1930 British Empire Games
Encyclopedia
The 1930 British Empire
Games were the first of what later become known as the Commonwealth Games
, and were held in Hamilton
, in the province of Ontario
in Canada
from August 16–23, 1930.
The events included athletics, boxing
, lawn bowls, rowing
, swimming
, and wrestling
. The opening ceremonies and many events were held at the Civic stadium
(now Ivor Wynne Stadium
) in east Hamilton.
The games were opened by the Governor General of Canada
Lord Willingdon
on the 16 August.
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
Games were the first of what later become known as the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, and were held in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, in the province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from August 16–23, 1930.
The events included athletics, boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, lawn bowls, rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
. The opening ceremonies and many events were held at the Civic stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
(now Ivor Wynne Stadium
Ivor Wynne Stadium
Ivor Wynne Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located at the corner of Balsam and Beechwood Avenues, two blocks west of Gage Avenue North in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada...
) in east Hamilton.
The games were opened by the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
Lord Willingdon
Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon
Major Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon was a British Liberal politician and administrator who served as Governor General of Canada, the 13th since Canadian Confederation, and as Viceroy and Governor-General of India, the country's 22nd.Freeman-Thomas was born in England and...
on the 16 August.
Sports
Participating teams
There were 11 teams participating in these first British Empire Games:| Ireland |
Medals table
| 1 | 25 | 22 | 13 | 60 | |
| 2 |  Canada |
20 | 16 | 18 | 54 |
| 3 |  South Africa |
6 | 4 | 8 | 18 |
| 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 | |
| 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | |
| 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | |
| 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 9 | Ireland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 59 | 57 | 49 | 165 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
External links
- Commonwealth Games Official Site
- 1930 British Empire Games at the official Guernsey site
- 1930 British Empire Games - Australian Commonwealth Games official website