Overview & History
The Commonwealth Youth Games concept was created by Scotland as a development opportunity to give athletes under 18 years of age an international multi-sport Games experience. It aims to bridge the gap between young athletes competing intheir own sports specific events and the often difficult first taste of a senior multi-sport Games. It also gave athletes the opportunity to learn about their peers from around the Commonwealth.
The idea was endorsed by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and the inaugural Commonwealth Youth Games were held in Edinburgh in August 2000 as part of Scotland’s Millennium celebration, supported by funding from sportscotland the national agency for sport and the Millennium Commission. 733 Athletes from 14 countries competed in eight sports over three days.
The Games quickly proved to be a great success and the second Games were held in Bendigo, Australia in December 2004 and saw over 1000 athletes and officials from 25 countries in a 10 sport programme. The third Youth Games took place in Pune, India in October 2008 where all 71 nations and territories participated in nine sports. The Isle of Man hosted the fourth Youth Games in September 2011 with athletes from 64 countries competing in seven sports.
The Commonwealth Youth Games has grown in stature since its inception, so much so that the Olympic movement has now embraced the concept and there are now Summer and Winter editions of Youth Olympic Games.
International athletes who had their introduction to a multi-sport Games at the Commonwealth Youth Games include: Olympic swimming champion Jodie Henry of Australia, Gymnastics world champion Beth Tweddle of England and Athletics world champion Caster Semanya of South Africa.
The Commonwealth Youth Games programme has now been standardised, similar to the Commonwealth Games and must consist of a minimum of six and a maximum of eight sports, with no more than two team sports, selected by the host city. Athletics and Swimming (long or short course) are compulsory and the other sports must be chosen from those classed as either core or optional by the CGF. All competitors will be a minimum of 14 and maximum of 18 in the year of competition (i.e, their 18th birthday is during the calendar year in which the Games is held) and a maximum number of 1000 competitors are invited to participate from every Commonwealth Games Association.
The Youth Games will also feature opening and closing ceremonies and include a cultural programme on the final day to enable athletes to mix and learn about other cultures.
The Youth Games are now targeted to be held in smaller countries which are unlikely to be able to hold the full Games, thereby spreading events around the Commonwealth.
After 2008, the timing of the Games was moved from Olympic year to avoid clashes with countries’ Olympic preparations. After 2011 the next Games will be held in 2015 in Samoa. The Games timeframe will then move again to 2017 to occur the year prior to the main Games. The 2017 host has been named as St Lucia in the Caribbean.