin [3]
Vice Presidents
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bruce Robertson [4]
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Chris Jenkins [5]
Flag of New Zealand.svg Kereyn Smith [6]
Patron
King Charles III [7]
Vice-Patron
The Duke of Edinburgh [8]
Website commonwealthsport.com
Values:Humanity • Equality • Destiny
Flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation, 2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham Flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation.jpg
Flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation, 2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), currently known as Commonwealth Sport, 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). The headquarters of CGF are located in London, England. [9]

Contents

History

Due to the success of the first 1930 British Empire Games in Hamilton, 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". [10]

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.

CGF Executive Board

The following people are in the CGF executive board: [11]

DesignationNameCountry
Vice-Patron Prince Edward Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
President Dame Louise Martin Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Vice-PresidentsMr. Bruce Robertson Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Mr. Chris JenkinsFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Ms. Kereyn Smith Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Regional Vice-PresidentsAfricaMrs. Miriam MoyoFlag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
AmericasMs. Judy SimonsFlag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda
AsiaMr. Chris ChanFlag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
CaribbeanMrs. Fortuna BelroseFlag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia
EuropeMr. Harry MurphyFlag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar
OceaniaMr. Hugh GrahamFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands
Legal AdvisorMs. Sandra OsborneFlag of Barbados.svg  Barbados
Athlete RepresentativeMr. Brendan WilliamsFlag of Dominica.svg  Dominica
Audit & Risk Committee ChairMs. Mary HardyFlag of England.svg  England
Medical AdvisorDr. Peter HarcourtFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia

The following people are the Honorary members of the CGF executive board:

DesignationNameCountry
Honorary Life PresidentsHon. Michael Fennell, OJ, CD Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Sir Peter Heatly, CBE DL Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
HRH Tunku Imran Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia
Honorary Life Vice-PresidentsAlexander B. Chapman, HBMFlag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago
Sharad RaoFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
A de O. Sales, CBE JP Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
Sir Austin Sealy, SCMFlag of Barbados.svg  Barbados
Dr. Manikavasagam Jegathesan Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia
Gideon SamFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa

Organisation

CGF General Assembly

The General Assembly is the ultimate governance and authority in the CGF 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 CGF 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. [12]

Honours

As well as awarding medals to athletes, the Federation may award membership of the Order of Merit (Commonwealth Games Federation) 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 the CGF. Former Chairmen and presidents automatically become a Life Vice-President. [13]

Leadership

The President of the Commonwealth Games Federation 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. [14] [15] The chairman was elected by the General Assembly as head of the Commonwealth Games Federation. [16]

No.NameOriginTook officeLeft officeGames
1Sir James Leigh-Wood, KBE, CB, CMG Flag of England.svg  England 19301938
2 Arthur Porritt, Baron Porritt , Bt., KCMG CBE Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 19501966
3 Sir Alexander Ross Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 19681982
4 Peter Heatly , CBE, DL Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 19821990
5 Arnaldo de Oliveira Sales GBM, OBE, JP Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg  Hong Kong 19941997
6Michael Fennell, OJ, CD Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 19972010
7 Prince Tunku Imran of Negeri Sembilan Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 20102014
8 Dame Louise Martin , DBE Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 20142023
9Chris JenkinsFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 2023Present

See also

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References

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