The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host, and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. It was also the first Games to feature team sports which became overwhelmingly successful, in adding more participants and audience. A record 70 nations send 5,065 athletes to the games. 

Fifteen sports were featured in the Kuala Lumpur Games – athletics, aquatics (diving, swimming & synchronised swimming), badminton, boxing, cricket, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, netball, lawn bowls, rugby 7s, shooting, squash, tenpin bowling and weightlifting.