The Commonwealth Games bears some similarities with the Olympics. For one thing, they both happen once every four years. And various countries participate in this prestigious sporting event.
The Games Through the Years
This year, Gold Coast, Australia will host the games for the first time. And athletes from the different nations in the Commonwealth are gearing up for a game of a lifetime. It holds a lot of significance, but just what do we know about these games and the reason as to why we celebrate them?
History
First, let’s go back and see what brought about the games. It all started in 1891 when John Astley Cooper proposed a sporting competition that can bring together the members of the British Empire. He brought about his proposition when he wrote an article for The Times.
He suggested that a Pan-Britannic-Pan-Anglican Contest and Festival every four years can help to increase goodwill and understanding of the British Empire.
In 1911 during George V’s coronation, they held the Inter-Empire Championships as part of the celebrations in the Crystal Palace. Members of the British Empire participated in the games including Australasia, Canada, South Africa, and the UK.
These nations went head to head in a variety of sports, including athletics, boxing, wrestling and swimming.
It is said that this event was the predecessor of what we have come to know today as the Commonwealth Games.
British Empire Games [1930-1950]
The British Empire Games continued from 1930 to 1950. Hamilton, Ontario Canada hosted the first one and was planned and organised within two years. The job fell on Melville Marks Robinsons in 1928, and its opening and closing ceremonies were held at Civic Stadium. held
11 nations joined the games at the time and included Australia, Bermuda, British Guyana, Canada, England, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales.
The nations sent a total of 400 athletes to participate in the games, which featured favourite sports like athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, and diving. Limited to aquatic sports, the British Empire Games also allowed women to participate.
Since then, the games have been held every four years. And the last British Empire Games happened in 1950 in Auckland, New Zealand.
British Empire and Commonwealth Games [1954-1966]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada hosted the first British Commonwealth Games in 1954 after the official name change in 1952.
All the milestones it created made these games memorable. These were the first games in which Northern Rhodesia and Pakistan made their debuts and landed eight and six medals respectively.
The legendary race between Roger Bannister of England and John Landy of Australia put the games into memory. These two men were the first to run a mile under four minutes in a duel-like situation. Bannister ended up beating Landy for the gold medal. The event is remembered as the Miracle Mile.
The final games in 1966 set another milestone. Kingston, Jamaica hosted the games for was the first time.
British Commonwealth Games [1970-1974]
The British Commonwealth Games only happened twice. But the first games in 1970 saw a series of firsts for the sporting event.
The events used the metric system for the first time. time. Scotland hosted for the first time as well. And the first time Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II made her appearance felt as the Head of the Commonwealth.
Meanwhile, following the massacre in the 1972 Munich Olympics, New Zealand hosted the 1974 Games called “The Friendly Games.”
It is best known for ensuring the safety of coaches and athletes first before anything else. And Western Samoa, Lesotho and Swaziland won medals for the first time for their country.
Commonwealth Games [1978-Present]
1978 saw another rename for the games. It is now called what we all know it to be: The Commonwealth Games. The games in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada was the first to hold this name.
It featured 1,500 athletes from 46 countries around the world. However, it wasn’t all good news. Nigeria and Uganda boycotted these games for political reasons. Nigeria was in protest of New Zealand’s sporting contact with South Africa, and Uganda in protest of Canada’s alleged hostility towards the Idi Amin government.
This year the games will take place in Gold Coast, Australia. The government is doing everything they can to ensure that players, coaches, and spectators will enjoy the show this coming April.
As the opening ceremony draws closer, we here at Alpha Car Hire will give you more insights into successful players and more, so stay tuned. And if you want to know more about the games and the schedules, click here.
If you want to read more interesting facts about other great sporting events, then you should check out this one, Fun Facts About the Australian Open. And please support us by sharing this content with your friends on social media.
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