2018 XXI Commonwealth Games in Goldcoast,Queensland,Australia April 04-15,2018 - 2018 CWG Begins Today Wednesday April 04,2018

More than 4,500 athletes from 71 nations and territories will compete for 275 gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, which begin on Wednesday April 04,2018 

There will be the same number of men's and women's medal events for the first time at a major multi-sport event.

More than 2.4 billion people - nearly a third of the world - will be represented over 12 days in Australia.

The opening ceremony for the 21st Commonwealth Games takes place at the Carrara Stadium from 10:00 BST on Wednesday, and the first gold medal will be contested in the women's triathlon at 00:31 BST on Thursday.

The tale of the small nations

The Commonwealth Games will also tell the tale of smaller nations.

Niue, the smallest Commonwealth nation by population, is inhabited by 1,600 people, but they are bringing a team of 19, representing nearly 1.2% of the Pacific island's population.

The Gambia - who rejoined the Commonwealth in February after withdrawing in 2013 - have the smallest team at the Games, consisting of six athletes.

The weightlifting-crazy nation of Nauru is lifting well above its weight. Incredibly, for a nation consisting just eight square miles, the Oceania island boasts 29 medals from the seven Games in which it has appeared - every one of them in their national sport.

Nicknamed the 'Tiger Shark', 63-year-old Carmelita Anderson will return for her fourth Games, 24 years after claiming Norfolk Island's first and only medal with bronze in the women's lawn bowls in Victoria. The team also includes John Christian, a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian who led the Mutiny on the Bounty.