Critical to the success of the ‘Games Reset’ is designing a sports programme in an ever-changing world, that ensures value to Hosts; attracts the best Athletes in the Commonwealth; is relevant for all CGAs, IFs and wider stakeholders; and maintains a full commitment to integrated Para sport.  
 
Throughout the history of the Commonwealth Games, the format of the sport programme has changed in relation to the categorisation of sports and the number and type of sports on any particular edition of the Games.

These changes have created opportunities for Hosts but is also recognised that it creates challenges for Athletes and other stakeholders in relation to consistency from Games to Games and this has been particularly prevalent in recent years, with the change in the number of compulsory sports that must be included on the sport programme for any edition of the Games.   
 
Sport Programme - Review 
 
Within this context, Commonwealth Sport commissioned a review in early 2025, with the aim of developing a clear framework for the future sport programme aligned to the Games Reset, and which would form the basis for advice and evaluation for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and beyond.

A set of clear sport programme principles, aligned to the Games Reset were approved by the  Our Executive Board to guide decisions across the following areas:  

• Size and scale of the sports programme
• Categorisation of sports i.e. sports which a Host must include on the programme and sports which a Host may include on the programme
• Parameters for a Host to propose any ‘additional’ sports on the programme
• Composition and balance of the sports programme
• Process for determining and announcing the sport programme for an edition of the Games and the role of the International Federations (IFs) in this process 

Significant consultation took place with a wide range of stakeholders during the Review including CGAs, IFs, Athletes, commercial partners, broadcast experts, future hosts and internal governance groups.  IFs were also given the opportunity to provide sport specific information on each sport’s value proposition, sport specific innovations and wider sport strategies against agreed Commonwealth Sport criteria, which includes:

• Universality of participation
• Quality of competition
• Consumer and commercial appeal
• Benefit to Hosts
• Alignment with Commonwealth Sport values
• Balanced programme

To guide the Executive Board with decisions on the sport programme, Commonwealth Sport commissioned independent, objective data analysis and expert advice on the wider global sporting landscape.

Sport Programme - Principles

The following Sport Programme principles underpinned decisions for the Sport Programme Framework:

• The sport programme of the Commonwealth Games aims to inspire and positively contribute to communities and the lives of people in the Commonwealth by showcasing and celebrating its athletes, delivering impactful sporting moments and helping Games hosts achieve meaningful benefits.
• The sport programme of the Commonwealth Games must be of a high-quality and should strive to achieve the following:
  • Attract the Commonwealth’s best athletes
  • Deliver impactful and exciting sporting moments
  • Positively inspire the youth of the Commonwealth
  • Generate value for hosts, sponsors, broadcast as well as CGAs, Athletes and IFs by supporting the achievement of meaningful benefits
  • Showcase and celebrate the diversity of the Commonwealth
• The sport programme of the Commonwealth Games must be well-balanced, with an appropriate range, type and mix of sports and disciplines.
• The sport programme of the Commonwealth Games must include integrated Para sport and support the Para Sport athlete development pathway.
• The sport programme of the Commonwealth Games must strive for gender balance.
• The sport programme of the Commonwealth Games must allow for the meaningful participation of all CGAs.
• International Federations are a critical stakeholder in the development of a sport programme for the Commonwealth Games.
• The use of existing venues is encouraged, unless additional infrastructure is part of existing national development plans which will happen irrespective of a Games.  

Sport Programme - Framework 
 
The Commonwealth Sport Executive Board has approved the following:

Size and Scale

• The optimum size of the programme is between 15 – 17 sports/disciplines, inclusive of all Core, Optional and Additional Sports/Disciplines 
   
  Categorisation 
   
  The Executive Board has approved the following categories of sports/disciplines:
• Core Sports/disciplines, which must be included on the sport programme
• Optional Sports/disciplines, which may be included on the sport programme
• Additional Sports/disciplines, which are not categorised as Core or Optional, and may be proposed by the Host for inclusion for a specific edition on of the Commonwealth Games, subject to meeting Regulation 6 criteria 
   
  Core Sports/Disciplines 
   
  The following sports/disciplines are categorised as Core Sports and must be included on the sport programme of the Commonwealth Games: 

* Track Cycling to be included as a Core Sport/Discipline subject to existing infrastructure being available to the relevant host, in line with key principles of the Games Reset 
 
A minimum of two of the following three large team sports must be included on the sport programme.  The remaining large team sport may also be included as an Optional Sport.   

Optional Sports/Disciplines

The following sports/disciplines are categorised as Optional Sports and may be included on the sport programme. The Optional Sports/disciplines proposed by a Host is subject to the approval of Commonwealth Sport.

Additional Sports/Disciplines

• A Host or Commonwealth Sport may propose the inclusion of a maximum of 2 x Additional Sports/disciplines
• Any Additional Sports proposed would be included within the 15-17 sport/discipline limit
• Additional Sports must meet Commonwealth Sport’s Regulation 6 criteria
• Additional Sports provide a host with flexibility to propose sports with significant host or cultural benefit, or are a new, innovative or growth sport.
• The inclusion of Additional sports is subject to the approval of Commonwealth Sport

Traditional / Indigenous Sports

• Aligned to Commonwealth Sport’s Declaration on Partnership and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, a Host may propose a traditional / indigenous sport that brings significant host, cultural benefit as an Additional Sport
• If a traditional / indigenous sport does not meet Regulation 6 criteria, it could be considered for inclusion as part of a cultural or festival programme.  In this case, however, it would not form part of the official sport programme for the Commonwealth Games

Summary

The Commonwealth Sport Executive Board thanks its members and other valued stakeholders for the significant input provided in the development of the Sport Programme Framework. It was a complex and nuanced piece of work to balance the many competing priorities, provide flexibility and deliver impactful benefits to different and diverse prospective hosts, whilst creating a consistent and quality product for athletes, IFs, fans, broadcasters and other key stakeholders that stands true to the values of Commonwealth Sport.

It is acknowledged that the Framework will need to be reviewed from time to time to ensure Commonwealth Sport can maximise opportunities and ensure relevance in this ever-changing world. Further work will take place to consider the process by which new or emerging growth sports and innovative formats are considered for the Commonwealth Games and/or other Commonwealth Sport event properties and in due course the Commonwealth Sport constitution will be updated to reflect the Sport Programme Framework, via our constitutional review process with our members.

Commonwealth Sport is delighted that the Games Reset and the Sport Programme Framework has made a significant impact on the Commonwealth Games pipeline, demonstrating the continued significance and legacy potential of the Commonwealth Games and the strength and appeal of our reimagined, sustainable Games model.