Europe

Population figures correct as at August 2004.

Cyprus
Population	759,048
Capital	Nicosia
Language	Greek, Turkish, English
Religion	Greek (Cypriot) Orthodox, Sunni Muslim
	Cyprus is an island nation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, 113 kilometres south of Turkey and around 120 km west of the Syrian coast. Cyprus has a typically Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters. The economy is based mainly on specialist agriculture and tourism, though shipping and offshore banking are also major sources of income. Cyprus was placed under British control on 4 June 1878 in return for British support of the Ottoman Empire in the Russian-Turkish War. It was formally annexed by the United Kingdom in 1913, and after exhaustive negotiations between the United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey, independence was attained in 1960. Cyprus joined the Commonwealth in 1961 and have attended all Games since 1978 in Edmonton bar the 1986 edition. They have 14 medals to their name, including six golds. One of their two gold medals in Manchester came from Herodotus Giorgallas, who picked up Cyprus’ first gymnastics gold medal when he tied with Scotland’s Steve Frew while competing on the Rings. View the final list of medallists from Cyprus at Melbourne 2006 View highlights and photos from the Queen's Baton Relay in Cyprus

England
Population	49,495,000
Capital	London
Language	English
Religion	Protestant, Roman Catholic, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Jewish
	England occupies most of the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and shares land borders with Scotland, to the north, and Wales, to the west. Elsewhere, it is bordered by the North Sea, Irish Sea, Atlantic Ocean and English Channel. The UK has few mineral deposits, but has important energy resources. Agriculture involves mainly sheep and cattle raising and dairy farming. Both forestry and fishing are also important. Major manufactures are food and drinks, motor vehicles, electronic and electrical products. The economy is dominated by service industries, including banking, insurance, finance, business services, retail and catering. England has not had a separate identity as a country since 1707, when Great Britain was established as a unified political entity incorporating England, Scotland and Wales – a state of affairs which continues to today with the “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”. In several sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games, England competes as a separate nation. Appearing at every Games since 1930, England has amassed 1591 medals, including 542 gold. Manchester marked the second time England has hosted the Commonwealth Games, and also their most successful Games outing. Among the 54 gold, England’s Athletics team took home surprise golds in both the Men's 4x100 and 4x400 Relays by tiny margins on the last day of track competition. View the final list of medallists from England at Melbourne 2006 View highlights and photos from the Queen's Baton Relay in England (1) (2)

Gibraltar
Population	29,272
Capital	Gibraltar
Language	English, Spanish
Religion	Roman Catholic, Protestant
	Gibraltar is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. It is located on the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula at the Strait of Gibraltar that links the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, and shares a land border with Spain, to the north. Gibraltar lies on the south coast of Spain at the western entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. The economy depends on tourism, offshore banking and entrepot trade. Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, and the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, Gibraltarians voted to reject Spanish sovereignty and remain a British dependency. They made their Commonwealth Games debut in 1958 in Cardiff, and have been an important member of the Games family since. Despite attending 11 Games, Gibraltar have yet to claim any medals, although they have delivered strong performances in events including Athletics, Swimming, Shooting and Triathlon. View the final list of medallists from Gibraltar at Melbourne 2006 View highlights and photos from the Queen's Baton Relay in Gibraltar

Guernsey
Population	64,080
Capital	St Peter Port
Language	English
Religion	Protestant, Roman Catholic
	The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. As well as the island of Guernsey itself, it also includes Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou, Burhou and other islets. Financial services including banking, fund management and insurance account for much of the economic movement in Guernsey, while tourism, manufacturing and horticulture also play a role. The island of Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. The island has attended every Commonwealth Games since its debut at the Edinburgh Games of 1970, claiming a total of six medals, including one gold. That medal came in Auckland in 1990, when Adrian Breton defeated Australia’s Patrick Brian Murray by one point to win the Men’s Individual Rapid Fire Pistol competition. View the final list of medallists from Guernsey at Melbourne 2006 View highlights and photos from the Queen's Baton Relay in Guernsey

Isle of Man
Population	73,117
Capital	Douglas
Language	English
Religion	Protestant, Roman Catholic
	The Isle of Man is a constitutional monarchy located in the Irish Sea at the geographical centre of the British Isles. Although it is not part of the United Kingdom, it is a Crown dependency. The Isle of Man is part of the British Isles, an archipelago off the north-western coast of mainland Europe. The island lies in the Irish Sea, approximately equidistant between England, Scotland and Ireland. The climate in the Isle of Man yields cool summers, mild winters and a humid climate year round. Main industries offshore banking, manufacturing and tourism. Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the British crown in 1765. The Isle of Man have competed in every Commonwealth Games since their first appearance at the Cardiff Games in 1958, winning seven medals, including two golds. Although many of their medals have come from Cycling and Shooting in the past, much of the Isle of Man’s hopes for Melbourne will be pinned on a Gymnastics team which won 29 medals at the 2005 Island Games and showed promise at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2004. View the final list of medallists from Isle of Man at Melbourne 2006 View highlights and photos from the Queen's Baton Relay in the Isle of Man

Jersey
Population	88,915
Capital	St Helier
Language	English, French
Religion	Protestant, Roman Catholic
	The island of Jersey is part of the Channel Islands, which includes Guernsey, Sark, Herm and Alderney. The Channel Islands are situated in the Bay of Mont St Michel and Jersey is just 14 miles (22.5km) from the coast of France and 100 miles (161km) south of mainland UK. Jersey's economy is based on financial services, tourism, internet trade and agriculture. Financial services contribute approximately half of the Island's economy. Major agricultural products are potatoes and dairy produce. The source of milk is Jersey cattle, a small breed of cow that has also been acknowledged for the quality of its meat. A part of the Duchy of Normandy since 933, Jersey was joined with England when William the Conqueror united England and Normandy under the one monarch in 1066. When King John lost all his territories in mainland Normandy in 1204 to the King of France, England retained possession of Jersey, along with Guernsey and the other Channel Islands which have been internally self-governing since. Jersey have attended every Games since their debut in 1958, claiming four medals, including just one gold. That medal came in Auckland in 1990, when Colin Mallett took the Open Full Bore Rifle Queen's Prize, as well as bringing home a bronze in the Pairs with his father Clifford. View the final list of medallists from Jersey at Melbourne 2006 View highlights and photos from the Queen's Baton Relay in Jersey

Malta
Population	380,000
Capital	Valletta
Language	Maltese, English
Religion	Roman Catholic
	Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean Sea, some 93 km south of Sicily. Only the three largest islands Malta Island, Gozo, and Comino are inhabited. Two thirds of the population lives in the Valletta area. The islands have hot, dry summers and mild winters. The main industries are tourism, ship building and repair, and export manufacturing (chiefly clothing). Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later, they became a republic. Malta made their debut at the 1958 Games in Cardiff, Wales. Since then they have attended all Games bar three editions and have won two bronze medals. The second of those came in Manchester, when William Chetcuti scored 189 to come in third in the Men’s Individual Double Trap, one point behind Australia’s Russell Mark and two behind India’s Rajyavardhan Singh. View the final list of medallists from Malta at Melbourne 2006 View highlights and photos from the Queen's Baton Relay in Malta

Northern Ireland
Population	1,663,000
Capital	Belfast
Language	English, Irish Gaelic
Religion	Protestant, Roman Catholic
	Northern Ireland is situated on the island of Ireland, consisting of six north-eastern counties and is the only part of the United Kingdom with an external land border, with the Republic of Ireland. It covers 14,139 square kilometres, or about a sixth of the total area of the island. Northern Ireland has mostly level to rolling interior plains surrounded by rugged hills and low mountain sea cliffs on the west coast. The climate is maritime, modified by North Atlantic currents. Northern Ireland has mild winters and cool summers. Economy is based mainly on export and also benefits from consumer spending, construction and business investments. One of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland, like the other parts of the UK, competes as a separate entity at many sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games. Northern Ireland have taken part in every edition of the Games, bar 1950, and have the distinction of achieving medal success at each and every one. With 89 medals in total, including 24 gold, Manchester saw David Peter Calvert pick up two gold - in the Fullbore Queen’s Prize - Open and the Fullbore Queen’s Prize – Open (Pairs) categories, alongside Martin Millar. View the final list of medallists from Northern Ireland at Melbourne 2006 View highlights and photos from the Queen's Baton Relay in Northern Ireland

Scotland
Population	5,120,000
Capital	Edinburgh
Language	English
Religion	Protestant, Roman Catholic
	Scotland is a nation in northwest Europe, which takes up the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shares a land border to the south with England. It is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the south-west. Scotland consists of southern uplands, central lowlands, highlands (which include the UK's highest peak) and islands. The Scottish economy is closely linked with that of the United Kingdom, with a strong focus on technology and the service sector, as well as continuing revenues from North Sea Oil. The Kingdom of Scotland was an independent state until 1 May 1707, when the Act of Union resulted in an incorporating union with the Kingdom of England to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. Scotland is now one of four constituent parts of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and from their debut in 1930 Commonwealth Games, they have taken part in every Games since, winning medals every time they have participated for a total of 301 medals, including 71 gold. Among the six golds claimed by Scotland in Manchester, the Cycling 1000m Time Trial win by Chris Hoy is notable for kicking off an impressive run by the Scot to leave him one of the best Kilo racers in the world with two world Championships and an Olympic gold. View the final list of medallists from Scotland at Melbourne 2006 View highlights and photos from the Queen's Baton Relay in Scotland

Wales
Population	2,921,000
Capital	Cardiff
Language	English, Welsh
Religion	Protestant, Roman Catholic
	Wales is located in the south-west of Great Britain and is bordered by the English counties of Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, St George's Channel to the southwest, and the Irish Sea to the west and north. The climate is cold and wet with high levels of rainfall all year round. Banking and finance, steel, transport equipment, oil and gas and tourism dominate the economy. Following the Norman conquest of England in 1066, the independence of Wales was gradually eroded. Wales was legally annexed in 1535, and would go on to become a constituent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Wales made their Commonwealth Games debut in Hamilton in 1930 and are one of only six nations to have taken part in every Games since that time. They have won a total of 196 medals, including 46 gold. Among the six gold medallists in Manchester was Weightlifter Michaela Breeze, whose snatch of 87.5kg saw her claim the gold, while a personal best in the clean-and-jerk gave her a silver in that event and the overall category. View the final list of medallists from Wales at Melbourne 2006 View highlights and photos from the Queen's Baton Relay in Wales

This Website is closed and for reference purposes only. To guarantee the stability of Games data, all external links are being removed.

See you at Delhi 2010

Fireworks at the MCG at the closing of Melbourne 2006.

After eleven fun packed days, Melbourne 2006 is now over and all thoughts turn to the next Games - Delhi 2010. Nameste! See you in Delhi 2010! Swagatam!
Revisit the Incredible India Closing Ceremony gallery.

Experience Melbourne

Events, arts, food and wine... there's more to Melbourne than meets the eye.
Find out more about Melbourne.

View great merchandise in the Online Shop.

Wear, swap, give and live to be part of the Commonwealth Games.
See great gifts in our Online Shop.