Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive David Grevemberg has released a statement marking 50 days until Gold Coast 2018 in which he said the Commonwealth has an "ability to captivate everyone".
Grevemberg started by underlining the sharp contrast between the temperatures at the ongoing Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, where the mercury has reached below minus 15 degrees Celsius, and April's Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, which is currently experiencing temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius.
He commented that, despite the large difference in the environment, the two events are united by the stories of the athletes.
"It is the athletes and teams who create defining moments that fill us with adrenaline, pride and ambition," he said.
"In this age of multi-million-dollar commercial sport, it is the human stories - the likes of which dominate the Commonwealth Games on a regular basis – that grab our attention and pull on our heartstrings."
He also referenced Ghanaian skeleton racer Akwasi Frimpong, who is competing at Pyeongchang 2018, and said to CNN that he "can motivate kids in Ghana to chase their dreams".
Grevemberg said he was looking forward to similar stories that could develop at Gold Coast 2018 including 11-year-old Anna Hursey, who will represent Wales in table tennis, and Jamaica's rugby sevens debut.
"The Commonwealth excels, and one could argue is somewhat unique, in telling these kinds of stories and moments," he said.
"As the national anthems are played, the flags are carried and raised, it is impossible not to be swept up in the emotion of Commonwealth athletes representing their country, from the smallest Commonwealth member, Nauru, which has a population of just 10,000, to the largest country, India, with over 1.2 billion people.
"To these and all Commonwealth athletes, sport is far more than just competition.
"Sport connects them - and all of us - with dreams, goals and aspirations for ourselves, our families and our communities.
"The teams of athletes are a microcosm of the Commonwealth itself.
"The team colors and flags Commonwealth athletes wear with pride in competition mark them out as the world's most diverse fraternity of nations, territories and people.
"They are the vanguard of a great movement whose purpose has been carried and shared across decades, across generations and across borders."
Grevemberg closed his statement by wishing luck to Commonwealth athletes at Pyeongchang 2018 and Gold Coast 2018.
The Commonwealth Games will take place from April 4th to 15th in the Australian city.
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