17-year-old weightlifter Chika Amalaha won the first gold medal for Nigeria at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, United Kingdom on Friday 25th July 2014, the Day 2 of the competition giving Team Nigeria a second medal at the Games, following Nkechi Opara's bronze medal on Day One in the 48kg category of the women's weightlifting event.

With the Commonwealth Games entering its third day today, Saturday Sports Mania takes a look at some of the interesting facts about the sporting extravaganza, which is second only to the Olympics, going by the number of countries participating and athletes showcasing breathtaking talents.

Nigeria has competed at eleven Commonwealth Games, from 1950. Nigeria did not attend four Games, in 1962, 1978 (in protest at New Zealand's policies), 1986 and 1998.

Nigeria has won at least one medal at every Games attended, including a high of thirty-seven in 1994. The first medal in 1950 was won by Joshua Majekodunmi in the High Jump.

1. The Commonwealth Games held once every four years is a unique, world class event which was first referred to as the 'Friendly Games'.

2. The first Commonwealth Games were held in Canada in 1930.

3. The Commonwealth is made up by 53 member countries and each of those countries qualifies to compete

4. Australia leads the way with a staggering 803 Gold medals, the only nation with over 2,000 medals

5. Scotland has previously hosted the Commonwealth Games twice, in 1970 and 1986, both in Edinburgh.

6. The Queen's Baton travelled around the Commonwealth for 288 days before the Games covering more than 118,000 miles. The first Queens Baton Relay was staged for the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff.

7. At the 2014 Games there will be 6,500 athletes from 71 nations competing in 17 sports over 11 days.

8. The Games are made up of 10 core sports and then the other 7 can be selected by the host.
9. In the first Commonwealth Games to be staged only 400 athletes from 11 countries took part.

10. At the 2014 Games, five sports will run 22 Para-Sport medal events, the highest number of events to date.


 Nkechi Opara's bronze medal on Day One
 

Sixteen-year-old Chika Amalaha on Friday won gold for Nigeria in the women’s 53kg weightlifting category at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.