2023 Commonwealth Youth Games
Logo
Host cityTrinidad and Tobago
MottoOne Heart, One Nation, One Spirit
Nations68
Athletes1000
Events93 in 7 sports
Opening4 August 2023
Closing11 August 2023
Opened byPresident Christine Kangaloo
Main venueHasely Crawford Stadium, Trinidad (athletics, opening ceremony)
Pigeon Point, Tobago (closing ceremony)
WebsiteTrinbago 2023

The 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, officially known as the VII Commonwealth Youth Games and informally as Trinbago 2023, was a youth sporting event for members of the Commonwealth that was held in Trinidad and Tobago.[1] They were the seventh edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games. The games were initially scheduled between 1 and 7 August 2021[2] but were postponed and held from 4 to 11 August 2023 as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic and scheduling issues with the 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.[3]

The 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games were the first to be held since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III as Head of the Commonwealth and the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth Realms on 8 September 2022. They were also the first to be held in the Caribbean, and the first to include para-sports.

Host selection

The 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games went through three extensive host selections.

First selection

Accepted bid

With the backing of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Commonwealth Games Council for Northern Ireland,[4] Belfast submitted an official bid for the games. On 29 November 2015, it was confirmed that Northern Ireland was the only official, and thus the preferred, bid.[5] They were named the official hosts in January 2016, with the Games originally scheduled for 27 July to 1 August 2021.[6][2] Robert McVeigh, the Chair of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council, said he was "delighted" that the bid was successful.[7]

In June 2018, Belfast was stripped of the Games due to uncertainty surrounding funding for the event during the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive.[8][9][10] This was as £3 million of grants had not been signed off by the Executive before it collapsed in January 2017, meaning the Games had a significant funding gap.[11]

Withdrawn bids

The Botswana National Olympic Committee stated it was preparing a bid for the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games.

Jersey was considering a bid in early 2015 but pulled out of the bidding process in June 2015.[12][13] The withdrawal came as Botswana and Northern Ireland placed bids - Paul du Feu, Jersey's Commonwealth Games Association leader commented that "when you're up against opposition with a bigger population and totally different infrastructure you have to be realistic".[14]

Second selection

Following the stripping of the games from Belfast, a new selection process has been initiated, which lasted for six months.[8] Trinidad and Tobago was announced as new host on 21 June 2019.[15]

Accepted second bid

Other bids

Third selection

Following the postponement, Trinidad and Tobago were elected host of the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Birmingham, England at the Commonwealth Games Federation general assembly.

Accepted third bid

Postponement

Since the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games were moved to 2021 during the original dates of the Commonwealth Youth Games, the CGF considered the best alternative options and time frames for holding the event in the future, potentially in 2023, to avoid clashing with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with Trinidad and Tobago having the first option to hold the event.[3][21][22] On 26 July 2022, it was announced that the 7th Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in 2023 in Trinidad and Tobago.[1][23]

Marketing

Mascot

On 16 March 2023, the Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe, revealed the games' mascot, Cocoyea, a Leatherback sea turtle. The mascot was designed by Djibril Annisette, who won a design competition that was run for children.[24][25]

Participation

68 of the 72 Commonwealth Games Associations participated in the games.[26] Maldives, Norfolk Island, Sierra Leone did not compete, along with Gabon and Togo, new members of the Commonwealth which had not yet joined the Commonwealth Games Federation. Gambia was scheduled to compete but withdrew due to not getting visas in time.

Participating Commonwealth Games Association *[27][28][29][30]

*As confirmed by 1 August 2023.

Ceremonies

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony took place on 4 August 2023 in Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad. It was themed as a Trinidad and Tobago carnival.

The traditional parade of nations was led by the Bahamas (as the host of the previous games), followed by the rest of the nations from the Americas. Following this, nations entered by region in order from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and lastly the Caribbean. The host nation, Trinidad and Tobago, entered last. Each nation was preceded by a placard bearer carrying a circular board containing the respective nation's flag.

The games were opened by President Christine Kangaloo and were attended by Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin, Prime Minister Keith Rowley, and his wife. A smaller ceremony was held in Tobago the same day.[44][45]

Closing ceremony

The closing ceremony took place on 11 August 2023 in Pigeon Point, Tobago. In addition to the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony was also carnival themed.[46]

The Games

A total of 93 events over seven sports was contested.[47][48]

2023 Commonwealth Youth Games

Calendar

OCOpening ceremony ●Event competitions 1Event finals CCClosing ceremony
August 4
Fri		 5
Sat		 6
Sun		 7
Mon		 8
Tue		 9
Wed		 10
Thu		 11
Fri		 Medal events
Ceremonies (opening / closing)OCCC—
Athletics 8 8 7 11 34
Beach volleyball ● ● ● ● ● 2 2
Cycling
Road 2 2 4
Track 1 4 7 12
Netball Fast 5 ● ● 1 1
Swimming 9 9 9 8 35
Rugby sevens ● ● 2 2
Triathlon 2 1 3
Total Medal events 2 11 19 21 19 21 93
Cumulative total 2 13 32 53 72 93 —
4
Fri		5
Sat		6
Sun		7
Mon		8
Tue		9
Wed		10
Thu		11
Fri		Medal events

Medal table

  *   Host nation (Trinidad and Tobago)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Australia26172164
2 England16231049
3 Scotland1211528
4 South Africa76720
5 Nigeria6208
6 Kenya5409
7 Trinidad and Tobago*45615
8 Northern Ireland4228
9 Wales36615
10 Cayman Islands2136
11 Guyana2114
12 Canada2103
13 Jamaica2024
14 Jersey1225
 Malaysia1225
16 New Zealand0369
17 India0235
18 Bahamas0224
19 Fiji0123
 Uganda0123
21 Sri Lanka0112
22 Barbados0022
 Isle of Man0022
 Namibia0022
 Saint Lucia0022
26 Antigua and Barbuda0011
 Cyprus0011
 Grenada0011
Totals (28 entries)939394280

Source:[49]

Venues

Event Venue No. of events
Men Women Mixed Total
Athletics Trinidad Hasely Crawford Stadium[50] 13 13 2 28
Para athletics 3 3 — 6
Cycling Road Brian Lara Cricket Academy Cycling Track 2 2 — 4
Track National Cycling Velodrome 6 6 — 12
Swimming National Aquatics Stadium 16 16 3 35
Beach volleyball Tobago Courland Beach Sports Arena 1 1 — 2
Netball Shaw Park Cultural Complex — 1 — 1
Rugby sevens 1 1 — 2
Triathlon Tobago Buccoo Beach 1 1 1 3
43 44 6 93

References

  1. 1 2 "Trinidad and Tobago named host of 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games". insidethegames.biz. 26 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 "SEVENTH COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES - BELFAST 2021 EDM #1263". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Commonwealth Youth Games To Be Rescheduled". The Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  4. ↑ "Commonwealth Youth Games 2021". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  5. ↑ Beacom, Steven (29 January 2016). "Belfast set to host Commonwealth Youth Games extravaganza in 2021". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  6. ↑ "Northern Ireland to Host 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games". iSport Connect. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  7. ↑ "Belfast to host the 7th Commonwealth Youth Games in 2021". Visit Belfast. 10 April 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Media Statement on 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games". Commonwealth Sport. Archived from the original on 10 March 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  9. ↑ Palmer, Dan (22 June 2018). "Belfast stripped of 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games". Inside the Games. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  10. ↑ "NI loses right to host 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games". BBC. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  11. ↑ Fullerton, Gareth (22 June 2018). "Commonwealth Youth Games blow for Northern Ireland as Belfast loses out in bid". Belfast Live. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  12. ↑ "Jersey to host Commonwealth Youth Games in 2021?". Jersey Evening Post. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  13. ↑ "Jersey pulls out of Commonwealth Youth Games bid". itv.com. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  14. ↑ "Commonwealth Youth Games: Jersey pull out of 2021 bid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  15. ↑ Mackay, Duncan (21 June 2019). "Trinidad and Tobago awarded 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games". Inside the Games. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  16. ↑ Pavitt, Michael (23 June 2018). "Trinidad and Tobago consider bid for 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games". Inside the Games. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  17. ↑ Pouchet, Mark (31 August 2018). "TO BID OR NOT Clock ticks away on C'wealth Youth Games decision". Trinidad Express. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  18. 1 2 "Trinidad and Tobago contends to host 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games". Panam Sports. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  19. ↑ "CGF receive bids from Gibraltar and Trinidad and Tobago for 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games". Commonwealth Games Australia. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  20. ↑ "Trinidad and Tobago signs host contract for 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games". 28 August 2022.
  21. ↑ Pavitt, Michael (1 May 2020). "Commonwealth Youth Games to be rescheduled with Trinidad and Tobago given "first option" to host". Inside The Games. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  22. ↑ "Commonwealth Youth Games future to be decided before Birmingham 2022". 18 February 2022.
  23. ↑ "Commonwealth Sport". Commonwealth Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  24. ↑ "Cocoyea the turtle named 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games mascot". www.insidethegames.biz. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  25. ↑ "Minister unveils Trinbago 2023 mascot at Commonwealth Day celebration". Commonwealth Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  26. ↑ "Trinidad and Tobago ready to host 2023 commonwealth Youth Games". www.panamsports.org/. Panam Sports. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  27. ↑ https://www.trinbago2023.com/sports/beach-volleyball
  28. ↑ https://www.trinbago2023.com/sports/netball
  29. ↑ https://www.trinbago2023.com/sports/rugby-sevens
  30. ↑ https://newsday.co.tt/2023/07/27/caricom-teams-to-arrive-for-commonwealth-youth-games-from-monday/
  31. ↑ https://unb.com.bd/category/Sports/bangladesh-set-to-participate-in-7th-commonwealth-youth-games/119625
  32. ↑ https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2023/07/18/cycling-federation-of-belize-sends-delton-rojas-jaylen-briceno-gabrielle-gabourel-to-commonwealth-youth-games-in-trinidad-and-tobago/
  33. ↑ https://borneobulletin.com.bn/brunei-national-swimmers-leave-for-world-meet-in-japan/
  34. ↑ https://www.chronicle.gi/team-gibraltar-heads-to-commonwealth-youth-games/
  35. ↑ https://newsroom.gy/2023/07/29/eight-athletes-to-represent-guyana-at-commonwealth-youth-games/
  36. ↑ Indranil Das (30 July 2024), "Indian contingent for Commonwealth Youth Games", Indian Express
  37. ↑ https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-sport/2026-commonwealth-games-decision-particular-blow-to-manx-athletes/
  38. ↑ https://www.cgaj.org/2023/05/25/commonwealth-youth-games-team-announcement/
  39. ↑ https://allafrica.com/stories/202307280091.html
  40. ↑ https://www.impartialreporter.com/sport/23622679.commonwealth-youth-games-ellie-secures-inclusion-ni-team/
  41. ↑ https://www.app.com.pk/sports/psb-approves-participation-of-pakistan-contingent-in-cw-youth-games/
  42. ↑ https://www.looppng.com/sport/commonwealth-youth-games-update-121797
  43. ↑ http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/19030/Five+athletes+from+Seychelles+heading+for+Commonwealth+Youth+Games
  44. ↑ "Exclusive: Switzerland examining "national" bid for 2030 Winter Olympics". 26 July 2023.
  45. ↑ "Trinidad and Tobago President Kangaloo opens Commonwealth Youth Games". 4 August 2023.
  46. ↑ "Trinbago 2023 closes with carnival style beach ceremony". 11 August 2023.
  47. ↑ "Sport Programme confirmed for Trinbago 2021". The Commonwealth Games Federation. 2 March 2020. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  48. ↑ "Seven sports to feature at 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago". 21 September 2022.
  49. ↑ "Commonwealth Games - Trinbago 2023 Web Result". Commonwealth Games - Trinbago 2023 Web Result. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  50. ↑ "Commonwealth Youth Games athletics venue switched". www.insidethegames.biz. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
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