Commonwealth Games Federation

What Commonwealth Games Federation does

Commonwealth Games Federation, operating commercially as Commonwealth Sport, is an international non-profit sport federation headquartered at 8 Storey's Gate, London, and registered in England and Wales (company number 10449637). Founded in 1930 (originally as the British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada), it is the sole governing body sanctioned by Commonwealth Heads of Government to direct the Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth Youth Games, and the King's Baton Relay across 74 Commonwealth nations and territories. Following a September 2022 rebrand from the Commonwealth Games Federation to Commonwealth Sport, the organisation repositions itself as the umbrella body of the broader Commonwealth Sport Movement.

Its core offering is multi-sport event delivery — including the 23rd-edition Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games (23 July – 2 August 2026, £160 million budget, 3,000+ athletes, 47 Para sport medal events), the Malta 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games (eight-sport programme, 29 October – 4 November 2027), and the Amdavad 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games. Alongside flagship events, it operates community and athlete-development programmes: GAPS (Gather-Adjust-Prepare-Sustain), eqUIP (youth skills and internships; 83 internships delivered across six regions since 2018), the Commonwealth Sport Women's Leadership Programme, and the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign (a partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society targeting one million pieces of plastic prevented). The wholly-owned Commonwealth Sport Foundation (registered charity 1173238), launched in 2020, is the charitable arm of the Movement.

The revenue model is non-commercial: funding flows from host-nation and government contributions (e.g., £20 million Scottish Government Summer of Sport programme), broadcast rights licensing (Welsh-language coverage with S4C; wider multi-territory partner broadcaster network), Principal and Official Partnerships (Bupa as Healthcare Principal Partner, EDF as Energy and Utilities Principal Partner supplying 5.4 GWh of renewable energy), ticketing, and merchandise (via the Glasgow 2026 storefront). Go-to-market is event-driven around the four-yearly Games cycle, supported by permanent digital channels (website, six social platforms, Video Hub, Stats Zone) and grassroots programmes.

Name

Commonwealth Games Federation

Legal name

Commonwealth Sport

Website

https://commonwealthsport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Commonwealth Sport (formerly Commonwealth Games Federation) is the international non-profit federation that governs the Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Youth Games, and King's Baton Relay across 74 nations and territories, headquartered in London and event-funded by host governments, broadcast rights, and Principal Partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Multi-Sport Event Management and Sports Federation Governance

NAICS

Spectator Sports (7112), Spectator Sports (71121), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Olympic & Multi-Sport Governing Bodies (IOC/IPC, Continental Games Federations) (MPAKAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Multi-Sport Games Organizing Committees (e.g., Olympics, Commonwealth) (MPAKADAJ), Regional/Continental Confederations & Associations (MPAKAFAD)

Keywords

• Multi-sport event management
• International sports federation
• Commonwealth Games delivery
• Athlete development programmes
• Para sport inclusion

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Management and Broadcasting: Revenue is generated through organizing Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, with broadcasting rights, sponsorship partnerships, and ticketing as primary revenue streams. The organization also receives support from host nations and government bodies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Commonwealth Sport directs, organizes, and delivers international multi-sport competitions — the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games — for athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories, including the largest integrated Para sport programme in Commonwealth Games history. In parallel, the organization operates community development programmes (GAPS, eqUIP, Women's Leadership Programme) and athlete support through the Commonwealth Sport Foundation, supported by broadcasting rights, principal sponsorships, and host-government funding.

Product overview

Commonwealth Sport organizes and delivers major multi-sport events including the Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Youth Games, and the King's Baton Relay. The organization also operates community programmes such as GAPS (Gather-Adjust-Prepare-Sustain) for Para athletes, eqUIP for youth employment, and the Women's Leadership Programme. Supporting offerings include a Video Hub with athlete content and historical footage, the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics environmental campaign, and the Stats Zone for Games records. The King's Baton Relay tradition celebrates and connects Commonwealth communities leading up to each Games, with 74 custom batons visiting each nation and territory before being reunited at the Opening Ceremony. The organization was previously known as the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and is now rebranded as Commonwealth Sport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Commonwealth Games: The primary multi-sport event organized by Commonwealth Sport, bringing together athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories.
• Commonwealth Youth Games
• King's Baton Relay
• GAPS (Gather-Adjust-Prepare-Sustain)
• eqUIP
• CWLP (Commonwealth Sport Women's Leadership Programme)
• Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign

Products and services

• Commonwealth Games Major multi-sport competition organized by Commonwealth Sport that brings together elite athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories, including an integrated Para sport programme, held every four years in a host city.
• Commonwealth Youth Games Multi-sport competition for youth athletes under 18 from Commonwealth nations and territories, held every four years, providing first major international competition experience.
• King's Baton Relay Traditional build-up relay celebration that travels through all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories carrying the King's Message leading up to each edition of the Commonwealth Games.
• GAPS (Gather-Adjust-Prepare-Sustain) Programme Multi-stakeholder partnership programme offering emerging athletes and coaches access to additional skills, knowledge and resources, advancing coach education and inclusive sport pathways.
• eqUIP Programme Skills development and employment programme delivering internships that support CGA capacity building and empower young leaders across Commonwealth nations.
• Commonwealth Sport Women's Leadership Programme Programme providing scholarships, mentorship, and grants to empower female leaders in sport and develop pathways for women in sport leadership.
• Game On Live Site Free public fan-zone activation at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Park during Glasgow 2026, allowing families to watch Games coverage on giant screens and participate in physical activities.
• Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign Environmental initiative partnering with the Royal Commonwealth Society to prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways, with plastic clean-ups in each nation during the King's Baton Relay.
• Video Hub Digital content platform hosting athlete stories, event highlights, GAPS athlete profiles, King's Baton Relay regional wraps, and historical Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games footage.
• Stats Zone (Games Records & Record Books) Online data service providing Games Records, statistics, and Record Books for historical Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games data.
• King's Baton Handmade ceremonial baton designed by Glasgow social enterprise Galgael from sustainably sourced Scottish ash hardwood, carried through 74 nations during the King's Baton Relay and reunited at the Opening Ceremony.
• Official Merchandise Store Official online merchandise store selling Commonwealth Sport and Glasgow 2026 branded apparel, accessories, and commemorative items to consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations competing in Glasgow 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered principal partner, official broadcast partner, government funder, supplier and core partner.

• EDFprincipal partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026EDF becomes Official Energy and Utilities Principal Partner of Glasgow 2026, powering iconic venues (Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow International Arena, Tollcross International Swimming Centre) with zero-carbon Scottish electricity. EDF will supply 5.4GWh of renewable energy throughout the Games and beyond.
• Bupaprincipal partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 June 2026Bupa is the Official Healthcare Principal Partner to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth Sport GAPS Programme. Bupa will support the Games and the pre-Games GAPS camp being hosted at the University of West of Scotland in Ayr, supporting inclusion at the forefront of a worldwide event.
• S4Cofficial broadcast partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026S4C is the Welsh-language broadcaster for Glasgow 2026, providing live coverage of ten days of competition across ten sports and Para sport programme. Coverage will run from 24 July to 2 August 2026, produced by Sunset+Vine.
• Scottish Governmentgovernment funderStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Scottish Government provided £1 million from Summer of Sport programme to fund the Game On Live Site at Kelvingrove Park, with £20 million total for Summer of Sport campaign.
• GalgaelsupplierImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Social enterprise from Glasgow that designed, engineered and handmade the King's Baton for Glasgow 2026, using sustainably sourced ash hardwood from Scotland.
• Royal Commonwealth Societycore partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Commonwealth Sport partnered with the Royal Commonwealth Society to deliver the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, aiming to prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways and oceans. Campaign launched at CHOGM in Samoa in 2024.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Olympic Committee: The IOC is the global multi-sport governing body that owns the Olympic and Youth Olympic Games. Commonwealth Sport operates an analogous structure for a sub-global (74-nation) Commonwealth membership, with similar sanction rights, broadcasting-rights-based funding, and quadrennial event cycles.
• International Paralympic Committee: The IPC governs the Paralympic Games and presides over Paralympic sport worldwide. Commonwealth Sport is comparable because it has built the largest integrated Para sport programme of any multi-sport Commonwealth event and coordinates Para athlete participation and integrity standards across 74 nations.
• Olympic Council of Asia: The OCA is the continental multi-sport governing body that owns the Asian Games and Asian Youth Games. Its continental organising model, athlete pathway structure and per-cycle sponsorship cycle are highly analogous to Commonwealth Sport's structure across the 74-nation Commonwealth.
• Pan American Sports Organization: PASO owns the Pan American Games, the closest continental multi-sport counterpart. Comparable in coordinating ~40 nations, broadcasting rights, and quadrennial delivery model — a useful structural benchmark for the Commonwealth Games operating economics.
• Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa: ANOCA coordinates African NOCs and the African Games (formerly All-Africa Games). An analogous continental multi-sport governing body that manages athlete development, NOC support, and qualification pathways — directly comparable to Commonwealth Sport's CGA model.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics International: Special Olympics is a large, established multi-sport organisation with an inclusive athlete base and multi-day global Games. Comparable in running inclusive multi-sport competitions with member federations and global broadcast/sponsorship partnerships, though focused on intellectual disability rather than the broader Commonwealth athlete base.

Emerging players

• International World Games Association: IWGA organises the World Games for sports not on the Olympic programme. Comparable as an emerging alternative multi-sport platform that competes for athlete participation and sponsor attention, particularly for smaller Commonwealth nations considering which multi-sport event to prioritise.
• Invictus Games Foundation: The Invictus Games Foundation delivers international multi-sport events for wounded, injured and sick service personnel. Comparable in purpose-driven multi-sport delivery, integrated adaptive sport programming, and sponsorship partnerships driven by ESG narratives — an emerging competitive platform for disabled athlete participation.

Others

• Commonwealth Games Australia: Commonwealth Games Australia is a member CGA (national association) within the wider Commonwealth Sport Movement. Comparable as a downstream national-level delivery entity for athlete selection and team operations tied to each Commonwealth Games cycle.
• British Olympic Association: The BOA is the National Olympic Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Comparable as a fellow UK-headquartered national member of the Olympic/Commonwealth Movement with overlapping athlete-eligibility jurisdiction across Team England, Team Scotland, Team Wales and Northern Ireland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thecgf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Commonwealth Games Federation