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The Commonwealth Games - A special opportunity for all
The Government of Canada is a proud partner in Canada's bid to host the 19th Commonwealth Games in 2010.
Hosting the Commonwealth Games in Hamilton will provide a unique opportunity for Canada to show the world what we have to offer. And, the Games will bring direct benefits to Canadians, such as improved sport facilities, enhanced sport development and increased tourism.
Hosting international sport events, like the Commonwealth Games, provides an opportunity to strengthen communities and build partnerships at home and abroad. The Games will also serve as a catalyst for enhancing sport development initiatives across Canada. Canada has a proud history of hosting international sport and cultural events and would be honoured to be given the opportunity to host the world in 2010.
The first Commonwealth Games were held in Hamilton in 1930, although they were then called the British Empire Games. Those first Games attracted 400 athletes from 11 countries. They participated in six sports: track and field, boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, wrestling, and swimming and diving. Since then, Vancouver (1954), Edmonton (1978) and Victoria (1994) have also hosted the Commonwealth Games.
Today, the Commonwealth Games have grown and are expected to attract more than 6,000 athletes and officials from 72 countries, 250,000 visitors, 2,500 media and 1 billion worldwide television viewers.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the international organization responsible for facilitating the Games every four years. However, the role of the CGF stretches beyond the Games to encouraging and assisting education via sport development and physical recreation throughout the Commonwealth.
The Government of Canada is pleased to work closely with Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC). The CGC is the franchise holder and coordinator of Canada's participation in all Commonwealth Games. The goal of CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and using sport as a development tool.