Editing Commonwealth Games (section)

== Ceremonies ==

=== Opening ===

[[File:Comm Games 2006 finale.JPG|thumb|Opening ceremony of the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] at [[Melbourne]]]]

The opening ceremony typically starts with the hoisting of the host country's flag and a performance of its national anthem. The flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation, flag of the last hosting nation and the next hosting nation are also hosted during the opening ceremony. The host nation then presents artistic displays of music, singing, dance and theatre representative of its culture. The artistic presentations have grown in scale and complexity as successive hosts attempt to provide a ceremony that outlasts its predecessor's in terms of memorability. The opening ceremony of the Delhi Games reportedly cost $70 million, with much of the cost incurred in the artistic segment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/randomaccess/the-cwg-opening-show-reality-rs-350-crore/|title=The CWG opening show reality: Rs 350 crore|work=[[The Times of India]] Blog|access-date=21 August 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707180834/http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/randomaccess/the-cwg-opening-show-reality-rs-350-crore/|archive-date=7 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the artistic portion of the ceremony, the athletes parade into the stadium grouped by nation. The last hosting nation is traditionally the first nation to enter. Nations then enter the stadium alphabetical or continental wise with the host country's athletes being the last to enter. Speeches are given, formally opening the Games. Finally, the [[Queen's Baton Relay|King's Baton]] is brought into the stadium and passed on until it reaches the final baton carrier, often a successful Commonwealth athlete from the host nation, who hands it over to the [[Head of the Commonwealth]] or his representative.

=== Closing ===

[[File:Commonwealth Games closing ceremony picture.jpeg|thumb|left|Closing ceremony of the [[2010 Commonwealth Games]] at Delhi]]

The closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games takes place after all sporting events have concluded. Flag-bearers from each participating country enter the stadium, followed by the athletes who enter together, without any national distinction. The president of the organising committee and the CGF president make their closing speeches and the Games are officially closed. The CGF president also speaks about the conduct of the games. The mayor of the city that organised the Games transfers the CGF flag to the president of the CGF, who then passes it on to the mayor of the city hosting the next Commonwealth Games. The next host nation then also briefly introduces itself with artistic displays of dance and theatre representative of its culture. Many great artists and singers had performed at the ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/sites/default/files/2018-03/constitution.pdf|title=Constitution {{!}} Commonwealth Games Federation|website=CGF|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713120807/https://thecgf.com/sites/default/files/2018-03/constitution.pdf|archive-date=13 July 2019}}</ref>

At the closing ceremony of every Commonwealth Games, the CGF President makes an award and presents a trophy to one athlete who has competed with particular distinction and honour both in terms of athletic performance and overall contribution to his or her team. Athletes are nominated by their Commonwealth Games Association at the end of the final day of competition and the winner is selected by a panel comprising the CGF President and representatives from each of the six Commonwealth Regions. The '[[David Dixon Award]]' as it is called was introduced in [[2002 Commonwealth Games|Manchester 2002]], after the late David Dixon, former Honorary Secretary of the [[Commonwealth Games Federation|CGF]], in honour of his monumental contribution to Commonwealth sport for many years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thecgf.com/search/oath.asp|title=Commonwealth Games Federation – Oath & Award|website=thecgf.com|access-date=27 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827130116/http://thecgf.com/search/oath.asp|archive-date=27 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Medal presentation ===

A medal ceremony is held after each event is concluded. The winner, second and third-place competitors or teams stand on top of a three-tiered rostrum to be awarded their respective medals. After the medals are given out by a CGF member, the national flags of the three medallists are raised while the [[national anthem]] of the gold medallist's country plays. Volunteering citizens of the host country also act as hosts during the medal ceremonies, as they aid the officials who present the medals and act as flag-bearers.

=== Anthems ===
"[[God Save the King]]" is an official or [[national anthem]] of [[God Save the King#Use in other Commonwealth countries|multiple Commonwealth countries]] and dependent territories. As a result, and due to the [[countries of the United Kingdom]] competing individually, its use is prohibited during official events, medal ceremonies or before matches in team events.<ref>{{cite web|title=11 Things You Didn't Know about National Anthems|url=https://www.birmingham2022.com/news/2724264/www.birmingham2022.com/news/2724264/11-things-you-didn-t-know-about-national-anthems|access-date=7 August 2022|website=Commonwealth Games – Birmingham 2022}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
With the revision of this rule made before the 2010 Games, some national anthems used were changed and in some cases they differ from a currently-eligible country's national or official anthem(s):
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Country
! Anthem used at the Commonwealth Games
!National Anthem(s)/Official Anthem(s)
|-
|{{Flag|Anguilla}}
|"[[God Bless Anguilla]]"
|rowspan="4"|"[[God Save the King]]"
|-
|{{Flag|Bermuda}}
|"[[Hail to Bermuda]]"
|-
|{{Flag|British Virgin Islands}}
|"[[Oh, Beautiful Virgin Islands]]"
|-
|{{Flag|Cayman Islands}}
|"[[Beloved Isle Cayman]]"
|-
|{{Flag|England}}
|"[[Land of Hope and Glory]]" (until 2010)<br>"[[And did those feet in ancient time#Use as a national anthem|Jerusalem]]" (since 2010)<ref>{{cite web|author=Sir Andrew Foster|url=http://www.weareengland.org/news.asp?itemid=327&itemTitle=England+announce+victory+anthem+for+Delhi+chosen+by+the+public%21&section=115&sectionTitle=News|title=England announce victory anthem for Delhi chosen by the public! – Commonwealth Games England|publisher=Weare England|date=30 May 2010|access-date=29 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611162431/http://www.weareengland.org/news.asp?itemid=327&itemTitle=England+announce+victory+anthem+for+Delhi+chosen+by+the+public%21&section=115&sectionTitle=News|archive-date=11 June 2011 }}</ref>
|''None''; "God Save the King" as part of the United Kingdom
|-
|{{Flag|Falkland Islands}}
|"[[Song of the Falklands]]"
|rowspan="5"|"God Save the King"
|-
|{{Flag|Gibraltar}}
|"[[Gibraltar Anthem]]"
|-
|{{Flag|Guernsey}}
|"[[Sarnia Cherie]]"
|-
|{{Flag|Jersey}}
|"[[Island Home (anthem)|Island Home]]"
|-
|{{Flag|Montserrat}}
|"[[National Song (Montserrat)|Motherland]]"
|-
|{{Flag|New Zealand}}
|"[[God Defend New Zealand]]"
|"God Defend New Zealand" (since 1976)<ref name="mch.govt.nz">{{Cite web|title=History of God Defend New Zealand {{!}} Ministry for Culture and Heritage|url=https://mch.govt.nz/mi/nz-identity-heritage/national-anthems/history-god-defend-new-zealand|access-date=7 August 2022|website=mch.govt.nz|archive-date=5 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005054556/https://mch.govt.nz/mi/nz-identity-heritage/national-anthems/history-god-defend-new-zealand|url-status=dead }}</ref><br>"God Save the King"
|-
|{{Flag|Niue}}
|"[[Ko e Iki he Lagi|Ko e Iki he Lagi (Lord in Heaven, Thou art merciful)]]"
|"God Defend New Zealand" (since 1976)<ref name="mch.govt.nz"/><br>"God Save the King"
|-
|{{Flag|Norfolk Island}}
|"[[Come Ye Blessed]]"
|"[[Advance Australia Fair]]"
|-
|{{Flag|Northern Ireland}}
|"[[Londonderry Air]]"
|''None''; "God Save the King" as part of the United Kingdom
|-
|{{Flag|Saint Helena}}
|"[[My Saint Helena Island]]"
|"God Save the King"
|-
|{{Flag|Scotland}}
|"[[Scotland the Brave]]" (until 2010)<br>"[[Flower of Scotland]]" (since 2010)<ref>{{cite news|date=9 January 2010|title=Games team picks new Scots anthem|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8449939.stm|access-date=19 May 2010}}</ref>
|''None''; "God Save the King" as part of the United Kingdom
|-
|{{Flag|Turks and Caicos Islands}}
|"[[This Land of Ours]]"
|"God Save the King"
|-
|{{Flag|Wales}}
|"[[Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau|Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of my Fathers)]]"
|"God Save the King" as part of the United Kingdom
|}