Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games Federation vision is to build peaceful, sustainable, and prosperous communities globally.
The Commonwealth Games Federation, opens in a new tab vision is to build peaceful, sustainable, and prosperous communities globally by inspiring Commonwealth Athletes to drive the impact and ambition of all Commonwealth Citizens through Sport. 27 Throughout 2022 they launched several key statements, policies and guidelines including:
- Human Rights Policy Statement, opens in a new tab, Commonwealth Games Federation, (June 2022).
- Safeguarding Policy, opens in a new tab, Commonwealth Games Federation, (June 2022).
- Athlete Advocacy Guiding Principles, opens in a new tab, Commonwealth Games Federation, (February 2022).
The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games was the first major sporting event globally to publish a human rights position statement, followed by its post-Games report. [20] The Glasgow Games also delivered environmental initiatives including: 28
- A carbon management program to offset vehicle emissions during the Games (including a tree planting program).
- Compliance with international food procurement sustainability guidelines.
- The goal of being the ‘public transport games’ was achieved by including the cost of public transport to sporting venues into event ticket price.
- The first Commonwealth Games to commission a ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment’, using a holistic approach to capture data on infrastructure development.
- Conversion of the Hampden Park facility into the Games athletics stadium, instead of building a new facility.
The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, opens in a new tab committed to delivering a sustainable event, managed to international standards supported by a vision for a strong and diversified economy, a pristine natural environment, and an active, inclusive Gold Coast community. Some key impact and legacy outcomes included: 29
- Sustainable sourcing implemented Games-wide; 8,660 goods and services contracts - 98% of contracts awarded to Australian businesses.
- 1,252 Commonwealth Games Village apartments and townhouses built to Liveable Housing Design Gold or Silver Standard, for legacy rental accommodation.
- Environment: 6 star and 6 leaf rated Commonwealth Games Village; zero helium balloons or lightweight plastic bags; 7 hectares of public parkland at the Commonwealth Games Village; first operational carbon baseline and management plan; 136,420 trees planted.
- World-first commitment to delivery legacy outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; first-time gender equality in medal events for men and women; Participation in Australia's first bench-marking program designed to measure inclusion of LGBTI people in sport; accessible venues for people with accessibility requirements; largest para-sport program in Commonwealth Games history - 38 medal events and 300 para-athletes; human rights policy, demonstrating commitment to the UN Guiding Principles.
Resources and reading
- GC2018 Legacy: Beyond the Games report 2024, opens in a new tab, Ernst and Young (EY), (2024). In June 2023, the Department of Tourism and Sport (DTS) engaged the services of EY to prepare the final Post Games Legacy Report (this Report) to assess the benefits against key objectives listed in the associated Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. This evaluation framework was collaboratively developed by the Queensland State Government and City of Gold Coast and other partners. This Report also provides an analysis of lessons learnt and potential considerations for Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics Games legacy planning.
- Post-Games Sustainability Report, opens in a new tab, Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation, (August 2018). Delivering a GC2018 to international sustainable event management standards supported our Games Delivery Partner’s shared vision for a strong and diversified economy, a pristine natural environment and an active, inclusive Gold Coast community. Some key impact and legacy outcomes relating to sustainability and the environment included:
- Sustainable sourcing implemented Games-wide; 8,660 goods and services contracts - 98% of contracts awarded to Australian businesses.
- 1,252 Commonwealth Games Village apartments and townhouses built to Liveable Housing Design Gold or Silver Standard, for legacy rental accommodation.
- Environment: 6 star and 6 leaf rated Commonwealth Games Village; zero helium balloons or lightweight plastic bags; 7 hectares of public parkland at the Commonwealth Games Village; first operational carbon baseline and management plan; 136,420 trees planted.
- Glasgow 2014 XX Commonwealth Games Post-Games Report, opens in a new tab, Commonwealth Games Federation, (2014). This report identifies a number of environmental initiatives or savings delivered by the Games.
- A carbon management program to offset vehicle emissions during the Games (including a tree planting program).
- The first smoke-free games.
- Compliance with international food procurement sustainability guidelines.
- The goal of being the ‘public transport games’ was achieved by including the cost of public transport to sporting venues into event ticket price.
- Solar energy collection panels were built into the Games village.
- The first Commonwealth Games to commission a ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment’, using a holistic approach to capture data on infrastructure development.
- All waste management practices were compliant with Euro IV standards to improve recycling and reduce landfill waste.
- Conversion of the Hampden Park facility into the Games athletics stadium, instead of building a new facility.
- Recycling furniture and office equipment (much of it from the 2012 London Olympic Games) and building materials for the Games headquarters facility.
- Triple bottom line assessment of the XVIII Commonwealth Games, opens in a new tab, Insight Economics, Report to the Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination, (2006). Three main environmental programs were delivered through the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne. Under the Water Wise program, 18,000 trees were planted and four hectares of wetland were constructed; in addition to rainwater collection systems being incorporated into several Games venues. The Carbon Neutral program delivered the athlete’s village with a six-star energy rating; approximately one million trees were planted to offset greenhouse gas emissions; bicycle facilities were available at all Games venues; and fuel efficient vehicles were used for Games transport. Low Waste programs involved a number of initiatives aimed at raising awareness to minimise waste and encourage recycling; 60% of the waste from the athlete’s village was recycled. This report concluded that although it was difficult to assess whether lasting behavioural change will result from Commonwealth Games linked programs, the overall objectives of the three programs were achieved.
- The Contribution of Sport to the Sustainable Development Goals: Insights from Commonwealth Games Associations, opens in a new tab, Haydn Morgan, Anthony Bush, Darragh McGee, Journal of Sport for Development, Volume 9(2), (August 2021). The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are hailed as a common language to unite a global commitment towards a change of trajectory regarding social, economic, and environmental development issues. Although not overtly cited within the SDGs or their related targets, sport has been widely accepted and promoted as an enabler of social change and a mechanism through which to strategically map and measure commitments to sustainability. However, despite the numerous case study examples of specific sport-based programs that have demonstrated the potential of sport to contribute to the SDGs, there is limited knowledge about the currency and value that the SDGs hold for key sport stakeholders in development, and a shortage of concrete evidence to assess the uptake and integration at the level of national policy. In an attempt to address this shortage, this paper presents insights from the analysis of secondary data collected by the Commonwealth Games Federation from 62 Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) in relation to their perspectives on the contribution of sport to the SDGs. The paper provides examples of specific areas of strength, or those in need of further development, to present a baseline for the current state of play in understanding the contribution from individual CGAs to the SDGs.
- Human Rights Policy Statement, opens in a new tab, Commonwealth Games Federation, (June 2022). Through this Human Rights Policy Statement, we aim to mobilise and leverage the potential of the entire Commonwealth Sport Movement to protect, respect, remedy and promote the human rights of athletes, citizens and communities across the Commonwealth who are involved with or impacted by our events, actions, programmes and activities. All Commonwealth citizens are all equally entitled to human rights without discrimination, whatever their ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, culture, religion or belief, political opinion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability or any other improper ground. These rights are universal, and all connected, interdependent and indivisible from each other.
- Safeguarding Policy, opens in a new tab, Commonwealth Games Federation, (June 2022). The CGF recognises the importance of Safeguarding and is committed to working towards the creation of a safe sport environment at all levels. After a wide stakeholder consultation, the CGF is pleased to share its first safeguarding policy. The CGF Safeguarding Policy aims to set a framework to protect all individuals connected with CGF, in particular children and adults at risk, including adult athletes, from any type of harm and/or abuse when they come into contact with CGF or are engaged in activities connected to CGF. The policy sets out safeguarding responsibilities for CGF Officials and others who engage with the CGF. It also ensures CGF Officials and others know how to respond appropriately when concerns are raised about children or adults at risk.
- Athlete Advocacy Guiding Principles, opens in a new tab, Commonwealth Games Federation, (February 2022). This work has been developed by and for athletes, but it applies to all Participants who may wish to make positive expressions of their values in accordance with these Guiding Principles.
- The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) recognises that athletes are: inspirational leaders, agents of change, advocates for integrity, ambassadors for respect, impartiality and non-discrimination.
- The CGF is supportive of freedom of expression and trusts, respects and understands that athletes may want to make positive expressions of their values in line with the CGF values of Humanity, Equality and Destiny.
- Any such positive expressions of values are subject to the CGF Charter of Good Conduct.
- Sustainability policy, opens in a new tab, Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games, (September 2017). We are committed to the following governing principles of sustainable development: Inclusivity – To ensure that all interested parties are able to participate without fear of discrimination; Integrity – To conduct GC2018 in an ethical manner, consistent with international standards of behaviour; Stewardship – To take responsibility for the economic, environmental and social outcomes to be shared by all; Transparency – To communicate willingly and openly about the decisions and activities that affect the social, environmental and economic outcomes of our actions; Leadership – To demonstrate leadership by delivering GC2018 to international standards, constantly improving our ways of working and meeting all legal and other requirements. Related documents include:
- Sustainability, opens in a new tab [website], Gold Coast 2018, (accessed 22 October 2021). As a transformational event, GC2018 presents a unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership in sustainability by delivering to international standards of best practice, leaving positive economic, environmental, social and community legacies that last beyond the Closing Ceremony.
- Approach to Human Rights, opens in a new tab, Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games, (August 2018). A key purpose of this document is to demonstrate GOLDOC’s commitment and approach to human rights in the planning and delivery of GC2018.
- The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Reconciliation Action Plan, opens in a new tab, Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games, (November 2017). Our vision is to deliver a great Games that will recognise, respect and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. GC2018 will leave a lasting and meaningful legacy through: employment and training; procurement; showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultures; building a culturally capable workforce and providing authentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural experiences for GC2018 and beyond.
- Towards a Sustainable GC2018, opens in a new tab, Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games, (September 2017). This sustainability framework “Towards a sustainable GC2018” was first published in 2014. Since that time, the organisation has undergone significant growth and evolution. Therefore, to ensure that GOLDOC’s approach to sustainability continues to evolve and in accordance with GOLDOC’s commitment to continual improvement, this document has been reviewed with minor updates incorporated.
