1934 British Empire Games

II British Empire Games
Host cityLondon, England
Nations17
Athletes500
Events68
Opening4 August 1934
Closing11 August 1934
Opened byGeorge V
Athlete's OathRobert Howland
Main venueWhite City Stadium
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The 1934 British Empire Games were the second edition of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games, held in England, from 4–11 August 1934. The host city was London, with the main venue at Wembley Park, although the track cycling events were in Manchester. Seventeen national teams took part, including the Irish Free State (the only Games in which they participated, although an all-Ireland team competed at the 1930 Games).

The 1934 Games had been originally awarded to Johannesburg, South Africa, but the change of venue to London was made due to concerns regarding the treatment of black and Asian athletes by South African officials and fans.[1]

Six sports were featured in the Games: athletics in White City Stadium; boxing, wrestling, and aquatics (swimming and diving) in the Empire Pool and Arena, Wembley; cycling in Fallowfield Stadium, Manchester; and lawn bowls at Paddington and Temple.[2] Events for women athletes included a debut in athletics; the previous games had women's events only in swimming and diving.

  1. ^ "London 1934". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  2. ^ "BODY- LINE BARRED – On the greens at Paddington and Temple take place the less strenuous contest of Empire Games". Pathé News. 9 August 1934. Retrieved 23 May 2013.