Behind the Games

The Gold Coast gets set to celebrate the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

GC2018 The Gold Coast is set to shine on the world’s stage when it hosts the 21st Commonwealth Games (GC2018) from 4 - 15 April, 2018.

This will be the fifth time Australia has staged the Commonwealth Games following Sydney (1938), Perth (1962), Brisbane (1982) and Melbourne (2006).

GC2018 will also mark the first time a Commonwealth Games will be held in a regional Australian city.

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History

From Asia to Africa and beyond, The Commonwealth is a collective of diverse nations that makes up to 30 per cent of the world’s population. The Commonwealth Games have been conducted by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) every four years (except for 1942 and 1946 due to WWII) since the first British Empire Games were held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930.

Since then, the Games have grown from an event featuring 11 countries and 400 athletes to a modern sporting spectacular that includes 70 nations and territories and over 6,600 athletes and team officials.

But the Commonwealth Games are more than just about competition.

They reflect the CGF’s core values of humanity, equality and destiny and bring together members of the Commonwealth of nations to compete on a level playing field in a spirit of friendship and fair play often referred to as the ‘friendly games’.

There have been many magical moments witnessed at the Commonwealth Games over the years, including the famous ‘Miracle Mile’ at the 1954 Games when England’s Roger Bannister and Australian John Landy created history by both breaking the four-minute mile in a race.

There are a total of 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, including a number of British overseas territories, Crown dependencies and island states who compete under their own flag. England, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Jersey, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all send separate teams to compete in the Games.

Merchandise

Headlined by the cute and cuddly Borobi plush soft toys, the GC2018 merchandise range includes t-shirts, polos, hoodies, caps, commemorative pins, keyrings and outback leather hats.

The range is available on line as well as a number of retail outlets including the three official Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Stores in Victoria Park Broadbeach, the Gold Coast Airport and Surfers Paradise.

Fans will also be able to purchase GC2018 merchandise from the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, with a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the Borobi plush soft toys to be donated to the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation as part of an agreement to support koala rescue and conservation.

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Medals

Approximately 1,500 medals will be created for the Gold Coast 2018 Games.

The gold, silver and bronze medals were designed by Queensland-based Indigenous artist Delvene Cockatoo- Collins and have been brought to life by the Royal Australian Mint, the official supporter and producer of the GC2018 medals.

With a diameter of 63mm, each medal will be minted in the Royal Australian Mint’s largest coin press and inspected individually by hand to ensure the finest quality medals are presented to all Commonwealth Games winners and placegetters.

Sports

Boasting the largest medal event program and the most number of sessions in Commonwealth Games history, 18 sports and 7 para-sports will be contested at GC2018.

While the action focuses on the Gold Coast, events will also be hosted in Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville.

For the first time in the history of a major multi-sport Games, there will be an equal number of medal events for men and women across all sports.

GC2018 will also set a new Commonwealth Games record by hosting up to 300 para-athletes and 38 medal events across seven sports - Athletics, Swimming, Lawn Bowls, Para Powerlifting, Track Cycling, Table Tennis and Para Triathlon. >>

Games Village Mayors

Mark Stockwell and Sara Carrigan OAM, have been named as Co-Mayors of the GC2018 Village.

The Olympians and Commonwealth Games medallists will play a pivotal role in welcoming teams from 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth to their new home.

The two Co-Mayor’s will also work with GOLDOC to ensure the overall smooth running of the Village during Games-time, so athletes need only focus on their performance.

The Village will come to life on 25 March with 6,600 athletes and team officials converging on the Parklands site.

Mark and Sara will meet and greet dignitaries and officials and play the role of confidante, supporter and motivator for all residents.

“I am excited to be a part of the finale of this very long journey and can’t wait to see the Village come to life as a home away from home for the athletes and team officials,” Mark said.

“This Village exudes vibrancy and energy – it is spectacular, and I can’t wait to welcome everyone and help them to enjoy an experience of a lifetime at GC2018,” added Sara.

Australian Team Uniform

Diadora – which produced the Australia Team uniform for Glasgow 2014 – will once again provide the competition wear for Australia’s 470 strong team of athletes across 18 sports, while iconic Australian brand R.M. Williams has created the uniforms to be featured in the opening and closing ceremonies.

The Diadora competition range features Commonwealth Games Australia’s fresh new brand elements including the gradient of colour from green to gold.

Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips said he was proud of the uniforms created for the Australian Team.

“CGA is pleased to have partnered with Diadora and R.M. Williams who have both done a wonderful job to produce uniforms that are distinctly Australian.

“We really feel that we have a created a uniform that befits the honour of representing Australia on the world stage, but has a casual, contemporary twist that is at home on the Gold Coast.

“Perhaps most special about the R.M. uniform is the Indigenous artwork detail throughout – featured in the blazer lining, the pocket squares, ties and scarves and also the polo shirt.

“The artwork used throughout the uniform represents ‘Unity’ which is a powerful message for our team,” he said.

The artwork is part of series of works created for the GOLDOC Reconciliation Action Plan by Brisbane based Larrakia woman Jenna Lee, senior designer and artist at Gilimbaa.