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Sixteen nations sent a total of about 500 competitors to the
London Games. In addition to the 11 nations that had
competed at the 1930 Hamilton Games, making their debut at
the London Games were Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Zimbabwe
(Rhodesia) and Trinidad. This was also to be the last time
that Newfoundland took independent of Canada.
Six sports were featured in the Games - athletics, boxing,
cycling, lawn bowls, swimming and diving, and wrestling. A
highlight of the 1934 Games was the inclusion of events for
women in athletics, with careful consideration given not to
include events that were considered 'too exhaustive'. The
running events were restricted to the short sprints and a
shortened 4 x 220 yard relay instead of the 4 x 440 yard
relay as per the men's program. Nevertheless this was a
breakthrough for women in sport that would one day lead to
full recognition and programming for women's athletics on
the international stage.
The athletes oath was read by the captain for the England
Athletics team, R.L. Howland as follows: -
"We declare that we are loyal subjects of His Majesty the
King, Emperor, and will take part in the British Empire
Games in the spirit of true sportsmanship, recognising the
rules which govern them and desirous of participating in
them for the honour of our Empire and the Glory of Sport."
Originally scheduled for Johannesburg, South Africa, the II
Games were hosted by London, in order to avoid a political
crisis over South Africa's 'Apartheid' policy and its
implications on visiting Commonwealth athletes and
officials. |
