International Multisport Events Based on a Common Language
There are relatively few truly global multisport events organised around a common language. The main examples are the Francophone and Lusophone Games.
- Jeux de la Francophonie (Francophone Games) - A major international multisport and cultural event for young athletes and artists from French-speaking countries and territories. The French language is explicitly at the heart of the Games. The event is held every four years, bringing together participants from across the five continents, combining sporting competitions with cultural events.
- Lusofonia Games (Lusophone Games) - A multi-sport event for Portuguese-speaking countries and territories, organised around the Lusophone (meaning Portuguese-speaking) community. The Games were held in Macau (2006), Lisbon (2009) and Goa (2014). Participants have included Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor, São Tomé and Príncipe and Macau.
Related events, based on a broader linguistic, cultural or historical community (not strictly a common language).
- Commonwealth Games - A large international multisport event involving countries and territories of the Commonwealth, though the Games are not formally restricted to English-speaking countries. English is the dominant shared language and has historically provided an important cultural connection between participating nations.
- Pan Arab Games - A multisport event bringing together countries of the Arab world. Arabic provides the principal shared language and cultural connection, although participation is based on membership of the Arab sporting community rather than simply language. The Games were first held in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1953 and have included sports such as athletics, swimming, football, basketball, and volleyball.
- Islamic Solidarity Games - A large multisport event for countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. It is primarily based on shared Islamic identity rather than language, but Arabic provides an important common cultural and sporting language. The Games have involved more than 50 nations and feature a wide range of Olympic and traditional sports.
- Bolivarian Games - A regional multisport event centred on countries historically connected to Simón Bolívar. Spanish is the dominant common language of participating nations, including Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Panama and others. The Games have featured a particularly broad range of sports and are an example of a Spanish-language cultural grouping rather than a strictly language-based event.
- Central American and Caribbean Games - These are one of the world's oldest regional multisport competitions, first held in 1926. Most participating nations are Spanish-speaking, although English, French and Dutch-speaking Caribbean nations also participate.
- Maccabiah Games - Often called the "Jewish Olympics", the Maccabiah is a worldwide multisport event bringing Jewish athletes together in Israel. It is based on shared Jewish identity rather than a common language, so it is not strictly a language-based Games.
Found an error or needs an update?
Let us know.
Featured List: Commonwealth Games Lists