The Commonwealth Games were initially called the British Empire Games and they were first held in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1930.  They were renamed as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1954, the British Commonwealth Games in 1970, and the Commonwealth Games in 1974.  They are held every four years and over 70 teams participate in the competitions.

Wales is one of only six countries which have competed in all Commonwealth Games since 1930 and the swimmer Valerie Davies was the first Welsh person to win a medal.  Few athletes have equalled the record of David Morgan, the weight lifter who won nine gold medals and six silver medals in six Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth Games came to Cardiff in July 1958 and it was the largest sporting event to be held in Wales at the time.  35 nations and over 1,100 athletes competed in the Games and a remarkable 10 world records were broken.