The commonwealth games - Comprehension Worksheet

The commonwealth games - Comprehension Worksheet

The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years.

It was initially known as the British Empire Games and was renamed to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1954 and the British Commonwealth Games in 1970, before finally gaining its current title for the 1978 edition. The Games are overseen by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which also controls the sporting program and selects the host cities. A host city is selected for each edition and eighteen cities in seven countries have hosted the event.

As well as many Olympic sports, the Games also include some sports that are played mainly in Commonwealth countries, such as lawn bowls, rugby sevens and netball. Only six teams have attended every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales. Australia has been the highest achieving team for eleven games, England for seven and Canada for one.

In 1928, Melville Marks Robinson of Canada was asked to organize the first British Empire Games. The first Games were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The name changed to British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1954, to British Commonwealth Games in 1970 and assumed the current name of the Commonwealth Games in 1978.

At the 1930 games, women competed in the swimming events only. From 1934, women also competed in some athletics events. From 1930 to 1950, the parade of nations was led by a single flag bearer carrying the Union Flag.

Since 1958, the Queen's Baton Relay has taken place, in which athletes carry a baton from Buckingham Palace to the games’ opening ceremony. This baton has within it Queen Elizabeth II's message of greeting to the athletes. The baton's final bearer is usually a famous sporting personage of the host nation.

All other nations march in English alphabetical order, except that the first nation marching in the Parade of Athletes is the host nation of the previous games, and the host nation of the current games marches last.

Three national flags fly from the stadium on the poles that are used for medal ceremonies: Previous host nation, Current host nation, Next host nation.

The military is more active in the Opening Ceremony than in the Olympic Games. This is to honor the British Military traditions of the Old Empire.

Multiple-Choice Question:

The British empire games were first organized in

At the 1930 games, women competed in

(A) athletics only (B) athletics and swimming

The baton's final bearer is usually

(A) famous sporting personage of the host nation.

(B) famous sporting personage of England

(D) famous political leader of the winning nation.

The first nation marching in the Parade of Athletes is

(A) always England.

(B) the host nation of the previous games.

(D) The nation that is next to host the games.

The highest achieving team is

(A) Australia (B) China (C) India (D) England

Number of cities that have hosted the event so far are

(A) seventeen (B) fifteen (C) eighteen (D) fourteen

Fill in the blanks:

The _____ nation of the current games marches last.

The baton has within it _____ message.

The _____ is more active on the opening ceremony.

____ flags are used for medal ceremonies.

From 1930 to 1950, the parade of nations was led by carrying the _____.

True/False:

The current name ’COMMON WEALTH GAMES’ was coined in 1970.

The athletes carry a baton from the White House to the games’ opening ceremony.

It finally gained its current title for the 1970 edition.

Commonwealth Games Forum is known as CGF.

Answer key:

(D)
(C)
(A)
(B)
(A)
(C)
Host
Queen Elizabeth Ii’s
Military
Three
Union Flag
False
False
False
False