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British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada 1930

The first official mulit-sport event between countries of the commonwealth was held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930. These Games were known as the British Empire Games. The Games were held between 16-23 August 1930, and included over 400 athletes from 11 countries.

Trivia

Bobby Robinson, who was a major player within athletics in Canada at the time, was the driving force behind the event. He was an influential figure in Canadian athletics, and finally put into action a sports plan that had been talked and discussed amongst Commonwealth nations for almost three decades.
To help cover the traveling costs for the visiting nations, the City of Hamilton provided $30,000.
In the early rounds of the men’s 100m New Zealand’s Allan Elliott false started twice and was disqualified. The crowd reacted with such noise that the starter was unable to re-start the race until Elliott was allowed back in. Twenty years later in 1950 in Auckland the New Zealanders returned the favor.

English runner Lord Burghley crosses the finish line at the 1930 Games