Commonwealth Sport

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Commonwealth Games Federation
PredecessorBritish Commonwealth Games Federation
Formation1932;93 years ago (1932)
as British Empire Games Federation
Type Sports federation
Headquarters London, England
Membership 72 member associations [1]
Official language
English [2]
Interim President
Flag of Uganda.svg Donald Rukare [3]
Vice Presidents
Flag of Barbados.svg Sandra Osborne [4]
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Hugh Graham [5]
Patron
King Charles III [6]
Vice-Patron
The Duke of Edinburgh [7]
Website www.thecgf.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
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

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). The headquarters of CGF are located in London, England. [8]

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". [9]

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: [10]

DesignationNameCountry
Vice-Patron Prince Edward Flag of England.svg  England
Interim President|President Donald Rukare Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Vice-PresidentsSandra OsborneFlag of Barbados.svg  Barbados
Hugh GrahamFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands
Regional Vice-PresidentsAfricaBotsang TshenyegoFlag of Botswana.svg  Botswana
Americas Claire Carver-Dias Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
AsiaChris ChanFlag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
CaribbeanEphraim PennFlag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands
EuropeHelen PhillipsFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Oceania Craig Phillips Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Athlete RepresentativeBrendan WilliamsFlag of Dominica.svg  Dominica
Audit & Risk Committee ChairMary HardyFlag of England.svg England
Medical AdvisorPeter HarcourtFlag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
CEO Katie Sadleir Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand

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
HRH Tunku Imran Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg  Malaysia
Dame Louise Martin, DBE Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Honorary Life Vice-PresidentsAlexander B. Chapman, HBMFlag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago
Sharad RaoFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Sir Austin Sealy, SCMFlag of Barbados.svg  Barbados
Dr. Manikavasagam Jegathesan Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg  Malaysia
Gideon SamFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Bruce Robertson Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada

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. [11]

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. [12]

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. [13] [14] The chairman was elected by the General Assembly as head of the Commonwealth Games Federation. [15]

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 (1959-1997).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
9Christopher JenkinsFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales 20232025
  • None
10TBATBATBATBA

See also

References

  1. "The Commonwealth Games Federation – About us". thecgf.com.
  2. "Byelaw 6 Official Language" (PDF). Constitutional Documents of the Commonwealth Games Federation. CGF. p. 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  3. "President Chris Jenkins steps down from role". commonwealthsport.com. Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  4. "CGF Executive Board | Commonwealth Games Federation". thecgf.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  5. "CGF Executive Board | Commonwealth Games Federation". thecgf.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  6. "The Commonwealth Games Federation | Commonwealth Games Federation". thecgf.com. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  7. "The Commonwealth Games Federation | Commonwealth Games Federation". thecgf.com. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  8. "The Commonwealth Games Federation". Commonwealth Sport. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  9. "Commonwealth Games Federation – The Story of The Commonwealth Games". thecgf.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  10. "Commonwealth Games Federation Executive Board". Commonwealth Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  11. "ORGANISATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS" (PDF). Constitutional Documents of the Commonwealth Games Federation. CGF. pp. 14–22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  12. "Patron, Vice Patron, Honorary Life Presidents, Honorary Life Vice Presidents, Honorary Life Members and Order of Merit" (PDF). Constitutional Documents of the Commonwealth Games Federation. CGF. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  13. Barker, Philip. "The Queen and the Commonwealth Games". CGF. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  14. "Sport". The Royal Family. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  15. "Commonwealth Games Federation – Heads". thecgf.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.