X-Nico

6 unusual facts about Commonwealth Games


1974 Chatham Cup

The venue had been used earlier in the year for the Commonwealth Games.

Australian Athletics Tour

Australian athletes aiming at selection in the Olympic Games, World Championships or Commonwealth Games are usually required to compete in the meetings which form the series.

Boxing in India

India has not produced a world champion in any weight class, although it is a regular medal-holder at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

Camp Sovereignty

Also it was to protest against Commonwealth Games or, as the protestors stated, the 'Stolenwealth Games'.

Commonwealth Rowing Championships

The Commonwealth Rowing Championships are held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games since rowing is no longer included in the Commonwealth Games programme (but it is hoped that rowing may return to the Games in 2018).

David Dixon Award

It is given to the outstanding athlete of each of the Commonwealth Games based on their performance at the Commonwealth Games, fair play, and overall contribution to their team’s participation at the Commonwealth Games.


1996 Manchester bombing

A Thanksgiving service for the "Miracle of Manchester" was held at Manchester Cathedral on 24 July 2002, to coincide with the arrival of the Commonwealth Games baton, attended by Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh.

Allana Slater

This event doubled as the first selection trial for the Commonwealth Games team, and after a month long selection camp at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra, Slater was named in her second Commonwealth Team.

Amanda Hardy

Hardy competed at two Commonwealth Games (Victoria 1994 - bronze medal, Kuala Lumpur 1998 - bronze medal).

Australia–India relations

Australia has found success mainly since the late 1970s, with the men's and women's teams winning gold medals at Olympic Games, World Cup, Champion's Trophy and Commonwealth Games meets.

Bahrain Grand Prix

However, in the 2006 season, Bahrain swapped places with the traditional opener, the Australian Grand Prix, which was pushed back to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games.

Becky Lyne

Not selected for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March due to a series of injuries, the Stockport-based athlete leapt to third in the UK all-time 800 metre rankings with 1 min 58.20 sec in the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Gateshead in June 2006, finishing second behind Kenyan Commonwealth champion Janeth Jepkosgei.

Beverley Goddard

In 1982, now competing as Beverley Callender, she reached the 200 metres finals at both the European Championships in Athens and the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, finishing fifth (22.91 secs) and sixth (22.92 secs) respectively.

Bill Helin

His accomplishments include designing the patch worn by astronauts on the U.S. space shuttle Columbia in 1996 and the carving of the world's largest (180' 3" tall) totem pole known as the Spirit of Lekwammen, carved for the Commonwealth Games.

Claire Nitch

At the 1998 Commonwealth Games, she won a Bronze Medal in the women's doubles (partnering Natalie Grainger).

Dominica at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games

Independent Dominica became the member of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1978, but it had already made its debut in the Commonwealth Games in 1958, with further appearances coming in 1962 and 1970, then not appearing for twenty-four years.

Edinburgh, Leith and Newhaven Railway

The loop via Piershill and Abbeyhill was retained and used as a diversion for slower trains, and in both 1970 and 1986 a temporary passenger halt at Meadowbank was built for the duration of the Commonwealth Games.

George Headley

Another son, Lyndie, reached the semi-finals of the 100 metres and came fourth in the 100 metres relay at the 1964 Olympics and won a gold medal with Jamaican sprint relay teams in the Central American and Caribbean Games of 1966 and silver with the relay team at the Commonwealth Games of the same year.

George Heller

Commonwealth Games Committee, which organized the 1994 XV Commonwealth Games.

God Defend New Zealand

It was used at the British Empire Games from 1950 onward, and first used at the Olympics during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

Graham Hedman

In 2010 he was part of the relay squad who won silver at the European Championships in Barcelona, and bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Hong Kong at the Commonwealth Games

Hong Kong competed at the Commonwealth Games (as well as British Empire & Commonwealth Games and British Commonwealth Games) as a British colony or dependent territory in 1934, then from 1954 until 1962 and from 1970 to 1994.

Hoppers Crossing, Victoria

Hoppers Crossing is the home of Australian Olympic Gold Medalist Russell Mark and his wife Lauryn, a triple Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist.

Jack Buckner

Jack's younger brother Tom Buckner was also an international distance runner and gained recognition when he finished 5th at the 1994 Commonwealth Games 3000m steeplechase (8:29.84).

James Leckie

He has also refereed the rugby union final at the Commonwealth Games and a final at the Hong Kong Sevens.

Janet Boyle

In 1990, at her second Commonwealth Games in Auckland, she won the silver medal with 1.88 m, losing the gold medal in a jump off with New Zealand's Tania Murray.

Jason Mohammad

Mohammad's love of sports meant he presented items from Wales and overseas, including the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and numerous FA Cup finals.

Jawaid Khaliq

During his boxing career he also held the Commonwealth welterweight title, WBF Inter-Continental Light Middleweight Title, Midlands Area light middleweight title and Midlands Area welterweight title.

Jignas

Jignas Goud, the youngest archer and instrumental in winning team Silver medal in Commonwealth Games of 2010 that was held at New Delhi in India by defeating South Africa with 226-224 in semifinal and settled for Silver medal by losing to England in final with 229-331 points.

Jim Neilly

He has covered the Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games, Rugby Five Nations' Championship and the Irish Rugby Tours in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as numerous boxing matches.

Jock's Lodge

Meadowbank Stadium, immediately to the west was the location for the 1970 and 1986 Commonwealth Games.

John Psathas

Highlights in 2002 included the premieres of several major works, including View From Olympus a double concerto for piano, percussion and orchestra performed by Evelyn Glennie, Philip Smith and the Halle Orchestra conducted by Mark Elder at the Royal Gala finale of the Commonwealth Games 'Pulse' music festival in Manchester, UK.

John Swinney

Swinney joined the SNP at the age of 15, citing his anger at the way in which Scotland had been portrayed by television commentators at the Commonwealth Games.

Joseph Kneipp

Kneipp won a Gold Medal in the mixed doubles at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, partnering Natalie Grinham.

Kate Haywood

She was the youngest swimmer to represent England in the Commonwealth Games when she qualified for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where she won a bronze medal in the 4×100 m medley relay.

Kiribati at the Olympics

After participating in the Commonwealth Games for the first time in 1998, Kiribati started working towards membership of the International Olympic Committee.

Miles Wydall


He has developed Ten Australian representatives in weightlifting, as well as coached Australian teams at Commonwealth Games, Arafura Games and four World Junior Weightlifting Championships.

Petra Rivers

She won the 1982 national championships with a huge national record throw of 69.28 metres and took the silver medal at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games behind team-mate Sue Howland.

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital

The hospital originally was developed to be a site for future expansion of the Mater Children's Hospital, a center for servicing the needs of the Commonwealth Games held nearby and a range of other initiatives that never eventuated.

Robert Gerard

He is a Founder Member of the Quarter Club, which raises over $250,000 per annum for Australian Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes.

Rodney Durbach

Durbach won a bronze medal in the mixed doubles at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, partnering Natalie Grainger.

School of Geography, University of Leeds

Alumni include: Piers Sellers, NASA astronaut, Simon Rix, bassist of Leeds based band the Kaiser Chiefs, Jon Hammond, who won a gold in the men's 50m shooting at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Martine Croxall, BBC News Reader and the most Reverend Alan Harper, Archbishop of Armagh (awarded an OBE for services to conservation).

Sepak takraw

All world, international, and regional competitions sanctioned by International Sepak Takraw Federation, including but not limited to, the Olympic Games, World Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and SEA Games, must be played with ISTAF approved sepak takraw balls.

Stuart Cowie

He won a Bronze Medal in the men's doubles at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, partnering Peter Nicol.

Suresh Babu

Suresh Babu led the Indian athletics team to the 1978 Commonwealth Games at Edmonton in Canada and won a Bronze medal for long jump.

The McDades

As The McDade Family Band the siblings had the chance to perform at such venues as the Canadian National Exhibition, Vancouver Expo 86, The Commonwealth Games and multiple performances for members of British Royal Family.

Tracey Neville

She has represented her country since 1993 and has competed for England in the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Ty Watson

The event was hosted by Awards ceremony was hosted by Vince Mayne (Coventry University), Lorna Bailey (BBC Coventry and Warwickshire) and former World record holder and twice Commonwealth Games gold medal winning athlete and famous Coventrian David Moorcroft OBE, on Thursday 11 October and represented the cream of the regional sporting scene.

Wally Foreman

During his career, he covered a wide range of domestic and international sporting events including four Olympic Games, five Commonwealth Games, the Australian Open tennis tournament, World Cup athletics, Hockey World Cup tournaments and the Pacific Conference Games.

Zhang Jingna

She was active in the team for six years, notable achievements include breaking a record in the 10m Air Rifle event at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships 2005 in Melbourne, and a bronze in the same event at the Commonwealth Games in 2006, awarding her the title of Sports Girl of the Year for 2006 by the Singapore National Olympic Council.

Zimbabwe at the 2002 Commonwealth Games

The country had taken part in the Commonwealth Games from the second games in 1934: first as Rhodesia, then Southern Rhodesia, then Rhodesia and Nyasaland, then Zimbabwe.


see also

2006 Commonwealth Games highlights

;Basketball: The Australian men's team beat New Zealand 81–76 to win the first gold medal in this sport at the Commonwealth Games.

2010 Commonwealth Games medal table

On 6 June 2011 the Commonwealth Games Federation announced Sean McGoldrick of Wales as the new gold medallist.

ACGA

Australian Commonwealth Games Association, the national body responsible for Commonwealth Games operations, publicity and development in Australia

Aquatics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games

The Aquatics events at the 2002 Commonwealth Games were held at the Manchester Aquatics Centre in Manchester, England.

Australia at the Commonwealth Games

Arthur Tunstall has represented Australia as an official at 8 Commonwealth Games (1962, 66, 70, 74, 78, 86, 90, 94).

City Stadium

City of Manchester Stadium, in Manchester, England - the home of Manchester City F.C. and athletics stadium for the 2002 Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games records

As the Commonwealth Games only accepts athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations, the records are not considered as prestigious as World records or Olympic records.

Damian McGrath

Damian has also coached the England U19 s to a World Cup 3rd place finish in 2006, coached the Junior England 7’s to a silver medal at the Junior Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2004 and toured on two Churchill Cups with the England ‘A’ team.

Davis Joseph

During the Commonwealth Games, he was revered for bowling out Sachin Tendulkar for just two runs.

Esther Wanjiru

Wanjiru became the first Kenyan woman to win Commonwealth Games gold medal, although Jackline Maranga won 1500 metres later at the same games.

Ewell Castle School

Matthew Kidd, Olympic swimmer and silver medalist at the Commonwealth Games

Halifax bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games

The Halifax bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games was a withdrawn bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games by Halifax Regional Municipality, the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.

James Huckle

Parry and Huckle finished with a score of 1174 points, 19 points behind India's Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang who set a new Commonwealth Games record.

Jane Saville

Her sister, Natalie Saville, is also a race walker and finished second to her at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

John Cheffers

His most successful athlete was Jean Roberts who won several Commonwealth Games silver and bronze in the Discus and Shot Put during the 1960s and 1970s.

Kathryn Robinson

in 2010, Robinson co-hosted Good Morning Delhi, a breakfast program broadcast on Network Ten during the course of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, with Brad McEwan.

Lawn bowls at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

In June 2003, Gordon Rich-Phillips, the Victorian Opposition spokesman on the Commonwealth Games, claimed that the venue was ten months behind schedule.

Louise Ellery

This was Australia’s first gold medal in the track and field events at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games which took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi.

Manju Wanniarachchi

On 24 October 2010 National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka announced that Wanniarachchi had failed a drug test taken during the Commonwealth Games.

Miao Miao

At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, she won a silver medal in the teams competition and a bronze medal in the doubles with Jian Fang Lay.

Nick D'Arcy

On 31 March 2008, D'Arcy was charged with assault after a brawl with former Commonwealth Games triple gold medalist Simon Cowley on the night of D'Arcy's naming in the Australian Olympic team.

Pittwater High School

Georgina Parkes - Olympic swimmer and Commonwealth Games Gold medallist

Andrew Lloyd - Olympic runner and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist

Precious McKenzie

McKenzie was one of nine athletes featured in the 1979 National Film Board of Canada documentary on the Edmonton Commonwealth Games, Going the Distance.

Ryan Cross

Representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, 2002 in Manchester and 2006 in Melbourne.

Tamang people

Pemba Tamang won the gold medal in the Men's 25 metre rapid fire pistol (Pairs) with Vijay Kumar and the silver medal in the Men's 25 metre rapid fire pistol at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Wales at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games

Wales made their Commonwealth Games debut in Hamilton in 1930 and are one of only six nations to have taken part in every Games since then.Since Wales cannot compete at the Olympic Games as a separate nation, the Commonwealth Games provides them its only opportunity to compete in a major international multi-sport event.

Women's powerlifting in Australia

Australian Commonwealth Games competitors and Australians Olympians who took up the sport include Bev Francis, a shot putter and javelin thrower.

Wong Mew Choo

She first came to prominence in the 2003 Southeast Asian Games badminton women's singles, when she won the gold medal, along the way beating Singapore's Li Li, then the reigning Commonwealth Games Champion.

Wyndham College

Kenrick Monk – Swimming, 2008 Olympics, 2007 World Aquatics Championships, 2010 Commonwealth Games