Top five nations to host most Commonwealth Games in history

Canada was the first nation to host the Games in 1930.

The concept of a united Commonwealth Games was first proposed by Reverend Astley Cooper in 1891. He wrote an article in The Times suggesting a “Pan-Britannic-Pan Anglican Contest and a festival every four years as a means of increasing the goodwill and a good understanding of the British Empire. 

In 1930, the games were played for the first time; it was then called the British Empire Games. It was held in Hamilton, Canada. The first Games in 1930 was a great success and the response made it a regular tournament since then except in 1942 and 1946 when they did not take place due to World War II. It was called The British Empire Games from 1930 to 1950, and then the name was changed to the British Empire Games and Commonwealth Games until 1962. Later, from 1966-1974 the name was changed to British Commonwealth Games and from 1978 till now it is known as Commonwealth Games. 

5. New Zealand (1950, 1974, 1990)

New Zealand have hosted the Games three times in the history of the Commonwealth Games. Two times from these three it was hosted in Auckland (1950, 1990) and the other time it was held in Christchurch (1974).

In the 1950 and 1974 Commonwealth Games, nine sports were featured with a total medal count of 374 whereas in the 1990 Games, 10 sports were featured and a total of 639 medals were awarded. In all three Commonwealth Games held in New Zealand, Australia topped the medal tallies and dominated the multi-sports event. 

4. Scotland (1970, 1986, 2014)

Scotland also hosted the quadrennial event three times in the history of the Games. Edinburgh hosted the Games for the two editions (1970 and 1986), while the 2014 edition was hosted by Glasgow.

The 1970 edition included 10 sports, where Australia were the table-toppers that year and in 1986 England topped the medal tally in the 10 sports that were played. The 20th Games were held in Glasgow in 2014 where 17 sports were played and Australia was on top of the medal tally with 49 gold medals.

3. England (1934, 2002, 2022)

In 1934, London hosted the Commonwealth Games, the 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester and the latest Commonwealth Games 2022 was held in Birmingham. The 1934 Games had six sports included in it, where England dominated the medal tally and won 29 gold.

The Manchester Commonwealth Games conducted 17 disciplines the highest at that time and 72 countries participated in it, where Australia topped with 82 gold. At the Birmingham Games, once again Australia were the dominant nation with` 67 gold medals. 

2. Canada (1930, 1954, 1978, 1994)

Canada has conducted the event four times in history. Canada was the first to host the Commonwealth Games in 1930. The 1930 edition was held in Hamilton from where this major event began. With six sports in the edition, England were the table-toppers with 25 gold medals. In 1954, the Games were held in Vancouver, where the number of sports was increased to nine.

England once again were the table-toppers with 23 gold medals. Edmonton hosted the 1978 Games and featured ten sports in this edition where Canada topped the medal tally with 45 gold medals. Victoria hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1994 where 63 nations competed and Australia ranked first with 87 gold medals. The 2030 Commonwealth Games are also supposed to take place in Canada, but the city is still not confirmed.

1. Australia (1938, 1962, 1982, 2006, 2018)

Australia has hosted the Games the most number of times. Australia has hosted the games five times (Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne & Victoria, Gold Coast) in the history of the Commonwealth Games and is also supposed to host it in 2026. Sydney was the first city in Australia to host the Commonwealth Games in 1938. Seven sports were featured in this edition. The next time Australia hosted the Games was in 1962, Perth was the host city this time where nine sports were featured.

In 1982, Brisbane hosted the Games where 46 nations participated and Australia bagged 39 gold medals to rank first. Melbourne and Victoria hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the last time Australia hosted Commonwealth Games were in 2018 on the Gold Coast. In all the editions where Australia was the host, they dominated the session and was on the top of the medal tally all five times.         

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