What is the Commonwealth Youth Games?

What is the Commonwealth Youth Games?

The Commonwealth Games Federation discussed the idea of a Millennium Commonwealth Youth Games in 1997. In 1998 the concept was agreed on for the purpose of providing a Commonwealth multi-sport event for young people.

The Commonwealth Youth Games are a mini Commonwealth Games attracting the best young athletes in the Commonwealth.

All competitors in the Commonwealth Youth Games need to be 18 years or less (i.e, their 18th birthday is during the calendar year in which the Games is held).

The CYG are held no more than once in each quadrennial and not in the year of the Commonwealth Games or Olympic Games.

Post the 2008 CYG in Pune, India the quadrennial cycle will be amended to commence in 2011 (Isle of Man).

Every Commonwealth territory is invited to participate in the Commonwealth Youth Games. The duration of the CYG is no more than seven days, including one “Host Country” Cultural Day.

The first Commonwealth Youth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland in August 2000 where 733 Athletes from 14 countries competed in 8 sports over 3 days.

The second edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games took place in Bendigo, Australia in December 2004 and saw over 1000 athletes and officials from 22 countries in a 10 sport programme.

The third Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in the Indian city of Pune from 12 - 18 October 2008 where 71 nations and territories will participate in 9 sports.

A decision was taken by the Commonwealth Games Federation at their General Assembly in 2005 to move the Youth Games outside of the Olympic Games year and in doing so awarded the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games to the Isle of Man.

Read more in Singapore Youth Olympic Games:
1. Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG Pune 2008)
2. World's First Youth Olympic Games 2010