Julius OkorieNinety-four year old Commonwealth Games, first held in 1930 in Hamilton Canada is a multiple sports event that has undergone a lot of metamorphosis since inception, especially in terms of identity and change of name.
In the 94 years existence of the quadrennial sports events, only the 1942 and 1946 editions have had to be cancelled because of the Second World War.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe event was called the British Empire Games from 1930 to 1950, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1954 to 1966, and the British Commonwealth Games from 1970 to 1974 . The word British was then dropped from its title for the 1978 Games leaving its current name simply as Commonwealth Games ever since then spanning twelve editions as of 2024.
It consists mostly of territories of the former British Empire. Put in another way countries colonised by the British.
The event is overseen by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which controls the sporting programme and selects host cities.
How It All Started:
In 1891 the idea of a sporting competition bringing together the members of the British Empire was proposed by John Astley Cooper, five years before the first modern Olympic Games. He wrote letters and articles for several periodicals suggesting a “Pan Brittanic, Pan Anglican Contest every four years as a means of increasing goodwill and understanding of the British Empire.” John Astley Cooper Committees were formed in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to promote the idea and inspired Pierre de Coubertin to start the international Olympic Games movement.
Membership:
Fifty six countries make up membership of the commonwealth Games, with 21 of these countries in Africa including Nigeria. Eight countries are from Asia, thirteen from the Caribbean Islands, three from Europe and eleven from the pacific Islands.
Host Cities:
Nine countries have hosted the Commonwealth Games from inception till date namely Australia, Canada, England, Wales, Scotland, Jamaica, India, New Zealand and Malaysia. Australia and Canada have hosted the most number of Commonwealth Games with five editions each. Notice that in 94 years no country in Africa has been found worthy of hosting the Commonwealth Games.
Nigeria At The Commonwealth Games:
Nigeria has competed at 14 Commonwealth Games, from 1950. Nigeria did not attend four Games, in 1962, 1978 (in protest at New Zealand’s sporting policies towards South Africa during apartheid), 1986 and 1998 (due to suspension).
Nigeria has won at least one medal at every Games attended, including a high of 37 in 1994. The first medal in 1950 was won by Joshua Majekodunmi in the High Jump. However it was at Nigeria’s second outing in Vancouver, Canada 1954 that history was made.
Emmanuel Ifeajuna turned out to be one of the stars of the competition as he became the first black African to win a Gold medal at an international sporting event when he won the men’s High jump with a Record of 2.03m. At this time it was known as British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
In terms of medal hauls, Nigeria garnered a total of 271 medals made up 82 Gold, 84 Silver and 105 Bronze.
There is no doubt that Nigeria’s athletes do well at the Commonwealth Games. Tobi Amusan won Gold in the 100m Hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast Australia, Gold at the Birmingham edition in 2022 and Bronze in the 4×400 relay of also in 2018 in Gold Coast, so did other athletes before her the Mary Onyalis of this world among others.
Gains Of The Commonwealth Games:
In Sports, it is not only that practice makes perfect, it also said that the more athletes compete at championships the better they get. Perhaps based on that it will be fair to say that the Commonwealth Games which holds every four years just like the Olympics provides platform for athletes to compete improve and win laurels for themselves and their countries. It is just that in the case of the Commonwealth Games it is an exclusive of only athletes from former British colonies, and this some say is a hindrances as makes it a less competitive platform.
Removing The Vestiges Of Colonisation:
According to the Oxford Leaners Dictionary, colonisation is defined as the act of taking control of an area or a country that is not your own, especially using force, and sending people from your own country to live there. Every country no matter how small desires independence, which explains why colonised country fought tooth and nail to avoid being colonised until they were subdued. Colonisation in another form means taking control of a country against their will. If colonised countries detest their colonisation should they at the same time be celebrating an event which reminds them of their bondage?
Every edition of the Commonwealth Games presents an opportunity for athletes to showcase their skills in various sports; it also provides an opportunity to reflect on how the Games started and the foundation under which it started.
Those dark ages may be forgiven but not forgotten. Some believe that one of the best ways of erasing the thoughts the dark ages is to remove the reminders of which the Commonwealth Games is one. Incidentally the hosting of the commonwealth Games has become a teething problem of late further fuelling queries about the Games continued existence.
Signs Of Changing Times:
Hosting of the 2026 edition of the Commonwealth Games was heading to limbo before Glasgow came to the rescue to host the event billed for July 23 to August 2.
The future of the 2026 edition was thrown into doubt when the Australian State of Victoria, the original host, withdrew last year, citing rising costs.
Victoria pulled out after citing a projected cost of more than A$6 billion (£3.13 billion, $4.09 billion).
Though Glasgow accepted to host the event, it was under the condition that the event will be held under drastically reduced budget
The upcoming edition will feature just 10 sports, compared to the 19 on show at the 2022 Games in Birmingham, central England. Some believe this current development is a sign of changing times and gradual decline of the impact and relevance of the Commonwealth Games.
To Be Or Not To Be?
The Commonwealth Games according to Ben Efe, a seasoned journalist who bared his mind on the Games in a chat with Primebusiness.africa, the Commonwealth Games has grown over the years into a friendship games where member nations fraternise and relate under a friendly atmosphere. “Members benefit from that mutual relationship both in sports economy and other areas which perhaps explains why colonised countries no longer dwell on the past but on the gains of the present and the future”
As for Veteran Journalist of long standing Dare Esan, whose athletics coverage over the years has left a mark on the sand of history, the Commonwealth Games has lost its competitiveness. He agrees that because it is a child of colonisation resting it won’t be a bad idea to further do away with reminders of dark ages of colonisation. He further posits that because the Games is an exclusive of Commonwealth of Nations members, its field is limited in terms of competition as top athletes who would have given “Champions of Commonwealth Games a run for their money and strength are locked out by virtue of not being part of the platform.
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“If it is to be scrapped on the bases of his foundation I am in for it, it has lost its competitiveness. If you are a Commonwealth Games champion for instance, it does not necessarily mean that you are the best in that field because top athletes who would have posed real challenge are not part of it. Aside from that is beginning to lose its value notice the struggle in getting a host for the next edition before Glasgow came in which further suggests that getting a host after Glasgow will be tougher. May be after that if any African country bids she will be given if you recall that none of them has hosted before. Nigeria did show interest to host in the past but was not given, but honestly if its continuous existence is being questioned in some quarters it is in order”
The Commonwealth of Nations as a platform has no doubt been used by member countries to collaborate at different levels including in governance, economy, trade, education to mention a few. The just concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), a summit held every two years by the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth is one of the continuous interaction platform where issues of common interest to members are discussed and solutions sort notwithstanding the foundation under which it was formed in the first place remains laudable. However, the Games has become more of a burden and its value and relevance is being questioned.
Now that hosting the event has become a teething problem even for perennial and traditional hosts cities and costs of hosting it becoming a big issue, many say it is time to give it a second look as to whether its continuous existence is sustainable, especially with the presence of more competitive championships like the Olympics, World Athletics Championships among others that are open and afford athletes from across the globe to come show what they are made of are ready alternatives.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
