HistoryData
sports2018

2018 Commonwealth Games — multi-sport event in Gold Coast, Australia

January 1, 2018

The 2018 Commonwealth Games were the first major multi-sport event to feature an equal number of events for male and female athletes.

Quick Facts

Year
2018
Category
sports

Key Facts

Athletes participated
4,426 (including 300 para-athletes)
Commonwealth Games Associations
71
Medal sets contested
275
Australia total medals
198 (80 gold)
Economic boost to Queensland
A$2.4 billion (2013–2022)
Dates held
4–15 April 2018

By the Numbers

4,426
Athletes participated
71
Commonwealth Games Associations
275
Medal sets contested
198
Australia total medals

Location

Map of Gold Coast, AustraliaMap of Gold Coast, AustraliaGold Coast, Australia

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Gold Coast was selected as host city at the CGF General Assembly in Basseterre, Saint Kitts, on 11 November 2011, making it the first regional Australian city chosen to host the Commonwealth Games. Australia had previously hosted the Games four times and sought to further develop Queensland's sporting infrastructure and tourism profile.

Event

The XXI Commonwealth Games were held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, from 4 to 15 April 2018, featuring 4,426 athletes from 71 associations competing across 18 sports at 17 venues. Notably, the Games became the first major multi-sport event to offer an equal number of medal events for male and female athletes, with 275 medal sets awarded.

Consequence

Australia topped the medal table with 198 medals, while five nations won their first Commonwealth Games medals. The event generated over A$2.4 billion for Queensland's economy and was credited with strengthening Brisbane's successful bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics, with upgraded venues producing more than $60 million in annual economic benefit to the Gold Coast.

Result

Australia (1st, 80 gold)
vs
England (2nd), India (3rd)

at Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia (14 venues in Gold Coast, plus Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville)

First major multi-sport event with equal male and female medal events

Timeline Context

Timeline around 201820182015201620172019202020212018 FIFA World Cup — 21st FIFA World Cup, held in Russia2018 Winter Olympics — 23rd edition of Winter Olympics, in Pyeongchang, South Korea2018 Asian Games — 18th edition of the Asian Games2018–19 UEFA Nations League — 2018–2019 edition of the UEFA Nations League2018 Formula One World Championship — 69th season of Formula One motor racingJanuary 2018 — month of 20182018–19 UEFA Europa League — 48th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA2018 Summer Youth Olympics — 2018 edition of the Summer Youth Olympics2018-commonwealth-games-multi-sport-event-in-gold-coast-a-2018