Alongside a celebration of sporting excellence, the Games provide the opportunity to celebrate multicultural, modern Britain at the start of the new millennium.

Manchester is fully committed to promoting and staging an ‘inclusive Games’, with equality of opportunity for competitors, spectators, volunteers and employees, irrespective of colour, race, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, religion, age, or disability.

The Games will involve more competitors from more Commonwealth nations than ever before. Women will compete across all sports with the exception of rugby sevens, boxing and wrestling and comprise 41 per cent of the athletes. Elite athletes with a disability will be included in the main sports programme and medal table for the first time ever at a major international multi-sports event.

The Games will play a crucial role in the continued physical, economic and social regeneration of Manchester, but will also bring regional economic benefits and provide a boost to national claims to host future international sporting events.