Commonwealth Sport creates high performance pathways for Athletes to perform on the international stage. By providing skills and knowledge to Athletes, Coaches and leaders in sport, we help to remove barriers and encourage participation on a level playing field. We believe that sport has the power to drive real, lasting change.
Using sport to bring people together, our Games and our Programmes can benefit Commonwealth athletes and communities.
Commonwealth Sport Development Programmes
We share skills and support, using our expertise and our collective voice to create opportunities, raise awareness and open pathways for individuals to succeed in sport and life.
GAPS - Para athlete and Coach inclusion programme
Less than 1/3 of Commonwealth Nations are able to send Para athletes to the Games.
GAPS (Gather, Adjust, Prepare, Sustain) is a unique programme designed to reduce, remove or help overcome the barriers these Athletes face on their journey into high-performance sport.
Bringing together emerging talent from around the world for Coaches and Athletes alike, the programme provides the skills, knowledge and access to resources they need to become self-reliant and free to excel in sport and life.
Originally developed in partnership with Griffith University, the programme is rapidly expanding, with four leading universities across the Commonwealth now involved. The inclusive pathways the programme has established are already making an impact, with over 100 GAPS alumni competing in the last two Games and Youth Games, and multiple Para records already smashed.
Every alumni from the programme carries this newfound confidence and capability back home, creating ripples that run through their community, changing the way disability is seen and making a difference for every potential Para athlete to come.
“GAPS is like a dream come true. In Africa we have been struggling a lot in terms of equipment, training and facilities. With the GAPS programme coming in, it has brightened our futures and given us opportunities.” George Wyndham, Sierra Leone, Athlete
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE GAPS PROGRAMME
WOMEN LEADERS - Guided leadership programme for women
Roughly 3 out of 4 executive positions in international sport are held by men. Without a seat at the table women and girls will continue to be left out when it comes to a fair say in sport and face an unfair disadvantage in wider culture. Women Leaders offers scholarships, international mentoring and educational resources to empower women from across the Commonwealth to help them shape and reach their aspirations of leadership in sport.
Designed and aided by world leaders in women’s professional development, the course flexes to meet the needs of women from any culture or background from our members, ensuring each individual can find their own best way to lead. Working with 15 women a year, the programme supports those with a passion and commitment to promoting equality within their communities. Each participant receives £5000 to help them towards their goal and ultimately help more women to be included in the world of sport. The more women and girls we include from the start, the more opportunities we create to succeed.
“My mentor has provided me with the growth opportunities in the sports industry by shepherding me into conversations, meetings and circles that I previously would not have had access to.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE WOMEN LEADERS PROGRAMME
eqUIP - Youth development programme
There are roughly 1.6 billion people under 30 in the Commonwealth today. Too many still face the challenges of unemployment, educational disparity and inequality, holding back their chances in life and the potential of their communities.
eqUIP tackles these challenges head on, providing the skills development and employment opportunities aspiring young leaders need to fulfil their promise. To enhance the experience, the programme brings together interns and mentors at group workshops fostering growth, celebrating culture and building meaningful connections. Through these skills, connections and opportunities to work within their local Commonwealth Games Association, the programme builds our capacity for change and empowers young leaders to make a positive difference. Growing the next generation of changemakers, one alumni at a time. Living proof in our belief that our best is yet to come.
“I couldn’t be more excited that I got this opportunity through eqUIP. If you can change anything now, change yourself so that you can be an impact to others in the future.”
Nicolette Osborne – Trinidad and Tobago-eqUIP team 17 member
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE eqUIP PROGRAMME
GAME CHANGERS - Local grant programme funding positive change
The 74 member countries that make up our Movement range from the smallest island nation to the most populated country in the world. As such, the issues they face are as diverse as the communities they support. Game Changers provides our members with an opportunity to deliver impactful projects using the power of sport to address the local challenges across disability, gender, culture, ethnicity, age and background that are most relevant to them. Funding 15 projects per year the programme connects associations with their community, supporting and delivering initiatives that create local level change. Project by project we are growing a life-changing sport movement that serves every community of the Commonwealth.
“The Game Changers grant enabled us to empower young people to achieve through sports. Piloting a community-development model, where young people themselves were leading the change they wanted to see for themselves.”
Jen Goh, a former Game Changers grant recipient and renowned Singapore golfer
