53 Commonwealth Countries, 71 Teams: Interesting Facts About 19th CWG

By BOB Goswami

NEW DELHI - The much waited 19th Commonwealth is always in news for all wrong reasons. The sporting jamboree will start from October 3 and probably end 14th of the same month. There are 53 Commonwealth countries and the interesting fact is 71 teams are participating in this mega sporting event.

The reason behind this awkward figure is that countries are not participating but games associations. There are some countries, which have more than one Commonwealth Games Association (CGA).

For example, United Kingdom has four teams – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Apart from that individual teams under CGA Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man. However, in Olympic Games a combined “Great Britain” represents all four nations and crown dependencies.

The Australian external territory of Norfolk Island and the Cook Islands and Niue, the two states in free association with New Zealand sends their team.

Some interesting facts about Commonwealth Games

1. The combined population of Commonwealth countries holds 30 percent of world population, which is about 2.1 billion. The half 1.2 billion is in India!

2. In the year 1930, the first Commonwealth Games were held in Hamilton in Ontario, Canada.

3. There are 10 nations from Europe, 13 from Oceania, 15 in the Caribbean, eight in Asia, six in the Americas and 19 in Africa.

4. 19th Commonwealth Games will see tennis for the first time.

5. An award to honor late David Dixon who served 17 years in the capacity of honorary secretary will be given to an exceptional athlete at the Games.