The 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG) begin on April 4 with a glittering opening ceremony at the Carrara Stadium in the picturesque Gold Coast in Australia, where more than 6000 athletes from 71 nations and territories will compete in the 12-day event that culminates on April 15.

CWG 2018 surprising figures-

4-15 April, 2018 Schedule

18 sports; seven para-sports

10 core sports (athletics, badminton, boxing, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, rugby sevens, squash, swimming, weightlifting)

8 optional sports (basketball, beach volleyball, cycling, gymnastics, shooting, table tennis, triathlon, wrestling)

275 gold medals

6,600-plus athletes

71 nations and territories

5 Australian city to host the Commonwealth Games (Sydney 1938, Perth 1962, Brisbane 1982, Melbourne 2006).

221 Athletes from India

58 Indian coach

17 Professionals Indian doctors

70 competing nations and territories will take part

18 venues located on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville

350 cameras set to broadcast

1100 hours of live sport

15,000 volunteers selected from 47,000 applications

4500 private security guards

CWG History

First contested in 1930 as The Empire Games (a title that lasted until in 1950) in Hamilton, Ontario. Just 400 athletes from 11 countries attended. Contested every four years, except for 1942 and 1946 due to World War Two, until 1950. Was renamed as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1952 with the 1954 event in Vancouver the first to use the title.