Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games is a quadrennial international multi-sport event that brings together athletes from across the Commonwealth of Nations, a political association comprising the majority of former territories of the British Empire. It was first held as the British Empire Games in 1930 and was known as the British Empire Games until 1950, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games until 1966 and the British Commonwealth Games until 1974; since the 1978 edition it has been officially the Commonwealth Games, and it is also referred to as the Friendly Games. The Games are overseen by Commonwealth Sport, which determines the sporting programme and awards hosting rights, and they keep traditions such as the Baton Relay and the ceremonial hoisting of the Commonwealth Games flag.