The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games. The CGF also supports the Commonwealth Youth Games and Single Sport Commonwealth Championships.

The CGF is the supreme authority in all matters concerning the Commonwealth Games. In effect the Federation “owns” the Commonwealth Games in the same way as the International Olympic Committee “owns” the Olympic Games.

The CGF is governed through the General Assembly and the Executive Board of the Federation. Ultimate authority lies with the General Assembly of member countries and territories, which meets once per year. The Executive Board consists of the Officers of the CGF and a Regional Vice President from each of the CGF’s  six regions. The Headquarters of the CGF is currently in London.

The Commonwealth Games is awarded by the CGF to a country through its CGA, which will nominate the city to host it. The next country to host the Games is chosen by the CGF in General Assembly 7 years in advance. The CGF publishes a Bid Document with an associated questionnaire, which is circulated to CGAs. The Constitution of the CGF (which can be viewed on the CGF’s web site) specifies the process for dealing with bids and choosing the Host CGA.

The Federation entrusts the CGA of the Host Country with the organisation of the Games. The CGA establishes an Organising Committee, which has legal status and is responsible for organising and staging the Games.

The CGF also encourages each Organising Committee to organise a cultural programme of national and international items, to take place in the host city during the Games.

Although there are 54 Commonwealth countries, there are 72 Commonwealth Games Associations that can enter a team in the Commonwealth Games. This is because some Commonwealth countries have more than one CGA. An example of this is the United Kingdom, which is a single Commonwealth country, but which has seven CGAs, as Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey, all compete in the Games as separate nations.

The CGF’s role stretches beyond facilitation of the Commonwealth Games - indeed the continuing success of the Games has helped to influence the outreach of the Commonwealth and to strengthen its bonds.

Underlying every decision made by the CGF are three core values - HUMANITY, EQUALITY AND DESTINY.

These values help to inspire and unite millions of people and they symbolise the broad mandate of the CGF within the Commonwealth.

Link to www.thecgf.com