Why the Commonwealth Games are a big deal for Aussie athletes

The Commonwealth Games are about to begin. After being on life-support a couple of years ago after the Victorian government’s withdrawal as host, one of the most important sporting events on the world calendar has returned to Glasgow for the second time in 12 years.

While looking different to previous years in terms of size and scale, the Commonwealth Games are sure to prove an important stepping stone for athletes across the Commonwealth as they work their way toward Olympic greatness.

But what exactly is the Commonwealth? And how did the Commonwealth Games even come about?

HISTORY OF THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES
The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 countries. Member governments have shared goals like democracy*, peace and development, all of which are expressed in the Commonwealth Charter*.

The roots of the Commonwealth go back to the British Empire. Many countries in the Commonwealth that are now independent nations were once ruled by the British Empire during British Colonial* history but have since voluntarily elected to remain in the Commonwealth.

Back when the Commonwealth was referred to as the British Empire and many of those member states were under British rule, a “Festival of the Empire” was organised to celebrate the coronation* of King George V in 1911. According to Britannica, teams from the UK, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Canada and South Africa, competed in various sporting events, such as swimming, boxing, wrestling and athletics.

In 1930 the very first British Empire Games were held in Canada, comprising 400 athletes from 11 countries. Future Games were arranged to be held every four years midway between the Olympics at different locations across the British Empire. The Games were paused during WWII and resumed again in 1950.

In 1954, the event was renamed the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, marking the first time the Games were contested by countries no longer under British rule, Britannica states.

This year’s event will see athletes from 74 teams compete. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will each compete under their own flags as separate teams rather than as Great Britain. There are also British overseas territories that compete under their own flags, such as Bermuda, Anguilla and the Cayman Islands, as well as territories of other Commonwealth nations that compete independently, such as the Cook Islands, which is an associated state of New Zealand, and Norfolk Island, which is an external territory of Australia.

INCLUSION OF PARASPORTS
The Commonwealth Games has become a unique competition over time because of its inclusion of parasports*. While the Commonwealth Paraplegic* Games were originally held separately to the Commonwealth Games between 1962 to 1974, they were included in the main Games as demonstration* sports from 1994 before being fully included as competition sports from 2002.

STEPPING STONE TO SPORTING GLORY
The Commonwealth Games have long been a stepping stone for some of Australia’s greatest sporting stars.

Cathy Freeman was a 16-year-old relay runner at the Auckland Commonwealth Games in 1990. Ten years later she was an Olympic champion.

Brisbane teenager Sally Pearson spectacularly fell in the 100m hurdles final in Melbourne in 2006. Six years later she was an Olympic champion.

Ian Thorpe was 15 when he made his senior international debut* at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, shocking the world by winning four gold medals.

Emma McKeon’s spectacular international career was launched at the 2014 Glasgow Games where she won four gold and two bronze medals in the pool.

And who could forget Ariarne Titmus’ international breakout on her home turf on the Gold Coast where she won three gold medals, setting her on a path to Olympic gold?

WHY THIS YEAR’S GAMES ARE DIFFERENT
Regional Victoria was originally due to host this year’s Games, however, in 2023, then-premier Dan Andrews announced it would cost too much to host the event and the state withdrew. Glasgow eventually stepped in to save the Games, however, it said the event would need to be cut back.

As a result, this year’s Games will have just 10 sports across 10 days of competition, with 215 gold medals up for grabs.

Athletics and swimming will be the big ticket items, with the other chosen sports being track, cycling, weightlifting, lawn bowls, netball, artistic gymnastics, judo, boxing and 3x3 basketball*.

The sports missing from the previous edition held in 2022 in Birmingham include hockey, rugby sevens, diving, cricket, badminton, beach volleyball, mountain biking, rhythmic gymnastics, squash and table tennis.

LET’S GO, AUSSIES
Despite the changes, Australia has sent a 257-strong team which includes an elite group of para athletes, with the green and gold machine looking to make it three Games in a row at No.1.

The team topped the overall medal tally at both the 2018 Gold Coast and 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, and has led the medal table in all but one Games since 1994.

Chef de Mission Petria Thomas said the aim for athletes and officials was to have “one of life’s great experiences” in Glasgow.

“Our Australian team is ready to compete at Glasgow 2026,” Thomas said.

“Every state and territory is represented, there are six sets of siblings competing side-by-side and six athletes will make the transition from first competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games.

“We will arrive in Glasgow from different sports, backgrounds and experiences, but we will compete as one. Our aspirations* are clear.”

WHO WILL TAKE HOME GOLD?
With the runway for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics well and truly underway, the timing of these Commonwealth Games will be crucial for the future stars who have plans to be a factor in six years’ time.

Who will put up their hand? Will it be sprinter Lachlan Kennedy winning Australia’s first 100m gold medal, or middle-distance star Cam Myers, who has just turned 20 and is already one of the best in the world?

In the pool, there are exciting young talents like 17-year-old Sienna Toohey and 14-year-old visually impaired freestyle swimmer Mia Hogan.

The Commonwealth Games also hold a special place in the hearts of our netballers, with the Australian Diamonds chasing back-to-back gold in Glasgow.

Head coach Stacey Marinkovich summed up the importance of the event for her team: “The Commonwealth Games is one of the pinnacle* events for our sport. The Australian netball team has an incredible history competing at the Commonwealth Games, and this team is ready to contribute to that legacy*.”

Legacy and a great history of success is what the Commonwealth Games have always been about for Australia.

And that spirit is about to come alive again in Glasgow.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• democracy: a system of government where the power is vested in the people. Democracy involves decision making by the people through elected representatives
• Commonwealth Charter: an official document that sets out the shared values and principles of the Commonwealth nations and commits to the promotion of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, sustainable development, and international peace
• Colonial: the historical period when the British Empire expanded its territory by taking control of other foreign territories and setting up colonies
• coronation: the formal ceremony when a monarch is given their regal power
• parasports: athletic competitions designed for people with disabilities
• Paraplegic: para sport used to be named paraplegic sport, referring to paraplegia, the paralysis of the lower half of the body and other physical impairments
• demonstration: non-competitive sporting exhibitions
• debut: first time appearing
• 3x3 basketball: a quick-moving, half court version of basketball played by two teams of three players and one substitute
• aspirations: goals
• pinnacle: height
• legacy: sometime to remember them by

EXTRA READING
Victoria cancels the 2026 Commonwealth Games
Comm Games cuts more sports
Comm Games centenary saved

QUICK QUIZ
1. What are three things the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games have in common?
2. What are three ways in which the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games differ?
3. Why are there only 10 sports in this year’s Commonwealth Games?
4. How can there be 74 teams competing in this year’s Commonwealth Games if there are only 56 countries in the Commonwealth of Nations?
5. In what way are the Commonwealth Games important for aspiring athletes?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Why are we there?
Why do you think countries like Australia are still part of the Commonwealth? List as many different reasons that you can think of.

Time: Spend at least 15 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Civics and Citizenship, History

2. Extension
Do you think that the Commonwealth Games are worth the time and money? Write very convincing paragraphs on your answer to this question. Use ideas and information from the story to help get you started.

Time: Spend at least 20 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education

VCOP ACTIVITY
My Commonwealth Games hero
Write a letter to one of the Australian athletes who have been selected for the Commonwealth Games. Explain to them how proud you are of them, why they are a sporting hero to you, and that you have noticed them. Your letter can be anonymous or you can personally sign it off.

Remember when writing a letter:

Start with a greeting: Dear Sir,

Then on a new line, write the body of the letter.

Finish with a closing: Kind regards,

And finally, sign the letter.

Try to include detail and emotion in the letter to connect with your target audience: your sporting hero.