y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

2010 Commonwealth Games - Delhi, India 2006 Commonwealth Games - Melbourne, Australia 2002 Commonwealth Games - Manchester, England 1998 Commonwealth Games - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1994 Commonwealth Games - Victoria, Canada 1990 Commonwealth Games - Auckland, New Zealand 1986 Commonwealth Games - Edinburgh, Scotland 1982 Commonwealth Games - Brisbane, Australia 1978 Commonwealth Games - Edmonton, Canada 1974 British Commonwealth Games - Christchurch, New Zealand 1970 British Commonwealth Games - Edinburgh, Scotland 1966 British Empire & Commonwealth Games - Kingston, Jamaica 1962 British Empire & Commonwealth Games - Perth, Australia 1958 British Empire & Commonwealth Games - Cardiff, Wales 1954 British Empire & Commonwealth Games - Vancouver, Canada 1950 British Empire Games - Auckland, New Zealand 1938 British Empire Games - Sydney, Australia 1934 British Empire Games - London, England 1930 British Empire Games - Hamilton, Canada

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The first Commonwealth Games were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada where 11 countries sent 400 athletes to take part in 6 sports and 59 events. Bobby Robinson, a major influence within athletics in Canada at the time, finally implemented the event that had been talked about amongst Commonwealth nations for over thirty years with the City of Hamilton providing $30,000 to help cover travelling costs of the participating nations. Since then, the Games have been conducted every four years (except for 1942 and 1946 due to World War II) and the event has seen many changes, not least in its name. From 1930 to 1950 the Games were known as the British Empire Games, from 1954 until 1966 the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and from 1970 to 1974 they took on the title of British Commonwealth Games. It was the 1978 Games in Edmonton that saw this unique, world class, multi-sports event change its name to the Commonwealth Games. Often referred to as the Friendly Games only single competition sports had been on the programme from 1930 up to and including the 1994 Games in Victoria. The 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur saw the introduction of team sports with nations taking part in cricket (50 over game), hockey (men and women), netball (women) and rugby 7's (men). In Manchester in 2002 hockey, netball and rugby 7's graced the programme again and at the 2006 Games in Melbourne basketball accompanied hockey, netball and rugby 7's on the programme. In Delhi in 2010hockey, netball and rugby 7s will again feature. The 2002 Games in Manchester also saw for the first time, indeed at any multi-sport event in the world, a limited number of full medal events for elite athletes with a disability (EAD) in a fully inclusive sports programme. This continued in Melbourne where EAD athletes took part in athletics, swimming, table tennis and powerlifting. In the year 2000 the CGF took on the added responsibility of the Commonwealth Youth Games, open to athletes 18 years of age and under the Youth Games provide an excellent opportunity for aspiring young athletes from the Commonwealth with a taste of what the Commonwealth Games has in store for them in the future. The inaugural Games were in Edinburgh with the last edition being hosted in 2004 in Bendigo, Australia with Pune in India in 2008 hosting the 3rd edition. In such a short space of time the Youth Games has grown in stature and this is evidenced by award of the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games to the Isle of Man. The story of the Games evolved yet again on the 9th November 2007 when Glasgow (Scotland) was awarded the right to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

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Table showing the growth of the Commonwealth Games from 1930 to 2010
Year 1930 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 Host City / Country Hamilton, Canada London, England Sydney, Australia Auckland, New Zealand Vancouver, Canada Cardiff, Wales Perth, Australia Kingston, Jamaica Edinburgh, Scotland Christchurch, New Zealand Edmonton, Canada 11 16 15 12 24 35 35 34 42 38 46 6 6 7 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 59 68 71 88 91 94 104 110 121 121 128 400 500 464 590 662 1122 863 1050 1383 1276 1474

Participating Countries Sports Events Contested Athletes

Table showing the growth of the Commonwealth Games from 1930 to 2010
Year 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 Host City / Country Brisbane, Australia Edinburgh, Scotland Auckland, New Zealand Victoria, Canada Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Manchester, England Melbourne, Australia Delhi, India

Participating Countries Sports Events Contested Athletes 46 10 142 1583 26 55 63 70 72 71 71 10 10 10 15 17 16 17 163 204 217 213 281 245 1662 2073 2557 3633 3679 4049

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Table showing the growth of the Commonwealth Games from 1930 to 2010
Year 1930 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 Host City / Country Hamilton, Canada London, England Sydney, Australia Auckland, New Zealand Vancouver, Canada Cardiff, Wales Perth, Australia Kingston, Jamaica Edinburgh, Scotland Christchurch, New Zealand Edmonton, Canada Brisbane, Australia Edinburgh, Scotland Auckland, New Zealand Victoria, Canada Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Manchester, England Melbourne, Australia Delhi, India

Participating Countries Sports Events Contested Athletes 11 6 59 400 16 15 12 24 35 35 34 42 38 46 46 26 55 63 70 72 71 71 6 7 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 15 17 16 17 68 71 88 91 94 104 110 121 121 128 142 163 204 217 213 281 245 500 464 590 662 1122 863 1050 1383 1276 1474 1583 1662 2073 2557 3633 3679 4049

he President of the Commonwealth Games Federation is elected by members of the General Assembly (Commonwealth Games Associations) at their meeting in the year following the Commonwealth Games. The current President, Hon. Michael Fennell OJ, CD has overseen preparations to host the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur 1998, Manchester 2002, Melbourne 2006 and now Delhi 2010.

The President is responsible for chairing Executive Board meetings and the General Assembly and has the honour of inviting the Head of the Commonwealth to declare the Commonwealth Games open and closed during increasingly spectacular ceremonies that are an integral part of the whole event. Prior to the Games in Kuala Lumpur, the elected Head of the Commonwealth Games Federation was the Chairman and the President held a ceremonial position akin to that now referred to as the Vice Patron, currently HRH The Earl of Wessex, CVO. Further details about the role and process of electing the CGF President are contained in the Constitution.

Table showing the past Chairman / Presidents of the CGF at each Commonwealth Games.
Games 1930 Hamilton, Canada 1934 London, England 1938 Sydney, Australia 1950 Auckland, New Zealand 1954 Vancouver, Canada 1958 Cardiff, Wales 1962 Perth, Australia 1966 Kingston, Jamaica 1970 Edinburgh, Scotland 1974 Christchurch, New Zealand 1978 Edmonton, Canada 1982 Brisbane, Australia 1986 Edinburgh, Scotland 1990 Auckland, New Zealand 1994 Victoria, Canada 1998 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2002 Manchester, England 2006 Melbourne, Australia Presidents Chairman: Sir James Leigh-Wood K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G Chairman: Sir James Leigh-Wood K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G Chairman: Sir James Leigh-Wood K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G Chairman: Sir Arthur Porritt, Bt., G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., C.B.E., F.C.S. Chairman: Sir Arthur Porritt, Bt., G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., C.B.E., F.C.S. Chairman: Sir Arthur Porritt, Bt., G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., C.B.E., F.C.S. Chairman: Sir Arthur Porritt, Bt., G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., C.B.E., F.C.S. Chairman: Sir Arthur Porritt, Bt., G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., C.B.E., F.C.S. Chairman: Sir Alexander Ross Chairman: Sir Alexander Ross Chairman: Sir Alexander Ross Chairman: Sir Alexander Ross Chairman: Sir Peter Heatly, CBE., DL Chairman: Sir Peter Heatly, CBE., DL Chairman: A. de O Sales, CBE President: Hon. Michael Fennell OJ., CD President: Hon. Michael Fennell OJ., CD President: Hon. Michael Fennell OJ., CD

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Role of cfg

The Commonwealth is an association of independent sovereign states spread over every continent and ocean. From Africa to Asia, the Pacic shores to the Caribbean, the Commonwealths 2 billion people make up 30% of the worlds population and are of many faiths, races, languages, cultures and traditions. The Commonwealth Games is a unique, world class, multi-sports event which is held once every four years. It is often referred to as the Friendly Games. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games. As a means of improving society and the general well being of the people of the Commonwealth, the CGF also encourages and assists education via sport development and physical recreation.

Underlying every decision made by the CGF are three core values: - HUMANITY - EQUALITY - DESTINY. These values help to inspire and unite millions of people and symbolise the broad mandate of the CGF within the Commonwealth.

50 and 1990), and Edinburgh (1970 and 1986).

Competitors Games Year Host Dates Sports Events Nations Total Men Women Officials Ref

British Empire Games

1930

Hamilton, Canada

16 23 August

59

11

400

II

1934

London, England

4 11 August

68

16

500

III

1938

Sydney, Australia

5 12 February

71

15

464

IV

1950

Auckland, New Zealand

4 11 February

88

12

590

495

95

British Empire and Commonwealth Games

1954

Vancouver, Canada

30 July 7 August

91

24

662

127

VI

1958

Cardiff, Wales

18 26 July

94

36

1122

228

VII

1962

Perth, Australia

22 November 1 December

104

35

863

178

VIII

1966

Kingston, Jamaica

4 13 August

110

34

1050

266

British Commonwealth Games

IX

1970

Edinburgh, Scotland

16 25 July

121

42

1383

361

1974

Christchurch, New 24 January Zealand 2 February

121

38

1276 977

299

372

Commonwealth Games

XI

1978

Edmonton, Canada

3 12 August

10

128

46

1474

XII

1982

Brisbane, Australia

30 September 9 October

10

142

46

1583

XIII

1986

Edinburgh, Scotland

24 July 2 August

10

163

26

1662

XIV

1990

Auckland, New Zealand

24 January 3 February

10

204

55

2073

XV

1994

Victoria, Canada

18 28 August

10

217

63

2557

XVI

1998

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

11 21 September

15

213

70

3633

XVII 2002

Manchester, England

25 July 4 August

171

281

72

3679

XVIII 2006

Melbourne, Australia

15 26 March

162

245

71

4049

XIX

2010

Delhi, India

3 14 October

17

272

71

6081

XX

2014

23 July 3 Glasgow, Scotland August

XXI

Gold Coast, Australia 2018 or Hambantota, Sri Lanka

To be decided

Africa Botswana Lesotho Cameroon Malawi Ghana Mauritius Kenya Mozambique

Namibia Sierra Leone The Gambia Americas Belize Guyana Asia Aden * India Pakistan South Arabia * Caribbean Anguilla British Virgin Islands Jamaica St. Vincent & The Grenadines Europe Cyprus Isle of Man Scotland Oceania Australia Nauru Papua New Guinea Tuvalu

Nigeria South Africa Uganda

Rwanda Swaziland Zambia

Seychelles Tanzania Zimbabwe *

Bermuda Newfoundland *

Canada St. Helena

Falkland Islands

Bangladesh Malaya * Sabah * Sri Lanka

Brunei Darussalam Malaysia Sarawak *

Hong Kong * Maldives Singapore

Antigua & Barbuda Cayman Islands Montserrat Trinidad & Tobago

Bahamas Dominica St. Kitts & Nevis Turks & Caicos Islands

Barbados Grenada St. Lucia

England Jersey Wales

Gibraltar Malta

Guernsey Northern Ireland

Cook Islands New Zealand Samoa Vanuatu

Fiji ** Niue Solomon Islands

Kiribati Norfolk Island Tonga

* Former Commonwealth nations or territories that have sent teams to past Commonwealth Games. ** Currently suspended from the Commonwealth

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CYW

The first Commonwealth Youth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland in August 2000 where 733 Athletes from 14 countries competed in 8 sports over 3 days. The second edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games took place in Bendigo, Australia in December 2004 and saw over 1000 athletes and officials from 22 countries in a 10 sport programme. The third Youth Games were held in the Indian city of Pune from 12 - 18 October 2008 where 71 nations and territories participated in 9 sports. A decision was taken by the Commonwealth Games Federation at their General Assembly in 2005 to move the Youth Games outside of the Olympic Games year and in doing so awarded the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games to the Isle of Man. A decision was taken at the General Assembly in 2008 to award the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games to Samoa and also to subsequently adjust the quadrennial cycle, so that future events will take place in 2017, 2021 and so on.

All competitors in the Commonwealth Youth Games will be a minimum of 14 and maximum of 18 in the year of competition (i.e, their 18th birthday is during the calendar year in which the Games is held) and a maximum number of 1000 competitors are invited to participate from every Commonwealth Games Association.

The Queens Baton Relay

The Queens Baton Relay is one of the greatest traditions of the Commonwealth Games, having been the curtain-raiser to every Games since Cardiff 1958. The relay symbolises the gathering of people from across the Commonwealth at the four-yearly festival of sport and culture.

Melbourne 2006 has been the most memorable adventure so far, travelling for a year and a day visiting the 71 nations of the Commonwealth home to one third of the worlds population! Click on the following link to see some unique moments from Melbourne 2006 Queens Baton Relay. Over the years, the Queens Baton Relay has evolved into a powerful symbol of the unity and diversity of the Commonwealth of Nations. With each Games, the tradition grows in scale and significance including more nations, involving more participants and generating more excitement than ever before but the Delhi 2010 Batons journey is planned to be the biggest yet. It is set to be the longest and most technologically advanced of the Baton Relays to date. The Delhi 2010 Baton Relay was launched on 29th October 2009 at Buckingham Palace in London, with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II handing the Baton to the Honble President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, who in turn passed it to Dr. M. S Gill and Mr. Suresh Kalmadi. Mr. Kalmadi then had the honour of passing the Baton to the first Baton bearer, Abhinav Bindra, the Olympic air rifle champion who began the Baton's journey with a relay around the Queen Victoria Monument. The first team of Baton bearers included: Lord Sebastian Coe, Kapil Dev, Sania Mirza, Milka Singh, Dame Kelly Holmes, Vijender Kumar and Susan Gilroy to name just a few. The Queens Baton will travel through all the Commonwealth countries until it lands in India where it will spend 100 days touring the 28 states. It will then be taken to to its final destination, the Jawaharlal Neru Stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the XIX Commonwealth Games, where Her Majestys message will be read aloud to the athletes. During the Batons journey not only can you track the progress of the Baton but the sights and sounds of the Commonwealth will be captured using the built in camera and fed to the CWG Delhi 2010 website so that people around the globe can experience the diversity of the Commonwealth cultures and landscapes over the Batons epic journey. For more information on the Delhi 2010 Queens Baton Relay and to keep up to date on the Batons progress please visithttp://cwgdelhi2010.org/batonrelay2010/.

History
The British Empire Games was thought to be inspired by the Reverend Astley Cooper. In July 1891 he wrote in "Greater Britain" magazine and later on 31st October 1891 in "The Times" suggesting a "Pan-Britannic-Pan-Anglican Contest and Festivalevery four years as a means of increasing the goodwill and good understanding of the British Empire". It was to be another 40 years however before the first Games took place. The events, which later took place that eventually led to the establishment of the British Empire Games, are chronicled below: 1911: Festival of the Empire: Mr Richard Coombes (President of Amateur Athletic Union of Australia) brought attention to the value of an "Empire Sports" tournament. 1911: Inter-Empire Championships Part of the "Festival of the Empire" held to mark the coronation of King George V in London. Teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa and United Kingdom competed in Athletics, Boxing, Swimming and Wrestling. 1928: First steps to organize Games Mr MM (Bobby) Robinson from Canada was called upon to organize the first British Empire Games following the Olympic

Games in Holland. A meeting of representatives from all the Empire countries was held. 1930: The first Empire Games held in Hamilton, Canada. Competing countries included: England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Australia, Bermuda, British Guiana, Canada, Newfoundland, New Zealand, South Africa. The sports program included: Athletics, Boxing, Lawn Bowls, Rowing, Swimming, and Wrestling. Over the ensuing years many changes have occurred to the "Games" which has allowed them to grow and modernize as the "Empire" became the "Commonwealth". The British Empire Games remained as such until 1950 when it became "The British Empire and Commonwealth Games" to acknowledge the many countries and dominions that had been able to claim their "independence". After the name change to "British Empire and Commonwealth Games" took place, the British Empire Games Flag was retired and a new one introduced for the next Games (Vancouver, 1954).

Origin of the flag

The British Commonwealth Games Association of Canada donated the flag for it's first use in Edinburgh, 1970, at the IX British Commonwealth Games. Purely for asthetic reasons, the flag color was set at Royal Blue (with no fancy border as in the previous flag), and the chain configuration was changed from Pentagonal to Oval. (Source: Commonwealth Games Council of England ) Dean Thomas, 17 May 2002

History

The British Commonwealth Games came about when the meeting of the British Empire and Commonwealth Games Federation during the XIII Games at Kingston (Jamaica), voted to drop the word "Empire" from the Games title, reflecting the continuing transformation of the old British Empire into a Commonwealth of independent nations and dominions. Reflecting the transition from the old British Empire to the new British Commonwealth, the Tudor (or "Imperial") Crown in the Games Seal was replaced by the St. Edward's Crown, which Queen Elizabeth II had adopted after she assumed the throne. The St. Edwards Crown reflected the fact that the British Monarch no longer ruled over a vast Empire.

British Commonwealth Games Seal

image by Dean Thomas, 22 May 2002 The St. Edwards Crown and the lettering were the only changes made to the seal when the name change took place. Even though the name change took place during the 1966 Kingston Games, it was too late to change the medals and other items used at the 1966 Games to reflect the new title. It was not until the next Games (at Edinburgh) that this seal configuration was used. Dean Thomas, 22 May 2002

History
The British Empire and Commonwealth Games are a continuance of the British Empire Games. The name change came about to reflect the evolving nature of the old Empire into one where former colonies became emerging and independent nations. The name was retained until the Kingston Commonwealth Games (1966), where the Federation met and voted to drop the word "Empire". This meant the Kingston's Games became the VIII British Commonwealth Games, even though the Games Emblems and medals still retained the old "BE&CG" lettering. The Games held during this period were: Vancouver (1954), Cardiff (1958), Perth (1962), Kingston (1966) Dean Thomas, 21 May 2002

The Games Seal

The Seal was voted upon at the same meeting of the Games Federation that voted upon the name change from British Empire Games to British Commonwealth Games. The pentagonal chain represented the five continents of the world where the nations of the Commonwealth are located, linked in friendship and a common purpose. The Imperial (or Tudor) Crown represented the British Monarch. It is noteworthy that after George VI died in 1952 and Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in 1952, the Tudor crown was retained in the seal, even though Elizabeth II used the St. Edwards Crown.

21 May 2002, Dean Thomas

Confusion over the BE&CG Ceremonial Fla There had been some sources that had quoted to me that the Ceremonial Flag of the British Empire and Commonwealth Games was simply a blue flag with the new seal placed in the center. While this description was indeed the format for the Ceremonial Flags of the British Commonwealth Games and (the first variant of ) the Commonwealth Games, a recent picture that came into my possession showed that the ceremonial flag was white with the seal within a blue disc (top of page), which made the initial description inaccurate. This inaccuracy appeared throughout my webpage on the Flags and Emblems of the Commonwealth Games. I apologize to anyone who was mislead by this.

1930 - Hamilton
The British Empire Games are born through the efforts of Canadian sports reporter Melville Marks (Bobby) Robinson The man credited with having first thought up the Commonwealth Games is the Reverend Astley Cooper. In 1891, the Englishman Cooper wrote an article in The Times suggesting a Pan-Britannic-Pan-Anglican Contest and Festival every four years as a means of increasing the goodwill and good understanding of the British Empire". However, it was not until 1911 that the first recorded Games between athletes belonging to the British Empire actually took place. This 1911 event took place as a celebration in connection with the Coronation of King George V and was known as the "Festival of the Empire". As part of the festival, an Inter-Empire Championships were held in which teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom competed in boxing, wrestling, swimming and track and field athletics. The winning country was Canada who received a silver cup 2ft 6in high and weighing 340oz. It was the gift of Lord Lonsdale. The 1911 Games however, were followed by the 1914-1918 Great War which appeared to end any hopes of a continuing sports event between Empire athletes. It was not until Canadian Melville Marks (Bobby) Robinson appeared on the scene that the first British Empire Games (now known as the Commonwealth Games) were formed. Bobby Robinson

was born in Ontario, Canada on April 8, 1888 and is recognised as the founder of the Commonwealth Games. Robinson had a huge passion for sport and worked as a sports reporter for the Hamilton Spectator. Robinson was also a sports manager and went to the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam as manager of the Canadian track and field team. While there, he lobbied hard for a proposal to hold the first British Empire Games in Hamilton in 1930. Robinsons dream was of an event that would bring together athletes from all countries of the British Empire. He worked tirelessly for the staging of multi-sport Games that would enlarge the sport of friendly competition. In August 1930, Robinson finally got his wish as 400 athletes from 11 countries that belonged to the British Empire took part in the first British Empire Games (now Commonwealth Games) hosted by Hamilton in Canada. To help cover the travelling costs of for the visiting nations, the City of Hamilton provided $30,000 to the visiting nations. The events at the meeting comprised of track and field athletics, swimming, rowing, boxing, wrestling and lawn bowls. In a tight competition, England beat hosts Canada in the medal charts winning 60 medals, 25 of them gold, to Canadas 54 medals, 20 gold. It was perhaps a small revenge in response to Canadas victory at 1911 "Festival of the Empire".

Date Games were held: August 16-24 Number of nations represented:11 Number of competitors: 400 Number of medals awarded: 165

1938 - Sydney
The British Empire Games go Down Under for the first time The British Empire Games reached their third continent as they took place in Sydney 150 years after the foundation of British settlement which marked the point where Europeans started living in Australia. A week before the start of the Games on January 26, huge crowds lined the streets of Sydney on to see the Commonwealth athletes and the 150th anniversary parade. When the Games began on February 5, over 40,000 crammed into the impressive Sydney Cricket Ground to see a spectacular opening ceremony. The patriotic crowds were keen to see Australia and New Zealand excel, particularly against old rivals England. The Games went very well for the host nation and it was an Australian track and field athlete called Decima Norman who was their undoubted star. Born on September 9, 1909, in Tammin in Western Australia, Norman became Australias first female athletic heroine. She destroyed all her rivals on her way to winning an astonishing five gold medals. They were in the 100 yards, 200y, long jump, 440y medley relay and 660y medley relay. In 1982, Norman was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services in sports a year before her death in August 1983 as a result of cancer. Fifteen nations competed at the 1938 Games and new participants included Fiji and Ceylon. The Games Village, a place for athletes to stay during the Games, was located at the old Sydney Showground and perhaps the most remarkable journey to get to the Village for the start of the Games was made by the four British nations. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland took four months to travel to the Empire Games three months of which were spent on a boat. Twice a week, they would stop at a port to allow training. The training though, did not pay off and much to the delight of the home crowds; a triumphant Australia knocked rivals England in to second place in the medal table for the first time in the history of the British Empire Games. Date Games held: February 5-12

y y y y y

INTRODUCTION RESULTS BY COUNTRY RESULTS BY SPORT RECORDS OTHER GAMES

World War II interrupted the staging of the British Empire Games scheduled for 1942 and 1946, however the enthusiasm from within the British Empire to continue what was started in 1930 was strong. Awarded to New Zealand, the IV Games were held at the nations largest city, Auckland. The country had never been the focus of so much sporting attention and the hosts responded in a most magnificent and hospitable manner. The opening ceremony at Eden Park was attended by 40,000 spectators, whilst nearly 250,000 people attended the Auckland Games, paying out a total of ?89,435 ;as event spectators. The atmosphere of the Opening Ceremony is best described by this paragraph from the Official Record of the Games: "The entrance of the gladiators in the days of ancient Athens and ancient Rome could not have been more impressive than was that Parade at Eden Park on the afternoon of February 4, 1950. As one, the crowd stitted by the majesty of the colourful scene, wonderful too in its simplicity, rose to its feet to remain standing throughout the ceremony, cheering to the echo as the parade passed on its way around the stadium..." Twelve countries sent a total of 590 athletes to Auckland. Newly formed Malaysia and Nigeria made their first appearance. Nine sports featured at the Auckland Games athletics, boxing, cycling, fencing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming and diving, weightlifting and wrestling.

Number of nations represented: 15 Number of competitors: 464 Number of medals awarded: 213

Vancouver:

The awarding of the Games to Vancouver was the culmination of two years of very hard work by an enterprising group of Civic leaders spearheaded by then Mayor, Charles E. Thompson. Vancouver then proceeded to set new standards in organisation and presentation of not only Commonwealth Games but all multi-sport Games of the times. The athletes oath was taken by the captain of the Canadian team, Mr Bill Parnell, which for the first time would reflect the involvement of Commonwealth nations, outside of the British Empire. The 5th edition of the Games placed Vancouver on a world stage and featured memorable sporting moments as well as outstanding entertainment, technical innovation and cultural events. The Miracle Mile, as it became known, saw both the gold medallist, Roger Bannister of England and silver medallist John Landy of Australia, run sub-four minute races in an event that was televised live across the world for the first time. Some 24 countries sent a total of 662 athletes and 127 officials to the Vancouver Games. The 9 sports on the programme were athletics, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming and diving, weightlifting and wrestling.

The VI Games marked the largest sporting event ever held in Wales and it was the smallest country ever to host a British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Cardiff had to wait 12 years longer than originally scheduled to become host of the Games, as the 1946 event was cancelled because of World War II. "The triumph of Wales and Cardiff in staging the Sixth British Empire and Commonwealth Games is now history - and history that will ring down the years to come". Englands famed middle distance runners, Roger Bannister and Chris Chattaway, were handed the honour of taking the Queens Baton from Buckingham Palace on the first stage of its journey to Wales. The Cardiff Games were to be South Africas last until their post-apartheid return to the Games in 1994. A number of objections against South Africa took place in Cardiff because their team had been selected on the basis of race and colour rather than ability. South Africa subsequently withdrew from the Commonwealth in 1961 for 30 years. Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,122 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including for the first time, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya and the Isle of Man.

Nine sports were featured in the Cardiff Games athletics, boxing, cycling, fencing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming and diving, weightlifting and wrestling.

The VII Commonwealth Games are remembered for its heat, dust and glory. The day before the Perth Games opened the temperature was an expected 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but the heat was measured at 105 degrees at the opening ceremony in the new Perry Lakes Stadium the following day and such extremes persisted throughout the Games duration. In the previous 65 years, only 10 100 degree plus days had been recorded in Perth. Australian soldiers were pressed into action, ferrying water to competing athletes. James Coote of the London Daily Telegraph describes: "The VIIth Commonwealth Games have proved that it is possible for an area as basically devoid of sports interest as Perth to stage the second most important sports meeting in the World - and stage it successfully. Perth has shown that these Games will continue for years to come" Thirty-five countries sent a total of 863 athletes and 178 officials to Perth. Jersey was amongst the medal winners for the first time, whilst British Honduras, Dominica, Papua New Guinea and St Lucia all made their inaugural Games appearances. Aden also competed by special invitation. Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya competed for the last time before taking part in 1966 under the Malaysian flag.

Nine sports were featured at the Perth Games athletics, boxing, cycling, fencing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming and diving, weightlifting and wrestling. For Perth, the staging of the Commonwealth Games provided it with a springboard for phenominal development in sport and recreation, centered around the sports facilities that were built for the Games. These facilities have catered not only for elite sport but provided much needed opportunity for the development of organised recreational sport as well as a focus for Australia's first University degree Program in Physical Education.

With the British Empire formally ended, the Kingston Games became the VIII British Commonwealth Games. There was a worry amongst the larger nations that Jamaicas infrastructure would not enable a successful Games delivery but this proved to be largely unfounded. Controversially, also, the event programme was altered for the first time since 1950 with lawn bowls and rowing dropped and replaced with badminton and shooting instead. Thirty-four nations (including Aden and Saudi Arabia) competed in the Kingston Games sending a total of 1,316 athletes and officials. The nine sports on the programme were were athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, fencing, shooting, swimming and diving, weightlifting and wrestling.

The IX Games from the 16th to the 25th of July, 1970 in Edinburgh will be remembered for a number of firsts. It was the first time that metric distances and electronic photo-finish technology were employed at the Games and also the first time that HM Queen Elizabeth II attended in her capacity as Head of the Commonwealth. Scots will further remember the Games for the Stewart brothers Ian (gold) and Peter (4th) in the 5000 metres and Lachie Stewart (no relation) who took gold in the 10000 metres. Forty-two nations sent a total of nearly 1,744 athletes and officials to the first Edinburgh Games. New medal winning nations included Tanzania, Malawi and St Vincent.

The 9 sports were featured in the Games athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, fencing, lawn bowls, swimming and diving, weightlifting and wrestling.

Following the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics, the X Games at Christchurch was the first multi-sport event to place the safety of participants and spectators as its uppermost requirement. Security guards surrounded the athletes village and there was an exceptionally high-profile police presence. Even so, Christchurch enchanted the watching world as a city of beautiful churches and gardens. On the running track, Jamaicas Don Quarrie successfully defended both his 1970 100m and 200m gold medals. Quarrie was to go on to win the 1978 100m as well. Only 22 countries succeeded in winning medals from the total haul of 374 medals on offer, but first time winners included Western Samoa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Nine sports were featured in these Games with 1,276 athletes taking part in athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, shooting, swimming and diving, weightlifting and wrestling.

The XI Games was the first to bear the current day name of the Commonwealth Games. Whilst Edmonton had won the right to host the Games with an audacious vision presented six years earlier to the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly, the organisers had to walk a careful tightrope in the immediate run up to the Edmonton Games to ensure that there was no repeat of the African nations boycott of the 1976 Montreal Olympics caused by a New Zealand rugby tour of South Africa. Forty-six countries sent a total of 1,474 athletes and 504 officials to the Edmonton Games. As host nation, Canada also topped the medal table for the first time. Ten sports were featured at the Edmonton Games athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, lawn bowls, shooting, swimming and diving, weightlifting and wrestling.

The Brisbane Games are still hailed as one of the very best. Everything went so well from the moment Matilda, a 13-metre mechanical kangaroo, helped out with the opening ceremonies. Once again, a boycott was avoided and the sun shone throughout the duration of the XII Games. Forty-six nations participated in the Brisbane Games with a new record total of 1,583 athletes and 571 officials. As hosts, Australia headed the medal table leading the way ahead of England, Canada, Scotland and New Zealand respectively. The mens 200m gold was shared by Englands Mike McFarlane and Scotlands Allan Wells, with judges unable to separate the pair at the winning post. Ten sports featured at the Brisbane Games archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, shooting, swimming and diving, weightlifting and wrestling.

After nearly two decades successfully averting political stay-aways and protests because of apartheid and sanction-busting sports tours to South Africa, the XIII Games, the second to be staged at Edinburgh, was to become known as the Boycott Games. Sadly, despite there being so many fond memories of the Scottish hospitality offered in 1970, 32 Commonwealth nations decided that they could not attend, because of their opposition to apartheid in sports. Twenty-six nations did attend the second Edinburgh Games and sent a total of 1,662 athletes and 461 officials. Ten sports were featured at the second Edinburgh Games athletics, aquatics (diving, synchronised swimming & swimming), badminton, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, rowing, shooting, weightlifting and wrestling.

The XIV Commonwealth Games, the third to be hosted by New Zealand and Aucklands second, witnessed a fantastic opening ceremony comprising a magnificent and moving portrayal of the forces that led to the formation of New Zealand society and culture. Thankfully, the perennially threatened boycott gave way to a new positive spirit of co-operation far more in keeping with the image of The Friendly Games and a new record of 55 nations participated in the second Auckland Games sending 2,826 athletes and officials. Twenty-nine of the competing nations succeeded in winning medals from a total of 639 medals available. Australia headed the medals table with New Zealand claiming fourth place behind England and Canada. Ten sports featured in the second Auckland Games athletics, aquatics (diving, swimming & synchronised swimming), badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, judo, lawn bowls, shooting and weightlifting.

Following the successful Victoria delegation to the Commonwealth Games Federation in 1988, the XV Games were held in Canada for the fourth time. The end of apartheid in the early part of the decade also heralded the return of South Africa to the Commonwealth Games and ensured that the era of threatened boycotts was over. Both the opening and closing ceremonies were held at Victorias Centennial Stadium, which had undergone a superb refit in honour of the Games. Sixty-three nations sent 2,557 athletes and 914 officials as the Commonwealth Games burgeoned at Victoria. Once again, Australia headed the medals table whilst the hosts, Canada, pushed England into third place. Nigeria marked its arrival as a Commonwealth sporting force by picking up more gold medals than

both New Zealand and India. Hong Kong said farewell to the Games with the territory becoming a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China in 1997. Ten sports were featured at the Victoria Games athletics, aquatics (diving, swimming & synchronised swimming), badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, lawn bowls, shooting, weightlifting and wrestling.

For the first time in its 68-year history, the Commonwealth Games were held in Asia. The XVI Games, held in Kuala Lumpur were also the first Games to feature team sports - an overwhelming success that added large numbers to both participatant and TV audience numbers. A new record of 70 countries sent a total of 5,065 athletes and officials to the Kuala Lumpur Games. The top five countries in the medal standing were Australia, England, Canada, Malaysia and South Africa. Nauru also achieved an impressive haul of three gold medals. Tuvalu and Kiribati debuted. 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.

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The XVII Commonwealth Games was the most significant multi-sport event to be held in the United Kingdom since the Olympics of 1948. It was the largest in the history of the Commonwealth Games in terms of participating nations with 72 countries taking part across 14 individual and three team sports from 25 July - 4 August 2002. The Games took on added significance in 2002 as the Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty the Queen, celebrated her Golden Jubilee. The successful hosting of these multi sport games demonstrated to the world that the UK was more than capable of hosting events of such magnitude and this played a significant part in securing the 2012 Olympic Games for the city of London. The city of Manchester is the capital of the North West and is the commercial, educational and cultural focus for this vibrant region of England. As well as having a population of over 400,000, 60 per cent of the population of Britain, more than 33 million people, live within a two hour drive of Manchester. The sports were contested by 3,679 athletes on a programme that included; Aquatics (diving, swimming & synchronised swimming), Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby 7s, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting and Wrestling. For the first time in the Games history, indeed at any multi-sport event in the world, a limited number of full medal events for elite athletes with a disability (EAD) were included in a fully inclusive sports programme.

The sports which included EAD events were Athletics, Lawn Bowls, Swimming, Table Tennis and Weightlifting.

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The Australian city of Melbourne, successfully hosted the XVIII Commonwealth Games between the 15 and 26 March 2006. Melbourne is the capital of the State of Victoria and the second largest city in Australia with a population of nearly 3,500,000 people and was the venue for the 1956 Olympic Games. The city is synonymous as a multicultural one, known for its arts, culture, parks and gardens, restaurants and love of sport. Whilst Bendigo, the venue for the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games, and Lilydale hosted two of the shooting disciplines the majority of the sports venues were located along the Yarra River and within the city precinct. The Opening and Closing ceremonies as well as the athletics competition took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of the world's largest and most outstanding outdoor sporting grounds. The Athletes Village was located within three kilometres of the city centre. For the first time in the history of the Games the Queen's Baton visited every single Commonwealth nation and territory taking part in the Games, a journey of 180,000 kms (112,500 miles). The relay ended when the Governor of Victoria, and former Commonwealth Games medallist, John Landy delivered the baton to Her Majesty the Queen at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the opening ceremony. The sports on the programme were Aquatics (diving, swimming & synchronised swimming), Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bowls, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Netball, Rugby 7s, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon and Weightlifting. There were approximately 5,766 athletes and team officials in

attendance in Melbourne with the home nation having the largest team with 535 athletes and officials and the volcanic island of Montserrat the smallest with 4 members. For further information on the Melbourne 2006 Games and to view images from the Queen's Baton Relay follow the link to the official Games website Melbourne 2006.

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