The Commonwealth Games are gearing up for their July 2026 start in Glasgow. Athletes have been training diligently while organisers are putting the final touches to the logistics. As all this happens behind the scenes, Superprof tells the story of past games1 that made these events what they are today. This Commonwealth Games history timeline gives us the roadmap; the article's details tell us the stories.
1891
Rev. Astley Cooper proposes a "Pan-Britannic-Pan-Anglican Contest and Festival"
His article suggests it should be held every 4 years.
1911
The first Festival of Empire takes place in London
It coincides with King George V coronation.
1928
Olympic Games success renews a call for Empire Games
The Amsterdam Olympics fostered much interaction between Empire athletes.
1930
The first British Empire Games take place in Hamilton, Ontario
The event featured over 400 athletes from 11 nations.
1942-1946
No games due to ongoing war
1954
British Empire Games becomes The British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1970
Another name change, to British Commonwealth Games
1978
The final name change, to Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games History: Origins and Early Years
A vast empire upon which the sun never set.
George Macartney, British statesman and colonial administrator
Cruising on the success and wealth generation of the First Industrial Revolution (ca. 1760 - 1840), the British Empire had much to be proud of. Even before then, Britain's Seven Years' War (1756-63) set the empire on a winning path, provoking the quote above2.
Revelling in historical successes, the reverend John Astley Cooper began mulling over a way to showcase the empire's greatness in 1897. He came upon the idea of a sporting event, framing it as a way of making the empire relatable and approachable. He enlisted various sympathetic voices throughout the Commonwealth to promote the idea.
His vision came to pass but not in the way he imagined. Several magnificent events were planned to mark the coronation of King George V in 1911. So, the planners simply added the Inter-Empire Championship to the roster.
The 1930 Hamilton Games
Worthy or not, the event attracted substantial attention. Coincidentally, Canadian sports enthusiasts expressed a keenness to host an international sports event. The idea crystallised at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. That's when sports executive and journalist Melville Marks Robinson proposed Hamilton, Ontario, as a suitable location.
This is the event that made the notion of Commonwealth Games a reality. This inaugural event saw the Commonwealth England team sweep the medals table, claiming 60 of the 165 available trophies. Since that debut, the English athletes have finished in first or second place at every Games event.
At Olympic events, UK athletes compete under the UK banner.
However, for the Commonwealth Games, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and England compete separately, each under their own flag.
Commonwealth Games Evolutions and Name Changes
You might well know that not everyone felt warmly towards the British Empire. Besides, by the late 1940s, the sun was, indeed, setting on the empire. Backers began thinking that perhaps calling these contests the British Empire Games was no longer appropriate. These facts provoked three name changes.
The British Empire and Commonwealth Games
- the name used from 1954 to 1966
- more nations gained independence
- the name change acknowledges those countries' free standing
The British Commonwealth Games
- name used from 1970 to 1974
- 'empire' was dropped to distance Britain from its colonial past
The Official Commonwealth Games
This was the third and final name change, which debuted in Edmonton in 1978. This final identity reflects the event's transition to a fully multinational endeavour, with no ties to Britain or empire.
As any worthy Commonwealth Games guide would tell you, the Edmonton Games brought about many other changes. For instance, it was the first time a computer system coordinated ticket sales. It was also the first time the Queen herself opened the Games.
Her attendance, in conjunction with the Games' more welcoming name, signalled a new era for the British monarchy. And a new chapter for the Games, which adopted a progressively more open and welcoming ethos.
Commonwealth Games Milestones
Name changes spoke of geopolitical changes around the world; additions to the Games' structure and processes speak to the social changes of the time.
Our late Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, a year before the next scheduled instalment of the Games. With everything our young Queen had to manage, she likely had little energy to spare for sports events. However, by the 1958 Games, she had found her footing; she could afford to lend her name to Games initiatives.
A new initiative, dubbed The Queen's Baton Relay, debuted at the 1958 Commonwealth Games. It involved a series of runners carrying a baton along a specific route. This baton contained a message from the monarch, which was read upon the baton arriving at the Games' opening ceremony. From then on, this event became a permanent feature of the Games' ceremony.
Upon the Queen's passing in 2022, the event was renamed The King's Baton.
Equality Achievements
The Games took a shamefully long time to level the playing field for women and para athletes.
Gender equality
- Early games allowed women only in swimming and athletics
- 1986 added the women's marathon
- 1998: women could compete in netball, cycling, hockey, and squash
- 2010 added women's wrestling
- 2014: women's boxing debut
- 2018: full integration of women's events
Para athletes
- 1962-74: separate Para games
- 1994: inclusion of limited para events in the Games
- 2002: full integration into the Games
Over the years, a number of countries have participated in, and later abandoned, the Games, in part because of unequal representation. Today, the list of participating countries has expanded to include Togo and Gabon. Those nations joined the Commonwealth in 2022. You can look forward to watching athletes from 77 countries at this year's Glasgow Games.
Commonwealth Games: Political and Social Influences
Here, we're not talking about the games' influence on politics and society, but rather how those elements shaped the games over the years3.
That year, the Party for Cornwall (Mebyon Kenow) petitioned the Games organisers for Cornwall to compete under its own flag. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) rejected the request.
That 2022 incident proves that the CGF retains control over the games' organisation and structure, though it may, at times, suffer from backlash over real-world goings-on. The following events, in particular, stand out.
The Brisbane protests led to the Melbourne (2006) and Gold Coast (2018) "Stolenwealth Games" protests. As with the earlier event, these uprisings revolved around Aboriginal rights, particularly land rights. These protests led to the creation of the World Indigenous Games4, whose first instalment took place in 2015.
Commonwealth Games' Legacy and Impact
How to describe the Commonwealth Games? Some might see them as a distasteful remnant of imperialism5. Others see these events as a chance to push past hurtful, shameful colonial exercises, levelling the playing field and allowing all Commonwealth members to shine. Whichever position you take, these aspects give us defined, measurable impacts.
Economic Effects
Like many sports events, the Commonwealth Games generate substantial economic benefits. According to Commonwealth Sport6, host cities stand to earn more than £1 billion in tourism, merchandise, and hospitality revenues.
Besides boosting city coffers, the employment boom the Games provoke is another windfall. Not just in maintenance of existing facilities and construction of new infrastructure. We're also talking more service sector personnel, more transportation specialists, and more security professionals.
Cultural Effects
If the strikes mentioned above are any indication, these Games are culturally impactful, indeed. Besides using this occasion to effect social and political change, the Games give people a platform to present cultural aspects unique to their region.
Nowhere is this more evident than when Australia and Canada host. As noted above, the World Indigenous Games became reality thanks to the protests during the Melbourne and Gold Coast games. And we have so much more to learn from and share with these formerly barred athletes!
Impacts on the Sports World
The Commonwealth Games website proudly touts their broader inclusion of participant countries. This initiative's reach is far broader than you might suspect, especially for the athletes.
The Commonwealth Games serve as a main pathway to Olympic contests.
More than just participation in the Olympics, success at the Games may predict Olympic success. In 2014, 53% of Canadian Games athletes contested the 2016 Rio Olympics, earning 14 of Canada's 22 medals at that event7.
Even fans of the Commonwealth Games have to concede that the Olympics enjoy far more visibility, reach, and financial benefits. So, our Games making it possible for athletes to triumph in Olympic contests makes a huge impact on the sports world.
References
- Wood, Robert . “History of the Commonwealth Games.” Www.topendsports.com, June 2010, www.topendsports.com/events/commonwealth-games/history.htm. Accessed 1 June 2026.
- Álvarez, Jorge. “The Origin and History of the Phrase “the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets,” Used since Antiquity.” LBV Magazine English Edition, 11 Dec. 2023, www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2023/12/the-origin-and-history-of-the-phrase-the-empire-on-which-the-sun-never-sets-used-since-antiquity/. Accessed 1 June 2026.
- Professor Jim Riordan. The International Politics of Sport in the Twentieth Century. 2026. Taylor & Francis, 11 Sept. 2002.
- White-Mobley, Alexis. “A Gathering of Nations: First-Ever World Indigenous Games Held in Brazil.” Www.culturalsurvival.org, www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/gathering-nations-first-ever-world-indigenous-games-held. Accessed 1 June 2026.
- Pender, Kieran. “Are the Commonwealth Games a Joyful Extravaganza – or Anachronistic, Offensive and a Waste of Time?” The Guardian, 9 Aug. 2022, www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/aug/09/are-the-commonwealth-games-a-joyful-extravaganza-or-anachronistic-offensive-and-a-waste-of-time. Accessed 1 June 2026.
- “New Report Reveals Commonwealth Games Consistently Provides over £1 Billion Boost for Host Cities.” Commonwealth Sport, 21 Oct. 2021, www.commonwealthsport.com/news/3536248/new-report-reveals-commonwealth-games-consistently-provides-over-1-billion-boost-for-host-cities. Accessed 1 June 2026.
- Forrester, Nicole W. “Why the Commonwealth Games Still Matter.” The Conversation, theconversation.com/why-the-commonwealth-games-still-matter-93880. Accessed 1 June 2026.
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