Why in the News?

Recently, Union cabinet approved India's bid to host Commonwealth Games 2030 with proposed host city as Ahmedabad after the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA's) approval.

About Commonwealth Games (CWG)

• CWG is a multi-sport event held every four years among Commonwealth countries. 
  • First CWG was held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada and 19^th (XIX) in Delhi in 2010.
• Earlier names of CWG: British Empire Games (1930-1950), British and Commonwealth Games (1954-1964), British Commonwealth Games (1970-1974).

About Commonwealth

• Genesis: At the 1926 conference Britain and the Dominions agreed that they were all equal members of a community within the British Empire. 
  • They all owed allegiance to the British king or queen, but the United Kingdom did not rule over them. 
  • This community was called the British Commonwealth of Nations or just the Commonwealth.
• Members: 56 countries (including India), spread across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Pacific.
  • Last two countries to join the Commonwealth were Gabon and Togo in 2022.
  • Adoption of London Declaration (1949) declared that republics and other countries could be part of the Commonwealth.
• Key organizations:
  • Board of Governors: All member governments are represented on the Commonwealth Secretariat Board of Governors by their High Commissioners.
  • Commonwealth Secretariat (London): Created in 1965 as a central intergovernmental organisation to manage the Commonwealth's work.