1934 British Empire Games
4-11 August, London, England
The Games, which were awarded to Johannesburg, South
Africa finally came to London to prevent a political
crisis concerning the way South Africa might greet
and treat black and Asian Commonwealth athletes.
Sixteennations sent a total of about 500 competitors
to the London Games. In addition to the 11 nations
that had competed at the 1930 Hamilton Games, making
their debut at the London Games were Hong Kong, India,
Jamaica, Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) and Trinidad. This was
also to be the last time that Newfoundland took independent
of Canada.
Six sports were featured in the Games – athletics,
boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, swimming and diving,
and wrestling. A highlight of the 1934 Games was the
inclusion of events for women in athletics, with careful
consideration given not to include events that were
considered 'too exhaustive'. The running events were
restricted to the short sprints and a shortened 4
x 220 yard relay instead of the 4 x 440 yard realy
as per the men's program. Nevertheless this was a
breakthrough for women in sport that would one day
lead to full recognition and programming for women's
athletics on the international stage.
The athletes oath was read by the captain for the
England Athletics team, R.L. Howland as follows:-
"We declare that we are loyal subjects of His
Majesty the King, Emporer, and will take part in the
British Empire Games in the spirit of true sportsmanship,
recognising the rules which govern them and desirous
of participating in them for the honour of our Empire
and the Glory of Sport."
Originally scheduled for Johannesburg, South Africa,
the II Games were hosted by London, in order to avoid
a political crisis over South Africa's 'Apartheid'
policy and its implications on visiting Commonwealth
athletes and officials.
This was the Games, where India made their debut.
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