By working together as equals, we are able to inspire and engage people around the world and build towards our shared vision of a better future. Through the power of sport, our movement delivers real, lasting change.

From Anguilla to Zambia, from the largest countries to the smallest islands, the power of Commonwealth Sport is that our Movement spans every continent and taps into the cultures and strengths of every community.

We channel that strength into our DNA and we support disadvantaged communities where we can – and do – make a tangible difference in areas where other multi-sport events fall short:

  • Disability
  • Culture and Ethnicity
  • Age and Background
  • Gender

Naturally, our Games sit at the centre of it all, providing a focal point for the work we do. They, too, reinforce our work in our four pillars and provide a platform to celebrate and inspire the many, varied communities from which our athletes are drawn.

Para sport is fully integrated at the Commonwealth Games, where Para athletes are included on an entirely equal setting – everywhere from our athlete villages to the field of play.  

Our quadrennial Youth Games offer young athletes a crucial pathway into elite competition, but the Games are also evolving to welcome youngsters from different backgrounds. At Birmingham 2022, we launched the first Commonwealth Games E-Sports competition and we never stop looking for ways to innovate and evolve.

Being an athlete-centred sports movement, we are the Games where freedom of expression is not just allowed, but encouraged, giving athletes the confidence to show their true selves to the world. Athletes like Cathy Freeman, who draped herself in the First Nations flag in 1994, publicly displaying her heritage as she celebrated her historic win; like Sharni Smale, who wore headgear imprinted with the LGBTQIA+ flag in the 2022 Rugby Sevens; and Tom Daley, who carried that same flag into the 2022 Opening Ceremony in front of the world’s cameras. 

Tom Daley at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

Culture is at the heart of the movement, and we encourage host nations and visiting teams to embrace, celebrate and enjoy their own cultures and those of their competitors. The Commonwealth and Youth Games have been hosted in four of the six continents of the world, and our extensive work in redefining and reimagining the Games for the future, will make the events more sustainable and affordable, opening them up to more potential hosts.

Women, too, are celebrated by Commonwealth Sport – as you would expect from an organisation where women hold, or have held, each of its most senior positions (CEO and President), as well as heading up the majority of its internal divisions.   

We strive to ensure equal medals for men and women across our competition schedule.

But while our Games provide a window to the world, our work continues every day during non-Games time, too.

Our Development Programmes provide valuable training, opportunities and experience for people from our four pillars.

Our GAPS programme holds camps across the Commonwealth, which aim to advance inclusive sport pathways through coach and athlete development and tackle may of the barriers and constraints that hinder participation of Para Athletes. 

For youth development, eqUIP is a programme to provide skills development and employment opportunities to young aspiring leaders, helping them to gain valuable experience working in sport through internships within their local Commonwealth Games Association. The programme provides unique opportunities, supports CGAs and empowers young leaders to make a positive contribution to the development of their communities and Commonwealth Sport.

Women Leaders focuses on developing women leaders in sport across the Commonwealth, who demonstrate a passion and commitment to promoting equality within their communities and the Commonwealth Sport Movement. Offering scholarships, international mentoring and educational resources to facilitate the participants’ individual development pathway and leadership aspirations. The programme is supported by world leaders in women’s professional development and the course is designed to be culturally flexible in its approach, to support each individual’s own best route.

Game Changers is a grant programme which provides support to our CGAs to deliver social change projects of specific local importance. Whether it’s using sports to bridge divides, address societal issues, or empower marginalized communities, this programme supports impactful projects that harness the unifying power of sport and drives equality in sport and society across the Commonwealth.

Everything we do, from the Games and Youth Games, to our development programmes and advocacy work, is focused on our goals to create opportunities, destroy barriers and open pathways for people from disadvantaged communities. And we’ll continue to do so, until everyone’s included, our communities are stronger and our Commonwealth is united.

Because this is sport where the world wins.