History

The initial concept of the Commonwealth Games can be credited to the Reverend Astly Cooper of England. On 31st October 1891 Reverend Cooper suggested in 'The Times', a "Pan-Britannic-Pan-Anglican Contest and Festival... every four years as a means of increasing the goodwill and good understanding of the Empire".

The first ever British Empire Games took place in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930 at the suggestion of Mr M (Bobby) Robinson of Canada who called a meeting of representatives of all Empire countries. The Games in Hamilton are regarded as the true starting point of the present series of Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth Games have been held in the UK five times - 1934 in London, 1958 in Wales, 1970 and 1986 in Edinburgh, and finally Manchester in 2002.

Since the Games' inception, England has won 1,695 medals in total: 579 gold, 553 silver and 563 bronze. English athletes such as Denise Lewis, Daley Thompson, Jessica Ennis, Kelly Holmes and Sally Gunnell all made their names at the Commonwealth Games.