2002 Commonwealth Games
25 July-Aug 4, Manchester, England
The city of Manchester is the capital of the North
West and is the commercial, educational and cultural
focus for this vibrant region of England. As well
as having a population of over 400,000, 60 per cent
of the population of Britain, more than 33 million
people, and lives within a two hour drive of Manchester.
Manchester is an international destination for conferences
and exhibitions with more than 200,000 bed spaces
within one hour's drive of the city centre.
The XVII Commonwealth Games was a world-class event
and the most significant multi-sport event to be held
in Great Britain since the Olympics of 1948. It was
the largest in the history of the Commonwealth Games
with participating athletes from 72 nations competing
in 14 individual sports and three team sports from
25 July - 4 August 2002.
The sports contested were Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton,
Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Lawn Bowls,
Netball, Rugby 7s, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis,
Triathlon, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
For the first time in the Games history, indeed at
any multi-sport event in the world, a limited number
of full medal events for elite athletes with a disability
(EAD) were included in a fully inclusive sports program.
The sports which included EAD events were Athletics,
Lawn Bowls, Swimming, Table Tennis and Weightlifting.
The Games returned to England for only the second
time in their history. The previous English hosts
were London in 1934, even though Great Britain –
England, Scotland and Wales – have between them
hosted six of the 17 Games.
Australia (82 gold), England (54 gold) and Canada
(31 gold) occupied the top three spots while India
for the first time made it to the top five with 30
gold, as New Zealand with 11 gold were fifth.
A total of 17 disciplines, the highest ever were held
at Manchester and a total of 72 countries came for
the games. The disciplines held were aquatics, athletics,
badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, judo,
lawn bowls, netball, rugby 7s, shooting, squash, table
tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.
