Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA)

Bidding to host the Commonwealth Games

The decision on where the Commonwealth Games are to be held is taken by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the International Governing body for the Commonwealth Games movement. A ballot is taken among the Commonwealth Games Associations, each having one vote, at the CGF General Assembly seven years prior to the Games year. As such the Australian Commownealth Games Association (ACGA) as one of the 71 Commonwealth nations which take part in the Games, has one vote.

The right to host the Commonwealth Games is granted to a Commonwealth country through its Commownealth Games Association.

The CGF Constitution states:

"The honour of holding the Commonwealth Games is entrusted to a CGA, affiliated to the Federation, at a venue recommended by the CGA and approved by the Federation."

Bidding for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games

The ACGA carried out a national competition among Australian State and Territory Governments to determine which Australian city should be put forward as the Australian candidate to host the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Criteria were established and used to evaluate the proposals put forward. These included:

Capacity for success in gaining the right to host the 2006 Games for Australia
Demonstrated ability to successfully host large international multi-sport events
Assistance to the Commonwealth Games movement in Australia
Provision of new and refurbished sports facilities for Commonwealth Games sports

This process commenced in January 1996 and a decision was made to put forward Melbourne in October.

A detailed document called "The Bid Book" was prepared by the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Bid Committee and was presented to the CGF in March 1999, six months prior to the CGF General Assembly where the decision was taken to hold the Games in Melbourne. The following information was included in this document:

Dates and proposed duration of the Games
Climate record of Melbourne
Data on Melbourne - size, population, etc
Transport infrastructure including airport
Telecommunications and Broadcasting capacity
Popular support for Games amoung Melbournians and Australians
Government support - Federal, State of Victoria and Melbourne City Council
Experience in hosting events of a similar size in Melbourne and Australia
Proposed Constitution and legal status of Organising Committee including relationship with governments
Experience of persons who will be responsible
Capacity for gaining support from volunteers
Understanding of Commonwealth Games operations
Proposed sports on the program including events
Existing facilities including proposed upgrading - amount of spectator capacity and inclusion of facilities for officials, athletes and the media
New facilities to be constructed including timeline - amount of spectator capacity and inclusion of facilities for officials, athletes and the media
Experience of sports event organisers and facility planners/builders
Location, type and after use of Athletes Village
Transport to and from village with respect to airport, Games venues, training venues, recreation areas, city, etc
Construction schedule for village either for establishment and/or upgrade
Number of CGF Officials, Technical Officials, 'Extra' Officials and representatives of the media which will be provided for
Amount, type and level for domestic and overseas visitors
Any proposed 'control' of accommodation availability and costs
Details of proposed Games Budget - close scrutiny of income and expenditure
Understanding of Capital and Operating Budgets for the Games - specifics of government underwriting

The right to host the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2006 was granted to the ACGA in October 1999.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES vs OLYMPIC GAMES

TOPIC	COMMONWEALTH GAMES	OLYMPIC GAMES
Size	Participation of approximately 4,500 athletes and 1,500 officials.	Participation of approximately 10,000 athletes and 5,000 officials.
Sports Included	Have predominantly been individual sports although the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur introduced a number of team sports into the program for a total number of 15 sports. There were 16 sports on the Melbourne 2006 program and will be 17 on the Delhi 2010 program.	The number of sports has gradually increased at every Olympic Games due to an increasing number of sports being played on a worldwide basis. There were 24 sports on the Sydney 2000 program.
Countries Included	Commonwealth countries. These countries have a history of British colonisation and are registered under the Commonwealth Act.	All countries of the world are eligible to participate in the Olympic Games.
Duration of the Games	Approximately 10 days.	Approximately 17 days.
Australia at the Games	Australia has competed in every Games since 1930.	Australia is only one of three nations to have participated in all 24 Modern Olympics.