They have a distinguished history. The first time different bits of the (then) British Empire got together to run around and hit each other (without going to war or invading each other) was at Crystal Palace in London in 1911. There was a "Festival of the Empire" to mark the coronation of King George V. Male athletes from Great Britain & Ireland, Australasia, Canada and South Africa took part in a series of athletics events, heavyweight boxing, middleweight wrestling and two swimming races - over 100 yards and one mile. Canada won.

And that was the blueprint for the modern Games?
It took until 1930 for a repeat performance, when Canada hosted the British Empire Games. Taking part this time were England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, British Guiana, Newfoundland (then not a part of
Canada) and South Africa. A great success, it was decided to repeat the Games every four years. The name of the Games has changed over the years: British Empire Games (from 1930), British Empire & Commonwealth Games (from 1954) British Commonwealth Games (1970-74) and the Commonwealth Games since 1978.

How big are the Games now?
Sixteen countries took part in London in 1934. By 1958 there were 1122 competitors from 35 countries. This year, no fewer than 5,270 athletes, coaches and managers from 72 nations are competing in 14 individual sports and three team sports.

So many fit young people gathered together in one place?
150,000 condoms will be available to residents of the Commonwealth Games Village during the 25 days of their stay. There's also an Internet cafe there in case they get really bored!

Where are they all from?
There are 72 participating nations (the Isle of Man, not to mention Namibia, Nauru and Niue, all compete on an even footing with the likes of England and Australia).

From Africa: Botswana, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

From the Americas: Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Falkland Islands, Guyana and St Helena.

From Asia: Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

From the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos.

From Europe: England, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

From Oceania: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Anyone in particular to look out for?
Aussie swimming star Ian Thorpe - Thorpedo - hopes to lead his country to a clean sweep of all the swimming medals! He could pick up seven golds himself. Also in the pool, South African teenager Natalie du Toit aims for a place in the history books as the first athlete to compete in both the able-bodied and the disabled events. Her left leg was amputated below the knee following a road accident last year.

Fewer headlines are expected from the Lawn Bowls competition, though it could get exciting if hot favourites New Zealand crash out early on. Maybe.

Where have the Games been held?
Time for another list:

1930 Hamilton (Canada),

1934 London (England),

1938 Sydney (Australia),

1950 Auckland (New Zealand),

1954 Vancouver (Canada),

1958 Cardiff (Wales),

1962 Perth (Australia),

1966 Kingston (Jamaica),

1970 Edinburgh (Scotland),

1974 Christchurch (New Zealand),

1978 Edmonton (Canada),

1982 Brisbane (Australia),

1986 Edinburgh (Scotland),

1990 Auckland (New Zealand),

1994 Victoria (Canada),

1998 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia),

2002 Manchester (England),

and next time: 2006 Melbourne (Australia).

The XVII Commonwealth Games in Manchester, 25 July – 4 August 2002

• Official website
• Ticket details