The Beginning of the Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games, has a unique place in sporting history. The Commonwealth Games is an international sporting event involving athletes from 70 nations and territories connected with the Commonwealth.
The first games were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada. Since then, the Games have been held every four years (except for 1942 and 1946 because of the Second World War).
The event has seen many changes. From 1930 to 1950 the Games were known as the British Empire Games and from 1954 until 1966 they were called the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Later, from 1970 until 1974, they took the title of the British Commonwealth Games. Finally, at the 1978 Games in Edmonton, Canada this multi-sport event change its name to the Commonwealth Games.
Edinburgh hosted the Games in 1970 and 1986. The 2002 Games in Manchester saw for the first time full medal events for elite athletes with a disability (EAD) in a fully-inclusive sports programme. This will be continued at Glasgow in 2014.
In 2000, Commonwealth Games Scotland devised the Commonwealth Youth Games. These Games were subsequently endorsed by the Commonwealth Games Federation and are open to athletes from 14 to 18 years of age. The inaugural Commonwealth Youth Games were in Edinburgh. The 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games were held on the Isle of Man. The next two Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in Apia, Samoa in 2015 and Castries, Saint Lucia in 2017.
The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games, has a unique place in sporting history. The Commonwealth Games is an international sporting event involving athletes from 70 nations and territories connected with the Commonwealth.
The first games were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada. Since then, the Games have been held every four years (except for 1942 and 1946 because of the Second World War).
The event has seen many changes. From 1930 to 1950 the Games were known as the British Empire Games and from 1954 until 1966 they were called the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Later, from 1970 until 1974, they took the title of the British Commonwealth Games. Finally, at the 1978 Games in Edmonton, Canada this multi-sport event change its name to the Commonwealth Games.
Edinburgh hosted the Games in 1970 and 1986. The 2002 Games in Manchester saw for the first time full medal events for elite athletes with a disability (EAD) in a fully-inclusive sports programme. This will be continued at Glasgow in 2014.
In 2000, Commonwealth Games Scotland devised the Commonwealth Youth Games. These Games were subsequently endorsed by the Commonwealth Games Federation and are open to athletes from 14 to 18 years of age. The inaugural Commonwealth Youth Games were in Edinburgh. The 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games were held on the Isle of Man. The next two Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in Apia, Samoa in 2015 and Castries, Saint Lucia in 2017.
The Ceremonial Flag Raising.
The opening of the Commonwealth Games is symbolised by the raising of the ceremonial flag and the competitors' oath.
The ceremonial flag is hoisted at the opening of the Games, and flies continuously night and day during the period of the Games until it is lowered at the closing ceremony. It is then handed to the Chief Citizen of the host city for safe-keeping until it is sent by him four years later to the Chief Citizen of the next host city to stage the Games.
After the ceremonial flag has been raised an oath is taken on behalf of all the competitors at the opening ceremony of each games. The oath is:
"We declare that we will take part in the Commonwealth Games of (year) in the spirit of true sportsmanship recognising the rules which govern them and desirous of participating in them for the honour of our Commonwealth and for the glory of sport."
The opening of the Commonwealth Games is symbolised by the raising of the ceremonial flag and the competitors' oath.
The ceremonial flag is hoisted at the opening of the Games, and flies continuously night and day during the period of the Games until it is lowered at the closing ceremony. It is then handed to the Chief Citizen of the host city for safe-keeping until it is sent by him four years later to the Chief Citizen of the next host city to stage the Games.
After the ceremonial flag has been raised an oath is taken on behalf of all the competitors at the opening ceremony of each games. The oath is:
"We declare that we will take part in the Commonwealth Games of (year) in the spirit of true sportsmanship recognising the rules which govern them and desirous of participating in them for the honour of our Commonwealth and for the glory of sport."
The Queen's Baton Relay
The Queen’s Baton Relay is a much loved tradition of the Commonwealth Games. It was introduced at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff in 1958.
From there, it has developed as a symbolic celebration of both unity and diversity, binding the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth with the message of peace and harmony through sports. The Baton Relay takes place all across the world and ends during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is a much loved tradition of the Commonwealth Games. It was introduced at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff in 1958.
From there, it has developed as a symbolic celebration of both unity and diversity, binding the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth with the message of peace and harmony through sports. The Baton Relay takes place all across the world and ends during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.