Host city | Hamilton, Canada |
---|---|
Nations | 11 |
Athletes | 400 |
Events | 59 |
Opening | 16 August 1930 |
Closing | 23 August 1930 |
Opened by | Lord Willingdon |
Athlete's Oath | Percy Williams [1] |
Main venue | Civic Stadium |
The 1930 British Empire Games was the inaugural edition of what now is known as the Commonwealth Games, and was held in Hamilton, Ontario, from 16 to 23 August 1930. [2] [3]
The event was organized by Hamilton Spectator sportswriter Bobby Robinson after he attended the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam as manager of the Canadian track and field team and was inspired to create a similar event for the British Empire. After campaigning for the idea among contacts he met at the Olympics, he was asked to organise the first British Empire Games in Hamilton. [4]
The sports included athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming, and wrestling. Women competed only in aquatic events. The opening ceremony and many events were held at Civic Stadium (later renamed Ivor Wynne Stadium) in east Hamilton. [5]
The event was opened by the Governor General of Canada, Lord Willingdon, on 16 August. Canadian triple jumper Gordon Smallacombe would claim a few hours later the debut gold medal. [1]
The 1930 British Empire Games made use of pedestals for dignitaries to present medals to winning athlethes, as proposed by Bobby Robinson. This inspired the Olympic medal podium ceremonies which began at the 1932 Winter Olympics. [6] [7]
There were 11 teams participating in these inaugural British Empire Games:
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | England | 25 | 23 | 13 | 61 |
2 | Canada* | 20 | 15 | 19 | 54 |
3 | South Africa | 6 | 4 | 7 | 17 |
4 | New Zealand | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
5 | Australia | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
6 | Scotland | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
7 | Wales | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
8 | British Guiana | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
9 | Ireland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Totals (9 entries) | 59 | 57 | 49 | 165 |
Notable venues include:
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New Zealand at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games was represented by a team of 65 competitors and 19 officials. Selection of the team for the Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, was the responsibility of the New Zealand Olympic and British Commonwealth Games Association. New Zealand's flagbearer at the opening ceremony was field athlete Les Mills. The New Zealand team finished 11th on the medal table, winning a total of 14 medals, two of which were gold.
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The men's 4 × 440 yards relay event at the 1930 British Empire Games was held on 23 August at the Civic Stadium in Hamilton, Canada.
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Preceded by – | British Empire Games Hamilton I British Empire Games | Succeeded by London |