1930 British Empire Games

The 1930 British Empire Games were the inaugural edition of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games, and was held in Hamilton, Ontario, from 16 to 23 August 1930.^[2][3]

The Civic Stadium in 1939

I British Empire Games

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
II →

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] Fellow Hamilton journalist Ivan Miller helped with the organizing committee.^[5]

The sports included athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming, and wrestling. Women competed only in aquatic events. The opening ceremony and athletics events were held at Civic Stadium (later renamed Ivor Wynne Stadium) in east Hamilton.^[6]

The event was opened by the Governor General of Canada, Lord Willingdon, on 16 August. Canadian triple jumper Gordon Smallacombe claimed the debut gold medal a few hours later.^[1]

The 1930 British Empire Games made use of pedestals for dignitaries to present medals to winning athletes, as proposed by Bobby Robinson. This inspired the Olympic medal podium ceremonies which began at the 1932 Winter Olympics.^[7][8]

Sports

•  Aquatics (details)
  •  Diving (details)
  •  Swimming (details)
•  Athletics (details)
•  Boxing (details)
•  Lawn bowls (details)
•  Rowing (details)
•  Wrestling (details)

Participating teams

Participating countries

There were 11 teams participating in these inaugural British Empire Games:

•  Australia
•  Bermuda
•  British Guiana
•  Canada (host)
•  England
•  Ireland
•  Newfoundland
•  New Zealand
•  Scotland
•  South Africa
•  Wales

Medal table

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	England	25	22	13	60
2	Canada*	20	17	17	54
3	South Africa	6	4	8	18
4	New Zealand	3	4	2	9
5	Australia	3	4	1	8
6	Scotland	2	2	6	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

Venues

Notable venues include:

• Prince of Wales Elementary School, (77 Melrose Ave N) – Male Accommodation
• Royal Connaught Hotel – Female Accommodation
• Civic Stadium – Athletics, Opening and Closing ceremonies
• Hamilton Municipal Pool – Aquatics (swimming and diving)
• Barton Street Arena - Boxing and wrestling
• Burlington Bay - Rowing
• Roselawn Bowling Club, Gage Park - Lawn bowls^[9]