At-a-glance: Commonwealth Games

An overview of the Commonwealth Games ahead of the competition to host the 2014 event.

VALUES

Humanity, destiny and equality.

PATRON

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

COMMONWEALTH NATIONS

There are 53 Commonwealth countries and 71 Commonwealth Games Associations that can enter a team in the Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth's 1.7 billion people make up 30% of the world's population and are of many faiths, races, languages and cultures.

PREVIOUS AND FUTURE HOSTS

The Commonwealth Games are held once every four years.

The first Commonwealth Games were held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1930.

The 2006 Commonwealth Games were in Melbourne, Australia. The 2002 Games were in Manchester, England.

The 2010 Games will be held in Delhi, India.

A decision on which city will host the 2014 Games will be taken on 9 November.

HISTORY

From 1930 to 1950 the Games were known as the British Empire Games, then the British Empire and Commonwealth Games until 1962.

From 1966 to 1974 they took on the title of British Commonwealth Games and from 1978 onwards they have been known as simply the Commonwealth Games.