The 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting

APPROXIMATE COMMITTEE SIZE: 70 double delegations

The Commonwealth Games, hosted every four years, bring together members of the Commonwealth of Nations, a political association largely composed of former British colonies. Though often presented as a celebration of athletic excellence, cultural exchange, and shared history, the Games also exist within a broader post-colonial framework that continues to shape political, economic, and cultural relationships across the Commonwealth. The 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (12CSMM) convenes sports ministers, senior officials, and institutional partners to evaluate the future of the Games and the role they continue to play in the 21st century. 

Delegates will confront two central challenges facing the Commonwealth Games today. Topic A will address questions of decolonization and identity, debating whether the Games continue to reinforce imperial legacies and unequal power structures or can instead serve as a meaningful platform for cooperation and shared identity in a post-colonial world. Topic B will grapple with issues of equity and development, as disparities in wealth, infrastructure, and resources among Commonwealth nations raise concerns about participation, sustainability, and long-term viability. Throughout the committee, delegates will be tasked with determining how the Commonwealth Games can adapt to remain politically relevant, economically sustainable, and equitable for both developed and developing member states.

Chairs: Ryan li & shardul krishna kumar

TOPICS

Topic A: Decolonization and Identity: The Role of the Commonwealth in the 21st Century

Topic B: Equity and Development: Addressing Disparities in National Engagement and Participation

Shardul Krishna Kumar is a member of the Class of 2029 originally from Edison, New Jersey. He is a Government and Economics double major, as well as a Tech, Ethics, and Society minor. He has served as a Director for NCSC LII, a Crisis Analyst in NAIMUN LXII, and most recently, as the Director of Business and Advancement on the NAIMUN LXIII Secretariat. Outside of MUN, you can find Shardul constantly dancing or singing, watching a copious amount of sports (hence why he loves this committee), or grabbing a meal with friends in the Georgetown neighborhood. 

Ryan Li is a Public Policy and Economics double major in the Class of 2028 from Vancouver, Canada. He has been involved in the Canadian and American MUN and debating circuits for eight years, further entangling himself in the model UN universe through his work with GIRA Global. As a Canadian, it is no wonder why Ryan is so enthusiastic about staffing this committee, and he looks forward to finally having a good excuse to talk about his Commonwealth brethren. Outside of MUN, Ryan can be found exploring all of DC’s wonderful attractions and (free) museums, playing on Georgetown’s club ultimate frisbee team, and cheering on his hometown Vancouver Canucks.