A passion for sport and an enthusiasm for competing will be the main reasons that 5000 athletes from 72 countries around the world will gather in Manchester, England from July 25 - August 4 to participate in the prestigious XVII COMMON WEALTH GAMES.

No less than 19 African countries will take their places at the event and viewers across the continent can see their teams in action, live on two dedicated SuperSport channels: SuperSport 3 and SuperSport 6, which is being specially broadcast for the duration of the Games.

The continental sportscaster, which has just completed a successful and comprehensive FIFA 2002 World Cup broadcast, will be providing fans with live coverage, studio commentary and all the news, updates and information from Manchester.

Held in the year of the Queen's Jubilee, it will be the biggest Commonwealth Games ever celebrated as many of the world's finest sportsmen and women face off in 14 individual chief sports and 3 team sports.

Other sports that will take centre-stage during the ten day Commonwealth Games include badminton, cycling, gymnastics, judo, bowls, netball, rugby sevens, shooting, squash, table tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.

The athletics section of the competition, which will start off the Games at the City of Manchester Stadium, includes track and field events such as hurdling, steeplechase, relays, long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault, shot-putt, discus, javelin and hammer throw.

The Games will be opened in traditional fashion by the Commonwealth Baton, which has been carried around the world in the last few weeks with the message of Commonwealth peace, unity and hope.

The event is expected to draw massive crowds and is the first significant multi-sport competition to be held in the UK since the 1948 Olympic Games. Adding the historic nature of the Games is the fact that for the first time ever at a major international sporting competition, athletes with disability will be included in the main sports program and medal table.