Creative Content Writer & former Tour Guide at HAGGiS Adventures. Scottish travel blogger and adventure lover. Kay enjoys travelling Scotland solo, and has visited 42 Scottish Islands. She loves to live up to stereotypes by dying her hair ginger, and regularly consuming haggis and whisky. A Scottish history geek and all-around chatterbox, she can literally talk for Scotland.
When you think of Commonwealth Games sports, your mind probably jumps to athletics, swimming, or cycling. But if you’ve ever wondered “Commonwealth Games – what sports really stand out?”, the answer goes way beyond the stadium. Some of the world’s most fascinating (and downright legendary) sports have roots in Commonwealth countries – and they’ve gone on to shape how we play and compete today. From golf in Scotland to bungee jumping in New Zealand, here’s a wee look at the sports that put the Commonwealth on the map.
Golf, Scotland
We Scots may have to bear through some tough weather conditions, but that doesn’t mean we’re afraid of the outdoors. Although its ancient origins are unknown, the modern game of golf has its roots here in Scotland.
It started gaining popularity in the 15th century, and the first 18-hole course was established in St Andrews in 1764. We also hosted the world’s first international tournament that still exists today: The Open Championship. If golf is your one true love, then a visit to St Andrews, the home of golf, is par for the course.
Football, England
Nowadays, this tends to be a topic of hot debate, but it seems the English at least defined the first official rules of the modern game of football, or soccer as it’s known over the pond. In some form or another, the game’s history traces back more than two millennia, played in ancient Greece, China and Rome. Formal rules that the English introduced include ‘no tripping opponents’ and ‘no touching the ball with your hand’ (official descriptions likely differ).
Cricket, Australia
We know what you’re thinking, and yes, modern cricket was born in England, but the Aussie’s have certainly claimed it as their own. Australia has the most successful cricketing team in history, having won more ICC cricket tournaments than any other. They’ve also won more international Test and friendly matches than anybody else, and recorded their 1,000th win in international cricket in 2019. Howzat!
Hockey, Canada
You might have been able to guess this without being told. Yes, modern hockey was invented in Canada, specifically Windsor in Nova Scotia. At least that’s what 19th-century Nova Scotian politician Thomas Haliburton claimed. Those who dispute the claim reckon it was invented in Halifax or Dartmouth, which are both also in Nova Scotia. Whoever’s right, we can certainly say that modern ice hockey is a gift from Canada.
Bungee Jumping, New Zealand
New Zealand is an adventurer’s playground, making it no surprise that the sport of bungee jumping originated here. Well, what we can say for certain is that the first commercial bungee site was established in Queenstown, New Zealand by A.J Hackett (who remained anonymous at the time).
Believe it or not, this first commercial site didn’t come about until 1989. Now, over a million people across the globe have bungee jumped at various sites owned by Hackett. Check it out for yourself on one of the many adrenaline-fueled tours of New Zealand’s Southern Alps ran by AAT Kings.
The number of sports changes slightly each time, depending on the host country. On average, you’ll find around 20 core sports plus a few optional extras. Athletics, swimming, and cycling are always there, but hosts can also add local favourites – like when Australia included surfing.
Yep – boxing has been part of the Commonwealth Games since 1930 and is still going strong today. Both men’s and women’s events are now included, with medals up for grabs across different weight categories.
The Olympics is the global event with athletes from every corner of the world, while the Commonwealth Games is just for countries that are part of the Commonwealth. It’s smaller in scale but still packed with world-class competition – plus it often has unique sports you won’t see at the Olympics, like lawn bowls or netball.
Over the years, a few sports have come and gone. Tennis, tug of war, and rowing all used to feature but were later dropped. While you won’t find Scotland’s Highland Games on the official programme, you can still see them for real – caber tossing, tug o’ war, bagpipes and all – on a weekend tour with HAGGiS.
The Commonwealth Games are held every four years, just like the Olympics. The most recent edition was in Birmingham in 2022, and the next one will be in 2026.
There are 72 nations and territories that take part in the Commonwealth Games, all linked by their membership in the Commonwealth. That includes big hitters like Australia, Canada, and India, as well as smaller nations and island states – giving the Games a pretty unique mix of athletes.
About the author
Kay Gillespie
