Commonwealth Sport in Northern Ireland
Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland (CGNI) is the lead body for Commonwealth Sport in Northern Ireland. The council is representative of those sports recognised by the Commonwealth Games Federation. We currently have 17 affiliated sports which elect a nine person Board.
CGNI is primarily tasked with presenting a team at both the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth Youth Games. These are the only opportunities available for athletes to compete in a multi-sport event representing Northern Ireland.
Our History
Often referred to as the ‘Friendly Games’ , the first Commonwealth Games were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada where 11 countries sent 400 athletes to take part in 6 sports and 59 events.
Since then, the Games have been conducted every four years. From 1930 to 1950 the Games were known as the British Empire Games, from 1954 until 1966 the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and from 1970 to 1974 they took on the title of British Commonwealth Games. It was the 1978 Games in Edmonton that saw this unique, world class, multi-sports event change its name to the Commonwealth Games.
Northern Ireland has competed in sixteen of the eighteen Commonwealth Games beginning with the second games, held in 1934. The team did not compete in 1930 (when there was a single team from Ireland) and in 1950.
Team Northern Ireland has the distinction of achieving medal success at each and every one. Lawn bowls (Watson & Rosbotham) and athletics (Thelma Hopkins) provided the first gold medals for the team in 1954 and lawn bowls and shooting provided silver medals in Melbourne in 2006 and boxing providing 3 gold medals in Delhi 2010 in the -49kg, 69kg and 75kg weight categories.
As one of the home countries in the UK, Northern Ireland is not able to be a member of the Olympic Movement so the Commonwealth Games provides the only opportunity for its athletes to compete representing Northern Ireland at the international level in a multi-sport event.
The participation in the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games is organized by the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC) who are responsible for presenting a team of athletes at each game and promoting sport for the benefit of all.
The Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC) is the lead body for Commonwealth Sport in Northern Ireland. The council is representative of those sports recognised by the Commonwealth Games Federation. We currently have 21 affiliated sports which elect a nine person Board.
The TeamNI Board
Stephen Martin / Chair
Anthony Mitchell / Secretary General
Anthony has been involved with the sport of Cycling for over 40 years, as a competitor administrator and coach. He has previously been secretary of Cycling Ulster and served a full 6-year term as a Director of Cycling Ireland 2013-19, returning again in 2020 as Honorary Secretary.
He is the Ulster Track Cycling Coach and has managed the Cycling team at the 2011 Youth Games and 2018 Senior Games, joining the Commonwealth Games Board in 2018.
Alan Strong
Clare McAuley
Fionnuala Toner
Lisa Bradley
Mark Montgomery
Stephen Cuddy
Brand Guidelines
To protect the integrity of the Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland brand, this guide outlines a systematic approach to engaging with our trademark that is meticulous and consistent across all online and print material used by stakeholders.
Our Vision, Mission and Values
Vision
To effectively provide an opportunity for Northern Ireland’s athletes to excel in international multi-sport competition. To provide encouragement and support for each athlete as they strive towards excellence at Commonwealth Games.
Mission
To successfully present a team of Northern Ireland’s athletes at each Commonwealth Games, including Commonwealth Youth Games, and to promote the best interests of our athletes and their sports.
Values
The Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council subscribes to the values of the Commonwealth Games Federation – Humanity, Equality, Destiny. These values are as relevant in Northern Ireland as they are throughout the wider Commonwealth community. The decision making processes to be used should always offer consideration to these values.
