The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games or simply the Comm Games, and colloquially referred to as the Coms or Commies are a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, have successively run every four years since. The Games were 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 are the first global multi-sport event to have more events for women than men.
Eritrea made its debut at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney where it sent three athletes to compete in track and field events. At the 2004 Games in Athens, Zersenay Tadese won Eritrea's first ever medal when he finished third in the men's 10000 meters.
South Africa sent a delegation to compete at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, United States from 8–24 February 2002. This was South Africa's fourth time appearing at a Winter Olympic Games. The nation's delegation consisted of a single alpine skier, Alexander Heath. In his best performance, he finished 27th in the men's slalom.
Senegal competed in the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. The country's participation at the Games marked its Winter Olympics debut, although it had competed in the Summer Olympics since 1964. The delegation consisted of a single alpine skier, Lamine Guèye, who did not win any medals. This was the first time a black African competed at the Winter Olympics, and Guèye would later return to the Winter Games twice more in 1992 and 1994.
Due to the political status of Taiwan, the Republic of China (ROC) competed as Chinese Taipei (中華台北) at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. The International Olympic Committee mandates that the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee flag is used, and not the flag of the Republic of China.
Cameroon first participated at the Olympic Games in 1964, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then. The nation withdrew from the 1976 Summer Olympics after three days of competition, to join the broad African boycott in response to the participation of New Zealand, who still had sporting links with apartheid South Africa. Cameroon has also participated in the Winter Olympic Games on one occasion, in 2002, with a single representative, Isaac Menyoli.
The Central African Republic has sent athletes to every Summer Olympic Games held between 1984 and 2020, as well as its first appearance in 1968. The country, however, has yet to win an Olympic medal. No athletes from the Central African Republic have competed in any Winter Olympic Games.
The Republic of Korea first participated at the Olympic Games in 1948, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, except for 1980 which they boycotted. South Korea has also participated in every Winter Olympic Games since 1948, except for the 1952 games.
South Africa first participated at the Olympic Games in 1904, and sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games until 1960. After the passage of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1761 in 1962 in response to South Africa's policy of apartheid, the nation was barred from the Games.
Iraq first participated at the Olympic Games in 1948. Iraqis missed the 1952 and boycotted the 1956 games over opposition to the Suez Crisis. Following this absence, Iraq returned to win a Bronze medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. They participated in the next three games but once again did not appear in the 1972 and 1976 games to boycott apartheid South Africa. In joining the 1976 Boycott, Iraq became only the second non-African state to participate in the boycott. Since 1980, Iraq has appeared in every game despite the Iraq Wars. On April 9, 2003, the National Olympic Committee of Iraq building in Baghdad was damaged in looting and fires from looters. Iraq's Olympic program recovered in time to compete in the Athens Olympics the following year, and the Iraq football team almost won a bronze medal but were defeated by Italy in the bronze medal match. Iraq has never competed at the Winter Olympic Games.
Kyrgyzstan has appeared in seven Summer Games and seven Winter Games as an independent state and has won 7 medals. It was previously represented by the Soviet Union team. In 1992, Kyrgyzstan competed as a part of the Unified Team, following the break up of the Soviet Union. Kyrgyzstan made its first appearance as an independent nation in the 1994 Winter Olympics and the 1996 Summer Olympics.
The Republic of the Congo, competing as Congo, first participated at the Olympic Games in 1964, and has sent athletes to compete in most Summer Olympic Games since then. Congo missed the 1968 Games and boycotted the 1976 Games along with most other African nations. Congo has never participated in the Winter Olympic Games.
Lesotho first participated at the Olympic Games in 1972 and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, except when they boycotted the 1976 Summer Olympics along with most other African nations. Lesotho has never participated in the Winter Olympic Games.
Sudan first participated at the Olympic Games in 1960, and has sent athletes to compete in most Summer Olympic Games since then. The nation did not attend the 1964 Games, boycotted the 1976 Summer Olympics along with most African nations, and participated in the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics. The nation has never participated in the Winter Olympic Games.
South Africa sent a delegation to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 12–28 February 2010. The South African team consisted of two athletes in two sports: alpine skier Peter Scott and cross-country skier Oliver Kraas. Neither of the South African athletes won a medal.
Christopher John Nicholson is a New Zealand sportsman who has represented the country at both the Winter Olympics as a short track speed skater and at the Summer Olympics as a cyclist. He competed at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, and the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer. The only other New Zealander to compete at both the Summer and Winter Olympics is Madonna Harris.
South Africa competed at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. The South African team was made up of one athlete and two officials. Chantelle Jardim was the Chef De Mission of the team.
South Africa competed at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain. 10 competitors from South Africa won 8 medals, including 4 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze and finished 27th in the medal table.
Ghana competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. The 2022 Winter Olympics were held from 4 to 20 February 2022.
