Sports & Wellness
The Commonwealth Games for Newbies
If you are new to the Commonwealth Games, in our guide you will find just what you need to know about this grand sporting event.
Did you know that the Commonwealth Games
occurred for the first time in 1930? This was back when these
games were called the British Empire Games. Since then, the Commonwealth
Games have been held in a variety of Commonwealth cities.
What are the Commonwealth Games and what
do they stand for? In this Sport Session guide,
we’ll review everything you need to know about this grand sporting event. Maybe, you will find an
aspiration to pick up some new sporting activity?
What are the Commonwealth Games?
The Commonwealth
Games is an international multi-sport event. Its participants are only the
countries of the Commonwealth.
The Games take
their roots from the British Empire Games, which were held between 1930 and
1950. Later as more and more colonies were gaining their independence, the
sporting event between Great Britain and its former colonies received a name
the Commonwealth Games in 1974.
Today the Games is
a festival of sport, multiple cultures and friendship between countries. Because these games
began as a way for British Empire members to play together, they now include
independent and sovereign states that once were part of the British Empire. This makes these games international while bringing
together people who have a shared history.
There are 54 members of the Commonwealth, who can take part in the
games, sending not one but several teams. Great Britain, for example, can send
teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This way a team can
represent not a country but a separate nation. What other international sports
event allows that?
What sports are
played in the Commonwealth Games?
The program of the
Commonwealth Games has changed over the years as more sports were introduced.
The decision-makers each time are the Commonwealth Games Federation, also known
as CGF, and the host city. While the CGF approves the sports allowed to occur
in the Games, the host city forms a final list of sports.
As for 2022, there
are 20 core sports presented in the Games including 16 traditional sports
(swimming, athletics, road cycling, lawn bowls, table tennis, triathlon,
freestyle wrestling, badminton, boxing, field hockey, judo, netball, rugby
sevens, squash and weightlifting) and 4 parasports (swimming, athletics, lawn
bowls and powerlifting).
The host city can
also choose optional sports from a list that now includes diving, archery,
basketball, mountain biking, cricket, table tennis (para), beach volleyball, clay
target etc. As you can see, there are plenty of sports for sports lovers to
observe.
The
Values of the Commonwealth Games
The values of the Commonwealth Games are
timeless and reflected in many ways. They use the games to make the world a better place. It is not only about sport
but about human relationships in the modern world.
An
Equal Voice
Despite the fact
that the countries participating in the Commonwealth Games have different territories,
wealth and political power, here they all
have an equal voice. They are Commonwealth citizens at the game, even if the
countries are no longer part of the British Empire.
This means that Nauru’s voice is just as
important as India’s or England’s.
Para Athlete Exposure
When it comes to the inclusion of para athletes, the Commonwealth Games have been ahead of the planet
introducing the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in 1962 and including para sports
in the Commonwealth Games in 1994.
Nowadays, para sportsmen
are presented in this sports event as full members of their national teams and
their results are included in the medal count.
Training before the Olympics
The Commonwealth
Games may become the first step toward major international competitions for
young sportsmen. Many athletes, who compete in the Commonwealth Games, then go on to compete in the Olympic Games. In fact, 53% of the Canadian athletes, who competed as part of
the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 competed
in the Olympic Games in 2016.
Additionally, the results of the
Commonwealth Games often predict the results of the Olympics. In the same 2014 Olympic Games, 14 of the 22 were won by athletes who
had competed at these same Commonwealth Games. Bear it in mind if you are
going to place some bets.
The Commonwealth
Games in 2022
In 2022 the
Commonwealth games will be held in Birmingham and will last from 28 July to 8
August. 72 Commonwealth nations are expected to take part in the competitions. There
will be 283 finals played across 20 sports.
Among the sports
on the list there are traditional sports like boxing, athletics or swimming,
field hockey and others along with optional sports the host city chose to
include: diving, beach volleyball, cricket, track cycling and rhythmic
gymnastics.
This year will a
feast for cycling lovers as Birmingham hosts 3 competitions dedicated to this
sport: mountain biking, road and track cycling.
Also, the number
of events available to para champions has increased. In 2022 apart from para
powerlifting and wheelchair basketball sportsmen can compete in para swimming,
para athletics, para triathlon, para lawn bowls and para table tennis.
This is going to
be a spectacular experience! So if you’re a sports
lover, it’s a great idea to attend the Commonwealth Games.
Interested
in Playing the Sports They Play At the Commonwealth Games?
Now that you’ve learned about the
Commonwealth Games, you might be inspired to play some of the sports they play
at this sports event. Want to go swimming, cycling, play badminton or maybe
do some gymnastics?
At Sport Session you
can find coaches for all these sports and much more. Choose your Sport Session coach
and play your own Commonwealth Games like a pro.
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