The Commonwealth Games

History of the Commonwealth Games

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1982 Brisbane, Australia

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 men's 200m gold was shared by England's Mike McFarlane and Scotland's Allan Wells, with judges unable to separate the pair at the winning post. Nine sports featured at the Brisbane Games - athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, shooting, swimming and diving, weightlifting and wrestling.

1986 Edinburgh, Scotland

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, badminton, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, rowing, shooting, weightlifting and wrestling.

1990 Auckland, New Zealand

The XIV Commonwealth Games, the third to be hosted by New Zealand and Auckland's 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 54 nations participated in the second Auckland Games.

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, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, judo, lawn bowls, shooting and weightlifting.

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What is the Commonwealth?
The Commonwealth Games
Countries of the Commonwealth
Diversity in the Commonwealth
The Origins and History of the Commonwealth
The Modern Commonwealth
The Commonwealth in Action
The Commonwealth And Young People
Being a Commonwealth Citizen
How does the Commowealth Work?

Did You Know?

Did you know that at the Commonwealth Games in Vancouver (Canada) in 1954 Roger Bannister of England and Australian John Landy ran the first sub-four minute miles in a race. The event was the first to be televised live across the globe.
Did you know that the 1958 Cardiff (Wales) Games were South Africa's last until their post-apartheid return in 1994. Their team had been selected on the basis of race and colour rather than ability, which raised many objections from other nations.
Did you know that the 1998 Games held in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) were the first to be held in an Asian country. In 2010 the Games will return to Asia to be held in New Delhi (India).