The Commonwealth Games 2022 is well underway, but there are still more medals up for grabs, and memories to be made at Birmingham before the closing ceremony on Monday, August 8.
The 12-day sporting event kicked off with the opening ceremony on Thursday, July 28, with events taking place across the West Midlands in the following days.
The Commonwealth Games are held every four years, and were last held in the UK in Glasgow in 2014. The first games were held in 1930, with the aim of promoting relations between member countries, and celebrating their shared sporting and cultural heritage.
This year, team England gave another strong effort on Tuesday across all sports, with the day crowned by swimming superstar Adam Peaty, who battled back from a shock failure to snatch the men’s breaststroke 50m gold medal.
Elsewhere, Jake Jarman won his fourth gold so far in the vault final.
But, what is the Commonwealth, which countries are in it, and when was it established?
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the British Commonwealth and how many countries are in it?
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent countries, almost all of which were formerly under British rule.
It is home to 2.5 billion people, and includes both advanced economies and developing countries, with 32 of the members being small states, including island nations.
Dating back to the early part of the 20th century, it was originally created as the British Commonwealth of Nations before being formally constituted by the London Declaration in 1949, which established the member states as “free and equal”.
The head of the Commonwealth is currently Queen Elizabeth II. Although the position is not hereditary, it has been decided that Prince Charles will be her successor.
The administration of the colonies evolved in different ways, in order to reflect the different circumstances of each territory.
After becoming independent in 1947, India was the first country that decided it wanted to be a republic, but also wanted to remain in the Commonwealth.
Member governments agree to shared goals like development, democracy and peace, and the values of the Commonwealth are agreed and expressed in the Commonwealth Charter.
The Commonwealth’s roots go back to the British Empire. However, today any country can join, with the two most recent countries to join being Gabon and Togo in 2022.
The 56 countries in the Commonwealth are:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brunei
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cyprus
- Dominica
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Soloman Islands
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
What is the Commonwealth Realm?
The Commonwealth Realm is used to indicate the former British Colonies that still consider the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II to be their official monarch.
All 14 Commonwealth Realms belong to the Commonwealth of Nations, but the other 40 members of the Commonwealth of Nations are not, in fact, Commonwealth Realms.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Canada
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- Papua New Guinea
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Solomon Islands
- Tuvalu
- United Kingdom
Which countries compete in the Commonwealth Games?
Despite there being 56 countries in the Commonwealth, there are 72 teams competing at Birmingham 2022.
The 72 nations competing in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Botswana
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Cook Islands
- Cyprus
- Dominica
- England
- Eswatini
- Falkland Islands
- Fiji
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Grenada
- Guernsey
- Guyana
- India
- Isle of Man
- Jamaica
- Jersey
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- Northern Ireland
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Saint Helena
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- Scotland
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Soloman Islands
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Wales
- Zambia
When was the Commonwealth established and what is its history?
The original British Commonwealth was founded with the signing of the Balfour Declaration in 1926 and included Australia, Canada, the Irish Free State, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and the United Kingdom.
Although the majority of Commonwealth members are former British colonies, most are now independent. Given this independence—and the fact that most Commonwealth member countries are geographically located far from Britain—the decision was made to adopt a more appropriate name.
Thus, the British Commonwealth became the Commonwealth of Nations in 1949.
Over time, membership has expanded. Today, the Commonwealth includes fifty-six countries, largely in Asia and Africa, including nearly all of the world’s English speaking countries.
