Approved Sports
Further information: Commonwealth Games sports and Commonwealth Games records
There are a total of 21 sports (with two multi-disciplinary sports) and a further seven para-sports which are approved by the Commonwealth Games Federation. They are categorised into three types. Core sports must be included on each programme. A number of optional sports may be picked by the host nation, which may include some team sports such as basketball. Recognised sports are sports which have been approved by the CGF but which are deemed to need expansion; host nations may not pick these sports for their programme until the CGF's requirements are fulfilled.
| Sport |
Type |
Years |
| Archery |
Optional |
1982, 2010 |
| Athletics |
Core |
1930–present |
| Badminton |
Core |
1966–present |
| Basketball |
Optional |
2006 |
| Billiards |
Recognised |
Never |
| Boxing |
Core |
1930–present |
| Canoeing |
Recognised |
Never |
| Cricket |
Recognised |
1998 |
| Cycling |
Optional |
1934–present |
| Diving |
Optional |
1930–present |
| Fencing |
Recognised |
1950–1970 |
| Football |
Recognised |
Never |
| Golf |
Recognised |
Never |
Gymnastics
(Artistic and Rhythmic) |
Optional |
1978, 1990–present |
| Handball |
Recognised |
1930 |
| Hockey |
Core |
1998–present |
| Judo |
Optional |
1990, 2002, 2014 |
| Lawn bowls |
Core |
1930–present (except 1966) |
| Life saving |
Recognised |
Never |
|
| Sport |
Type |
Years |
| Netball |
Core |
1998–present |
| Rowing |
Optional |
1930, 1938–1962, 1986 |
| Rugby League (likely nines) |
Recognised |
Never |
| Rugby Union Sevens |
Core |
1998–present |
| Sailing |
Recognised |
Never |
| Shooting |
Optional |
1966, 1974–present |
| Softball |
Recognised |
Never |
| Squash |
Core |
1998–present |
| Swimming |
Core |
1930–present |
| Synchronized Swimming |
Optional |
1986, 2006 |
| Table Tennis |
Optional |
2002–present |
| Taekwondo |
Optional |
2010 |
| Tennis |
Optional |
2010 |
| Ten Pin Bowling |
Recognised |
1998 |
| Triathlon |
Optional |
2002, 2006, 2014 |
| Volleyball |
Recognised |
Never |
| Water Polo |
Recognised |
1950 |
| Weightlifting |
Core |
1950–present |
| Wrestling |
Optional |
1930–present (except 1990,1998 and 2006) |
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