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SPORTS NEWS BY DANNY O'NEILL

As stated in the last edition, I was in
Edinburgh, Scotland for the Empire Games (and
hope to submit my expenses, shortly).

Rather than give a detailed account of the
events in the Games, instead I will relate some
of the history of the Games and descrihe just a
few of the events.

Although several people as far back as 1891
tried to stimulate interest in a mammoth sports
festival, it was not until 1928 that any major
development took place. Athletes and Officials
from all parts of the British Commonweal th
assembled in Amsterdam for the Olympic Games and
the warmth of their friendship and co-operation
revived, in active form, the feeling that a
Commonwealth. games festival should he held to
cement and develop those friendships.

The initiative was taken by Mr. M.M. Pohinson

of Canada and under his direction the Games, as
we now know them, began to take definite shape
and Hamilton, Ontario was the setting for the
first celebration in 1930 with 11 countries
competing. In 1934 the Cames were held in
England and in 1938 Sydney, Australia was given
the much deserved honour, having been Canadas
most vigorous supporter for the Games.

With the outbreak of the Second World War
all activities ceased, but when the countries
gathered together in 1948 for the Olympic Games,
thev endorsed the almost spontaneous view that
the Commonvealth and Empire Games should he
revived immediately and to New Zealand fell the
honour of hosting the 1959 Games.

Vancouver was the sire of the 1954 Games and
the constructién of the Empire Stadium with its
hackground of mountains and water gave the Games
its most famous setting.

Two of the outstandine events of the
Vancouver Games were the Mile and the Marathon.
The mile - hilled as "The “ile of the Centurv"
fetched together the first man to break the
harrier of 4 minvtes - Roger Bannister and the
onlv other man to have ran inside 4 minutes at
that time, the world record holder - J. Landv.
Who witnessed the race either on T.V. or from
the Stadium will ever forpet how the leader,
Landy, with just 100 vards to go, sensed the
challenge from Rannister, looked to the inside
only to find that Bannister had accelerated and
overtaken him on the outside. This epic moment
is recorded in a bronze statue outside the
Empire Stadium.

Then there was Jim Peters the English
marathon runner who entered the Stadium 15
minutes ahead of his nearest rival only to
stagger from side to side for the Jeneth of the
track before finally collapsing with just vards
to go and not finishinp the race.

Cardiff, the capital of Wales was the next
host and the size of the host country did not
detract from progressive success of these
gatherings, with 35 countries and a total of

1,358 athletes competing.

The seventh Games returned to Australia and
despite the distance involved there were still
35 countries and over a thousand athletes
represented.

In 1966 the "Island in the Sun" - Jamaica
provided a wonderful setting for the 8th Cares
and the 34 countries provided a 1,316 totai
team strength. The spontaneous friendship of
the Jamaicans ensured another successful Games.

And so to Edinburgh - with over 2,000
Athletes competing, were the world press and
Athletes agreed that this was the best organized
Cames ever.

And so to the Athletics - were Commonwealth
Games records were heing smashed and world
records were in constant danger of being broken.

In the 1590 metres, replacing the mile, the
Kenyan policeman - Kip Keino made it a one man
race to win bv 15 vards in 3 mins. 36.6 seconds,
which is a mamoth 19 secs. faster than
R. Bannister won over a comparable distance in
Vancouver in 1954,

As at all hig occasions, the unfortunate
strove with the fortunate and Sheila Potts of
New Zealand in the Womens 1500 metres, after
fighting her way into first place down the back
stretch, fell just 3 feet from the tape to
finish 4th and thereby allowing T. Finn of
Canada, the smallest competitor in the race, to
gain a hronze medal. And J. Kerry the
Australian 3090 metres world record holder, who
fell making the water jump and didn't complete
the course.

But all events are not so unpredictable and
De. Stean of Canada retained his Commonwealth
title ontclassing his rivals in the shot put.
Debbie Brill, our young high jumper from Haney,
B.C. also outclassed the opposition and finished
over 2" ahead of her nearest rival with a jump
of 5 ft. 19.3/4 inches.

In the Swimming and Diving, Canada did as
well as expected hut were placed over-all
second hehind the strong Australian team. The
hadminton provided a few suprises and the gold
medal in the men’s singles went to Canada. In
the hoxing there was a strong upsurge from the
African countries and they shared most of the
honours with the U.K. boxers.

Final day was for me the most memorable and
unforgettable. What could be more fitting for
a New Canadian of Scottish birth standing twice
for the gold medal presentation while the band
played "O Canada" and then standing twice again
as the band played "Scotland the Brave", as
gold medals were presented.

In this age of dissention, I am sure that
such international petherings can do much to
bring people more closely together and I think
the following words can best describe the Games:
“They shall be merrier and less stern and
will substitute the stimulus of a novel adventure
for the pressure of international rivalry”.