CGF President Chris Jenkins presented on the Games of the future and CEO Katie Sadleir explained the organisation’s overall ‘Commonwealth United’ strategic plan at the 11th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Paris on Thursday 25 July.

The CGF launched the 2023-2034 strategic plan in June 2023, aiming to deliver inspirational and impactful Commonwealth Games and Youth Games, drive equality in sport and society and excites and empowers athletes and young people across the Commonwealth.

The plan prioritises the continued sustainable development of the Commonwealth Games over the next three editions and the creation of new events and innovative sports properties in the quadrennial cycle that diversify and strengthen the potential for more hosts, more athletes and more communities to participate in and benefit from sport in the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Sport Movement goes beyond our extraordinary, captivating festivals of sport. Our core belief is that ‘sport is just the beginning’
CEO, Katie Sadleir

President Jenkins said, "It is our ambition to reset and reframe the Commonwealth Games to be a collaborative and truly sustainable model, minimising costs and reducing its environmental footprint, whilst increasing social impact. Through this work we aim to create a modern, flexible blueprint for the future that inspires athletes, excites potential Hosts and International Sports Federations, and is in the best interests of the wider Commonwealth Sport Movement. The 2026 Games has the potential to be an important step in this process.’’

The Sports Ministers welcomed the strategic plan, acknowledged the role of sport – and specifically the Games and Youth Games – as positive and essential enablers in helping the Commonwealth achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, endorsed the ‘Games Reset’ as an innovative affordable model that maximises legacy and sporting, cultural, diplomatic, economic and social impacts, and resolved to work with national Commonwealth Games Associations, sports bodies and the CGF to make the case for continued investment in sport and further explore partnership, development and hosting opportunities for the benefit of local athletes, citizens and communities.

Welcoming the opportunity to raise the profile of the Commonwealth Sport Movement and the year-round work that it does to promote sustainable and inclusive sport outside of the Games and Youth Games, the CGF also presented to the Sports Ministers a video showcase of its GAPS Para inclusion programme that offers Para-athlete and coach support.

CEO Sadleir said, "The Commonwealth Sport Movement goes beyond our extraordinary, captivating festivals of sport. Our core belief is that ‘sport is just the beginning’ and we work every day via our sport for development programmes such as GAPS and through the Commonwealth Sport Foundation to transform lives and unite the Commonwealth through sport – driven by our values of Humanity, Equality and Destiny."