 | |
| Host city | Sydney, Australia |
|---|---|
| Nations | 15 |
| Athletes | 464 |
| Events | 71 |
| Opening | 5 February 1938 |
| Closing | 12 February 1938 |
| Opened by | John Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst |
| Main venue | Sydney Cricket Ground |
The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the event that evolved to become the Commonwealth Games. Held in Sydney, Australia from 5–12 February 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary (150 years since the foundation of British settlement in Australia). Venues included the Sydney Cricket Ground (the main stadium), the Sydney Sports Ground, North Sydney Olympic Pool and Henson Park. An estimated 40,000 people attended the opening ceremony. A competitors' residential village was established within the grounds of the Sydney Showground.[1][2]
The star of the games was the Australian athlete Decima Norman, who won five gold medals in track and field. Margaret Dovey, later married to Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam, finished sixth in the 220 yards breaststroke.
Due to the onset of World War II, the games were not held again until 1950.
- ^ "Sydney 1938". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- ^ "British Empire Games in Sydney 80 years ago was Australia's first major international event". insidethegames.biz. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2019.