Genesis and journey of the Commonwealth Games

India scored a century of medals at the event held in New Delhi in 2010

Historic first: Milkha Singh,left, running to glory in the 440 yards race at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Cardiff in 1958. This was India’s first-ever gold medal at the quadrennial event.

With the Australian city of Gold Coast all set to host the 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games (CWG), between April 4 and 15, it is pertinent to get a brief, historical perspective of the event.

As we delve into the history of the Games, it becomes apparent to know as to what prompted the birth of the event — an article by Astley John Cooper in The Times in 1891, suggesting “that a Pan-Britannic, Pan-Anglican festival be held once every four years as a means to increasing goodwill and good understanding of the British Empire.”

Rev. Cooper’s suggestion was to remain on paper for 37 years before the first step to host a spectacle as recommended by him was taken up at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.

The driving force was a sports journalist with

Hamilton Spectator , Melville Marks (Bobby) Robinson, who flagged the need for a friendly event outside of the Olympic Games and which was approved by the Commonwealth.

After Hamilton in Canada offered facilities and an amount of $30,000 to cover the expenses, the ‘British Empire Games’ had its genesis in 1930 with 400 athletes from 11 countries participating in six disciplines.

The extravaganza was run as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1954 to 1966 and as the British Commonwealth Games between 1970 and 1974 before assuming its current name in 1978.

World War II forced the cancellation of the 1942 (Montreal) and 1946 (Cardiff) editions, while boycotts affected the 1978 (Edmonton) and 1985 (Edinburgh) Games with apartheid being a major issue.

The competitions were restricted to individual events till 1998 when team competitions were conducted for the first time as the Games moved to Asia for the first time to Kuala Lumpur.

Likewise, 2002 (Manchester) helped CWG gain further ground as a limited number of medal events for elite athletes with a disability (EAD) were included, thus turning the Games into the only full inclusive multi-discipline event in the world.

India won its first gold medal through the legendary ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh in the 440 yards race at the 1958 Games in Cardiff.

The country finished a historic second in the medals tally with a haul of 38 gold, 27 silver and 36 bronze medals for a record total of 101 when New Delhi hosted the Games in 2010.

The Games, driven by core values like humanity, equality and destiny, has remained a favourite to enthusiasts as it showcases a five-ring party with a difference.