UPSC

Commonwealth Games UPSC: History, Hosting & Colonial symbol

“Sport has the power to bring the world together like nothing else can. It brings unity where politics can’t.”
– Nelson Mandela

Introduction

The Commonwealth Games is a quadrennial multi-sport competition that sees 72 nations and territories come together based on a historical link to British colonialism. The next edition, the 2026 Commonwealth Games, will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, which will also have a leaner format with only 10 sports.

The inaugural event of the Commonwealth Games took place in 1930 as the British Empire Games that represented the colonial unity under British rule. During this time, the Commonwealth Games eventually evolved into the “Friendly Games” which represented post-colonial unity, inclusion, and a global platform for (mainly) the previously suppressed smaller nations.

The colonial origins of the event are still visible and the meaning and values of the games is questioned due to this recognition of colonialism. With India being the host of the Games of 2010, the Commonwealth games is not just sport for India (which is the emphasis of the events), but the Commonwealth Games connects history (most recently the colonial legacy), international relations (wing of soft power and diplomacy), economy (impact on infrastructure including GDP), and governance (management, corruption, reforms/responsibility). This range of dimensions makes the Commonwealth Games a strong candidate for a topic for UPSC preparation supporting across GS-I (History), GS-II (IR), GS-I (Economy), and Essay / Ethics.

History of the Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games can be traced back to their inception in 1930 to Hamilton, Canada, where it was arranged as the British Empire Games to unite sport from the colonies and dominions of the Empire on the terms of “unity” and “loyalty” to Britain.

Since then, the name of the Games shifted alongside global political change:
• 1930-1950: British Empire Games
• 1954-1966: British Empire and Commonwealth Games
• 1970-1974: British Commonwealth Games
• 1978: Commonwealth Games

From 11 nations in 1930, the Games now boast 72 nations and territories, many of which are small island states that now have an opportunity for international recognition.

Colonial Imagery of the Commonwealth Games

Despite their modern day branding as the “Friendly Games”, the Commonwealth Games are still suffocated by colonial imagery.

Imperial Heritage: They began as the crown jewel of British imperial unity, and carry with them, a sense of a singularly-stated British way of life.
Commonwealth Symbols: The English language is the lingua franca throughout the event, the Queen/King’s Baton Relay mirrors the Olympic torch but has a British royal spin, and the notion of the Commonwealth itself links with the notion of Empire.
Debate: Some see them as a space of inclusiveness, soft power and mutual cooperation, while others view them as a neocolonial remnant and question their relevance in a multipolar and post-colonial world.

India’s Experience in the Commonwealth Games

Hosting in 2010 (Delhi)

India hosted the Commonwealth Games for the first time in 2010, with New Delhi as the host city, marking the largest multi-sport event hosted in India at that particular time. The Indian government expenditure amounted to approximately ₹60,000 crores and was mainly focused at expanding infrastructure of stadium, metro lines, flyovers and Games Village

Impact on GDP and the Economy

The impact of the 2010 Games on both the local GDP and directly the economy has had mixed results. Analysts had predicted a 5% – 10% uplift in tourism inflows, upward consumption demand in the short-term and longer-term infrastructure advantages.

Outcomes of Commonwealth games in 2010

Tourism from overseas and interstate rose slightly, but not as much as projected.
Development of sporting facilities like the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium which have world class capabilities.
Global visibility for India as an emerging power and as a capable host for mega-events.
Infrastructure advantages were clearly visible in both transport infrastructure (example in the Delhi Metro expansion to the airport) and urban mobility.

In summary, whilst the Games did yield short-term economic advantages for local businesses, and could seen longer-term proverbial advantages, the potential advantages were diluted by governance failures and poor management for a bestowed legacy.

Disadvantages

The several corruption scandals (focusing on the Commonwealth Games scam) seriously tarnished India’s reputation.
The cost overruns were more than several multiples of estimates.
Many newly constructed venues later to became under utilized ‘white elephants’ and allegations could be raised about sustainability.

Criteria for bidding of host cities for the Commonwealth Games

The awarding rights of hosting the games lies with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). When the decision is made: Normally, the decision is made 8 years prior to the event.

Factors considered in deciding on a host city:

Existing infrastructure provision (stadium, transport, accommodation).
Security and underwriting from the host Government.
Sustainability and legacy of use by the community post-Games.
Political context of the Commonwealth nation, with its international reputation.

The race to be the host for the 2030 Commonwealth Games is emerging as a contest between India and Nigeria. Both nations have advantages and disadvantages.

Comparison between Indian and Nigerian position for hosting in 2030

Factor	Ahmedabad, India	Abuja/Lagos, Nigeria
Hosting Experience	Hosted CWG 2010 (Delhi), multiple IPL, World Cup matches	No prior mega multisport event, mainly football tournaments
Infrastructure	World’s largest stadium Narendra Modi Stadium, metro, international airport, new sports complexes, planned bullet train.	Limited sports facilities, basic stadiums, infrastructure gaps
Government Backing	Strong central & state govt. support, alignment with 2036 Olympics ambition	Supportive but weaker financial capacity, dependency on external funding
Economic Strength	5th largest global economy, higher GDP, stronger private sponsorship potential	Africa’s largest economy, but unstable growth & heavy dependence on oil
Tourism & Global Visibility	UNESCO heritage city, G20 events, Vibrant Gujarat summit, strong soft power	Africa’s most populous country, emerging cultural influence (music, Nollywood)
Security & Stability	Comparatively safer, though political protests possible	High security risks (terrorism in North, kidnappings, instability)
Symbolic Factor	Second time hosting → strengthens India’s global sports leadership	First African host ever → powerful symbolic inclusivity for CGF
Logistics & Connectivity	Direct flights, modern highways, expanding metro	Weak transport networks, frequent power outages
Past Issues	2010 CWG corruption & cost overruns still a memory	No legacy of past CWG scandals, but lack of organizational experience
Overall Edge	Strong infrastructure, proven experience, govt. support	Symbolic inclusivity (first African host), but weaker readiness

“Decision may balance between India’s capability and Nigeria’s symbolism — making it a test of sports diplomacy and global politics.”

Conclusion

The Commonwealth Games sit at the juxtaposition of historical colonialism and contemporary sports diplomacy. What began as an elite British imperial venture has now morphed into a global platform for inclusivity, co-operation and representation on the world stage.

For India, hosting the games again represents the opportunity to:

Represent itself as a global leader.
Build impetus towards their 2036 Olympic bid.
Develop sports diplomacy within the Global South.

Importance for UPSC Angle: 2025 Prelims paper has showed a trend of asking questions on games like kabaddi, chess etc. which makes this topic crucial for UPSC. Papers which deals with this topic are as follows-

History – colonial legacy & decolonisation
GS II – international relations, soft power, India-Africa relations
GS III – economic cost, infrastructure, planning
Essay/Ethics – sport, legacy, governance, corruption

FAQ on Commonwealth Games

Q1. Why was India selected in the past to host the Commonwealth Games?
India was chosen in 2010 (Delhi) due to its growing economy, rising global profile, and strong bid supported by government backing and infrastructure promises.

Q2. What new sports have recently entered the Commonwealth Games?
Women’s cricket (2022), beach volleyball, and 3×3 basketball have been added to keep the Games modern and inclusive.

Q3. Which countries have hosted the Commonwealth Games in the past?
Notable hosts include Canada (1930, 1954), Australia (2006, 2018), Malaysia (1998), India (2010), Scotland (2014), and England (2022).

Q4. Can a country host the Commonwealth Games more than once?
Yes. Canada, Australia, and the UK have hosted multiple times. India too is eligible to host again.

Q5. How many sports are there in the Commonwealth Games?
The Games feature around 20 core and optional sports, though the exact number varies by edition (for example, 19 in Birmingham 2022).

Sakshi