Bids for the Commonwealth Games is the process where Commonwealth Games Associations select from within their national territory cities to put forward bids to host a Commonwealth Games. Since the creation of the Commonwealth Games Federation in 1932, which successfully appropriated the name of the Inter-Empire Championships to create a modern sporting event for the members of the Commonwealth, interested cities have rivalled for selection as host of the Commonwealth Games.
What follows is a list of the cities that have bid to host any of the Commonwealth Games. 20 cities (including repeats) have been chosen to host the Commonwealth Games; four in America, three in Asia, eight in Europe, one in the Caribbean and eight in Oceania. No African city has ever been chosen to host a Commonwealth Games.
Process The General Assembly of the CGF is responsible for deciding who will host the Commonwealth Games, 8 years prior to the games in question once all bids have been submitted. The selection process is made in accordance with the Candidate City Manual, as drafted by the Executive Board and made available to candidates 18 months before a decision is made. The federation then entrusts the organisation of the games to the organising committee, CGA, and government of the winning host nation or territory, including the security and finance, but is still monitored by the federation.
Commonwealth Games GamesYearBid partyResultFinal selection processNoteRef.CityCGAsDateCGF General AssemblyI1930HamiltonAwarded to host the I Commonwealth Games (sole bid)II1934JohannesburgAwarded to host the II Commonwealth Games (moved to London)The 1934 British Empire Games (now known as the Commonwealth Games) was originally awarded to Johannesburg, South Africa but was later awarded to London, England. The reason for this change was to avoid a political crisis over South Africa's Apartheid policy and its implications on visiting Commonwealth athletes and officials. The move came after concerns, particularly from Canada, about the way South Africa would treat black and Asian athletes.LondonInherently awarded to host the II Commonwealth GamesIII1938SydneyAwarded to host the III Commonwealth Games (sole bid)–1942MontrealAwarded to host the IV Commonwealth Games (cancelled)The 1942 British Empire Games (now known as the Commonwealth Games) was cancelled due to the Second World War. –1946CardiffAwarded to host the IV Commonwealth Games (cancelled)The 1946 British Empire Games (now known as the Commonwealth Games) was cancelled due to the Second World War. IV1950AucklandAwarded to host the IV Commonwealth Games (sole bid)V1954VancouverAwarded to host the V Commonwealth Games 1950Aucklandhttps://thetyee.ca/Culture/2014/07/31/1954-Commonwealth-Games/TorontoEliminated MontrealEliminatedHamiltonEliminatedVI1958CardiffAwarded to host the VI Commonwealth Games (sole bid)VII1962PerthAwarded to host the VII Commonwealth Games (sole bid)VIII1966KingstonAwarded to host the VIII Commonwealth Games (17 votes)RomeEdinburghEliminated in the first voting (12 votes)SalisburyEliminated in the first voting (5 votes)IX1970EdinburghAwarded to host the IX Commonwealth Games (18 votes)KingstonChristchurchEliminated in the first voting (11 votes)X1974ChristchurchAwarded to host the X Commonwealth Games (36 votes)EdinburghMelbourneEliminated in the first voting (2 votes)XI1978EdmontonAwarded to host the XI Commonwealth Games (36 votes)MunichLeedsEliminated in the first voting (10 votes)XII1982BrisbaneAwarded to host the XII Commonwealth Games (unanimous vote)14 July 1976MontrealBirminghamWithdrew during the candidature stageKuala LumpurWithdrew during the candidature stageLagosWithdrew during the candidature stageXIII1986EdinburghAwarded to host the XIII Commonwealth Games (sole bid)XIV1990AucklandAwarded to host the XIV Commonwealth Games (20 votes)Los AngelesDelhiEliminated in the first voting (19 votes)XV1994VictoriaAwarded to host the XV Commonwealth Games (29 votes)SeoulCardiffEliminated in the first voting (18 votes)DelhiEliminated in the first voting (7 votes)XVI1998Kuala LumpurAwarded to host the XVI Commonwealth Games (40 votes)BarcelonaAdelaideEliminated in the first voting (25 votes)XVII2002ManchesterAwarded to host the XVII Commonwealth Games (sole bid)05 November 1995NassauXVIII2006MelbourneAwarded to host the XVIII Commonwealth Games (sole bid)11 November 1999SuvaXIX2010DelhiAwarded to host the XIX Commonwealth Games (46 votes)14 November 2003Montego BayHamiltonEliminated in the first voting (22 votes)XX2014GlasgowAwarded to host the XX Commonwealth Games (47 votes)9 November 2007ColomboAbujaEliminated in the first voting (24 votes)HalifaxWithdrew during the candidature stageXXI2018Gold CoastAwarded to host the XXI Commonwealth Games (43 votes)11 November 2011BasseterreHambantotaEliminated in the first voting (27 votes)XXII2022DurbanAwarded to host the XXII Commonwealth Games and later withdrew2 September 2015Auckland EdmontonWithdrew during the candidature stageBirminghamAwarded to host the XXII Commonwealth Games (sole bid)21 December 2017BirminghamXXIII2026VictoriaAwarded to host the XXIII Commonwealth Games and later withdrew12 April 2022Ballarat HobartEliminated in the final voteGlasgowAwarded to host the XXIII Commonwealth Games (sole bid)17 September 2024EdinburghXXIV2030AmdavadAwarded to host the XXIV Commonwealth Games (sole bid)26 November 2025GlasgowAbujaEliminated in the bid evaluation stageCanadaWithdrew during the candidature stage
Commonwealth Youth Games GamesYearBid partyResultFinal selection processNoteRef.CityNationDateCGF General AssemblyI2000EdinburghAwarded to host the 2000 Commonwealth Youth Games (sole bid)II2004BendigoAwarded to host the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games (sole bid)III2008PuneAwarded to host the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games 13 March 2006https://www.oneindia.com/2006/03/12/pune-to-host-2008-youth-commonwealth-games-1142230761.htmlIsle of ManEliminated in the first round of voting IV2012 (moved up to 2011)Isle of ManAwarded to host the 2012 Commonwealth Youth Games (sole bid)V2015ApiaAwarded to host the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games (sole bid)VI2017CastriesAwarded to host the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games and later withdrew NassauAwarded to host the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games 2016–2021BelfastAwarded to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games and later withdrewGaboroneWithdrew during the candidature stage Saint HelierWithdrew during the candidature stage Trinidad and TobagoAwarded to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games and later postponed21 June 2019GibraltarEliminated in the first round of voting VII2023Trinidad and TobagoAwarded to host the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games (sole bid)28 August 2022VIII2027MaltaAwarded to host the 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games (sole bid)31 July 2025Buskett Gardens
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