Commonwealth Games Australia

The CGA is one of 72 Commonwealth Games Associations currently recognised by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

Working with the national governing bodies of each sport, Commonwealth Games Australia selects Team Australia's members to compete in all sports at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games. The CGA is independent and receives no funding from the government. The non-profit organisation's income comes from fundraising and events.^[1]

It was established in October 1929 as the Australian British Empire Games Committee with E.S. Marks as chairman and James. S.W. Eve as honorary secretary. It has also known as Australian British Empire Games Association, Australian British Empire & Commonwealth Association, Australian British Commonwealth Games Association and Australian Commonwealth Games Association.

The main functions of the CGA are to:

• Promote the ideals of the Commonwealth Games throughout Australia;
• Prepare athletes for the Games by providing support such as funding for international competition;
• Select athletes, coaches, managers, medical personnel and officials to be included in the Australian Team at the Games;
• Coordinate and manage the participation of Program Sports and their respective athletes and officials at the Commonwealth Games;
• Contribute to the development of Australia's high performance junior athletes through the Australian Junior Commonwealth Games Squad Program (AJCGS), and through participation in the Commonwealth Youth Games.

From the concept of "a British Empire Sports Festival" by the Englishman, J Astley Cooper,^[3] the idea was promoted in Australia by B J Parkinson ^[4] in Victoria and Richard Coombes in New South Wales who was President of the Amateur Athletic Union of Australia.^[5]Australia has won the medal tally at 13 Commonwealth games.

Australia first competed at the Games, then titled the British Empire Games, in 1930; and is one of only six countries to have sent athletes to every Commonwealth Games. The others are Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales.

Six of the 21 games have been hosted by Australia, with the city of Gold Coast hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Australia has placed first at 13 out of the 21 games (compared with England 7 and Canada 1) and has been in the top three for all meets except the first games in 1930.

In all but one of the 18 Commonwealth Games held so far (excluding the 1978 Games), the Australian flag bearer has gone on to win a gold medal.^[6]

• Australia at the Commonwealth Games
• Australian Olympic Committee
• Australian Paralympic Committee