The Commonwealth Games are overseen by the Commonwealth Games Federation (www.thecgf.com), who are responsible for the direction and control of the event. The CGF has core set of values – Humanity, Equality and Destiny - that underscores every decision the Federation makes.

The mission of the CGF is to “ensure the successful organisation and celebration of the Commonwealth Games and to promote the best interests of athletes participating in them and to assist in the development of sport throughout the Commonwealth.”

There are 71 Commonwealth countries and territories that are eligible to vote for which country has the honour of hosting the Commonwealth Games.

Each of these countries has a member Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) or Council to represent the interests of individual sports, vote on matters around the Games and to help nurture sport in their home country. The Association or Council is also the national sporting body which enters a team into the Games.

Scotland is represented by the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland (CGCS) (www.cgcs.org.uk). The Games Council’s responsibilities are to select, prepare and transport the team to the Games. Membership of our Council comes from 26 sports which are in the Commonwealth Games potential sport programme. From these sports 17 are actually selected to compete in the Games. Every four years the CGCS elects and Executive Committee who hold office for four years. 

The Commonwealth Games is the only multi-sport event in which Scotland competes as Scotland, and we have competed in every Games since the first Empire Games in 1930, winning over 300 medals. Scotland has also hosted the Commonwealth Games twice, in 1970 and 1986, as well as hosting the inaugural Commonwealth Youth Games in Edinburgh in 2000.