The XXI Commonwealth Games are underway on Australia's Gold Coast.
The latest edition of the multi-sport event takes place in April in Australia, with Canada entering a team for the 21st time. Led by chef de mission Claire Carver-Dias, the Canadians will look to improve upon their third-place finish in the medal count from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
With diver Meaghan Benfeito serving as the flag-bearer for Canada's contingent, hundreds of present and future stars will don the Maple Leaf in hopes of reaching the podium.
We’re proud to introduce @MegBenfeito: Canada’s flag bearer for @GC2018 - coming EXCLUSIVELY to DAZN this April! @cgc_jcc #CommonwealthGames #LiveTheMoment #ShareTheDream pic.twitter.com/6pKrQM0ru8
— DAZN_CA (@DAZN_CA) February 27, 2018
Here are a few things you need to know about the 2018 Commonwealth Games:
Where are the XXI Commonwealth Games being held?
The 2018 Commonwealth Games will take place on the Gold Coast, Australia.
When will the Commonwealth Games take place?
The opening ceremony took place on April 4, with the closing ceremony happening on April 15.
Where can I watch the Commonwealth Games?
The entire Commonwealth Games will be streamed live and in HD on DAZN.
How many countries are participating?
A total of 70 countries are expected to compete in the 2018 Games, after Maldives withdrew from the Commonwealth in Oct. 2016.
Major nations like Canada, England, Australia, India, and New Zealand are joined by small countries and territories like Monserrat, Norfolk Island, Niue, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
How many sports are included in the Commonwealth Games?
There are a total of 18 sports scheduled in the 2018 Games, with 275 events. The sports are (in alphabetical order): Aquatics (diving and swimming), athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling (mountain biking, road and track), gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic), hockey, lawn bowls, netball, rugby sevens, shooting, squash, table tennis, triathlon, weightlifting (power lifting), and wrestling.
Athletics has the most events with 58, while netball has just one.
Which sports will Canada compete in?
Canada has entrants in 17 of the 18 sports, with only the netball team having failed to qualify. In all, there are 275 events.
Who are some of the high-profile Canadian gold medallists from the 2014 Commonwealth Games?
Ryan Cochrane (swimming), Erica Wiebe (wrestling), Damian Warner (decathlon), Meaghan Benfeito & Roseline Filion (synchronized diving), Brianne Theisen-Eaton (heptathlon) and Jennifer Abel (diving) are all notable Canadians who won gold in Glasgow.
Who are Canada's top athletes in the 2018 Commonwealth Games?
Damian Warner (decathlon), Meaghan Benfeito (diving), Jennifer Abel (diving), Penny Oleksiak (swimming),Kylie Masse (swimming) and Erica Wibe (wrestling) are among the high-profile Canadians announced as participants for the Games. Andre De Grasse (sprinter) withdrew from the Commonwealth Games in mid-March.
How many medals has Canada won at the Commonwealth Games?
Canada is third in the overall all-time medal standings. With 1473 medals (469 gold, 476 silver, 528 bronze) won in 20 Games, Canada is behind only Australia (2218) and England (2008). In, 2014 Canada won 82 medals, including 32 gold.