1974 British Commonwealth
Games
24 January – 2 February, Christchurch, New Zealand
Following the massacre of Israeli athletes at the
1972 Munich Olympics, the X Games at Christchurch
was the first multi-sport event to place the safety
of participants and spectators as its uppermost requirement.
Security guards surrounded the athlete’s village
and there was an exceptionally high-profile police
presence. Even so, Christchurch enchanted the watching
world as a city of beautiful churches and gardens.
On the running track, Jamaica’s Don Quarrie
successfully defended both his 1970 100m and 200m
gold medals. Quarrie was to go on to win the 100m
in 1978 as well.
Only 22 countries succeeded in winning medals from
the total haul of 374 medals on offer, but first time
winners included Western Samoa, Lesotho, Swaziland,
St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Nine sports were featured in the Christchurch Games
– athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, lawn
bowls, shooting, swimming and diving, weightlifting
and wrestling.
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