HISTORY OF THE GAMES

The initial concept of the “Commonwealth Games” can be credited to the Rev. Astly Cooper of England, who in July 1891 in a magazine “Greater Britain” and later, on 31st October 1891 in “The Times” suggested a “Pan-Britannic-Pan Anglican Contest and Festival … every four years as a means of increasing the goodwill and good understanding of the Empire”. Although the first Games was not to take place for nearly forty years it is fitting to make reference to this chapter in it’s history.

Mr Richard Coombs, for thirty-five years President of the Amateur Athletic Union of Australia, later on, both before and after the “Festival of Empire” in 1911, continually drew attention to the value of an “Empire Sports” gathering. Mention must also be made of the so-called “Inter-Empire Championships” which took place in 1911 as part of the “Festival of Empire” held in London to mark the coronation of King George V Teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom competed against each other in Athletics, Boxing, Swimming and Wrestling.

All such plans were overshadowed by the first world war. Nevertheless, in 1920 after the Olympic Games in Antwerp and those in 1924 in Paris, track and field events between British Empire and the USA were held at Queen’s Club and Stamford Bridge, in London.

It was not until the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam that the first practical steps were taken to organise the British Empire Games. It was Mr M. M. (Bobby) Robinson of Canada who called a meeting of representatives of all Empire countries, and made the proposal that the British Empire Games should be held in Canada in 1930. These Games in Hamilton, Canada, are regarded as the true starting point of the present series of Commonwealth Games.

The name, British Empire Games, was changed in 1950 to British Empire and Commonwealth Games. In 1966, it was again changed to British Commonwealth Games and on the 27th January 1974, a General Assembly decision, reflecting the growth in Commonwealth membership, changed the name to Commonwealth Games and the international body became The Commonwealth Games Federation.

The opening of the Games is symbolised by the raising of the Commonwealth Games Ceremonial Flag. The first ceremonial flag was presented by the British Empire Games Association of Canada after the first Games in Hamilton in 1930.

 

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