Brexit appears to have pushed England out of Europe and into Africa - if the official programme for the Commonwealth Games is to be believed.

In a pre-Games gaffe, Australian organisers have inadvertently listed England as part of Africa and with a population of little more than two million.

According to officials, the error occurred when The Gambia was reinstated to the Commonwealth - and subsequently this year's Games - in February this year.

The official guide to the Games also incorrectly lists England's capital as Banjul - the capital of The Gambia.

'Banjul calling': Official Commonwealth Games program puts England in Africa https://t.co/PCXhdm3dMA pic.twitter.com/dzsJHMAuV9 — Evelyn Knight (@EvelynKnightFX) April 4, 2018

But, the programme does correctly state England's "Magical Moment" as Roger Bannister beating Australian John Landy in Vancouver in 1954, the first time two athletes had run a mile in under four minutes in the same race.


Beginning on Wednesday, this year's Commonwealth Games are being hosted by Australia's Gold Coast.

Commenting on the programme blunder, Mark Peters, chief executive of the Gold Coast Games, said: "There was an overprint. We found out about it maybe 10 days ago.

"We went and spoke to England and said, 'Congratulations, the Commonwealth's changing and it has since Brexit, and you are now a part of Africa'.

Image: Prince Charles has flown in to officially open the Games

"Sometimes you make mistakes and we copped it."

Mr Peters also revealed English officials had made light of the error and told organisers not to order a reprint of the programme due to the cost.

He added: "They implored us not to do that.

"We are actually doing a special reprint of 500 to give to the English and the Commonwealth Games Federation to make sure that in terms of records, that's done correctly.

"They're going to be so valuable after the Games because of that mistake."

Image: Spectators gather for the opening ceremony

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday ahead of their official opening of the Commonwealth Games.

On Wednesday, the Queen's Baton Relay was temporarily halted by indigenous rights protesters who demanded Prince Charles and Camilla ask them for permission to visit "stolen" land.

One protester told Australia's Seven Network: "We don't want nothing of the Commonwealth here. They've stolen the land, built this country on stolen wages, built this country on the blood and bones of our people.

"And it's about time that history is acknowledged and about time that the royal families who are responsible for it all - that they come down here and get at our level and ask to be here on our country. That's what needs to happen."

The demonstration was organised by a collective of groups, including Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance and the Brisbane Aboriginal-Sovereign Embassy, protesting against what they have dubbed the "Stolenwealth Games".