Human beings have historically shared and interacted in many ways, including through sports and games. There are thousands of types of sports and games in various societies, spanning centuries of practice. Over the past years, many more games have been invented, modified and played. The sharing and interaction occur on a daily, monthly or yearly basis, or for a specific period. Sports and games involve men and women of all ages, races, religions and socio-economic statuses. Some writers have even dubbed sports and games as “spices of politics and international relations”. In the Commonwealth family, competitions in various
sports and games are held every four years, commonly known as “The Commonwealth Games”. Some research on the life of the Commonwealth has revealed that some of our citizens know the Commonwealth only in reference to the Games.
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In the world of sports, the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics enabled the international community to “meet and exchange with a smile”. The CPA’s recent Sri Lanka General Assembly decision to support a resolution from the British Islands and Mediterranean Region to “recognize the unprecedented success of the London 2012 Paralympic Games and ask the Commonwealth Heads of Government and the Commonwealth Games Federation to consider how this experience can be incorporated into the organization of future Commonwealth Games” indicates how the Commonwealth community stands ready to further strengthen co-operation through sports and games. Every year, there are many other groups of sports and
games competitions held in various geographical locations: Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Americas, Australasia and the Pacific, and numerous other bilateral, regional and multinational sports competitions and friendly encounters.
The Secretary-General’s
Dr William F. Shija (left) speaking with the Director of the Political Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Mr Amitav Banerji.