Date: 04-15 APRIL
Host: Australia
Countries: 71
Events: 275
Athletes: 6,500

The Games

6,500 athletes and officials from every corner of the Commonwealth, in one of the world's sunniest, sportiest destinations. A ground-breaking Reconciliation Action Plan and a global first with an equal number of medals for women and men. An inspiring and inclusive festival of community, culture and sport. A loud, proud celebration of today’s modern Commonwealth.

From 4-15 April 2018, the Gold Coast welcomed 18 sports across 7 venues: Aquatics (Swimming and Diving), Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling (Mountain, Road and Track), Gymnastics (Artistic and Rhythmic), Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby Sevens, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball (Beach), Weightlifting and Wrestling.

For the first time in Games history, integrated para-sport competitions were included in nine sports across 38 events, the largest programme ever. Para-triathlon will also held for the first time as well as the first-ever wheelchair marathon.

On 7 October 2016, it was announced seven new events for women were added to the sport programme, meaning there will be an equal number of events for men and women. This marked the first time in history prior to Birmingham 2022 that a major multi-sport event will have equality in terms of events. In total 275 events in 18 sports were contested.

Bidding Process

The 2018 Commonwealth Games was awarded to Queensland’s Gold Coast after a decision by the 70 nations and territories in attendance at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in St Kitts and Nevis on Friday 11th November 2011. The voting was 43 to 27. Gold Coast faced a tough battle from Hambantota for the right to follow Glasgow 2014 and host the 21st Commonwealth Games in its 88th year.

Former President the Hon. Michael Fennell said: "My sincere congratulations to Gold Coast - theirs was a fantastic bid and they are a very, very worthy winner. Hambantota was also a very strong bid, and we have a duty to take the Games to new places, but the bid needs to be the right thing for the Commonwealth Games movement at the right time. This time Gold Coast was successful, but I hope Hambantota consider bidding again - their team were wonderful."

The responsibility for selecting the host city for 2018 rested with the 71 member Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs). Each CGA is entitled to one vote. After the votes have been cast and verified by independent scrutiners, the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation announces the decision to the Assembly and the people of the Commonwealth.

To guide the Candidate Cities through the bidding process the CGF developed a Candidate City Manual. The manual in conjunction with other CGF documents establishes the legal, financial and technical obligations of each candidate city (and host city) and also outlines the procedures, rules and timelines for bidding.

Click on the relevant links below to view the CGF Evaluation Commission Report, Candidate City files and the Candidate City Manual.