British Empire

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England between the late 16th and early 18th centuries. At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1922 the British Empire held sway over about 458 million people, one-fifth of the world's population at the time, and covered more than 13,000,000 sq mi (33,670,000 km2), almost a quarter of the Earth's total land area. As a result, its political, legal, linguistic and cultural legacy is widespread. At the peak of its power, the phrase "the empire on which the sun never sets" was often used to describe the British Empire, because its expanse around the globe meant that the sun was always shining on at least one of its territories.

During the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal and Spain pioneered European exploration of the globe, and in the process established large overseas empires. Envious of the great wealth these empires generated, England, France, and the Netherlands began to establish colonies and trade networks of their own in the Americas and Asia. A series of wars in the 17th and 18th centuries with the Netherlands and France left England (and then, following union between England and Scotland in 1707, Great Britain) the dominant colonial power in North America and India.

1930 British Empire Games

The 1930 British Empire Games were the first of what later become known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, in the province of Ontario in Canada from August 16–23, 1930.

The events included athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming, and wrestling. The opening ceremonies and many events were held at the Civic stadium (later renamed Ivor Wynne Stadium) in east Hamilton.

The games were opened by the Governor General of Canada, Lord Willingdon on the 16 August.

Sports

  • Aquatics ()
  • Diving ()
  • Swimming ()
  • Athletics ()
  • Boxing ()
  • Lawn bowls ()
  • Rowing ()
  • Wrestling ()
  • Participating teams

    There were 11 teams participating in these first British Empire Games:

  •  Australia
  •  Bermuda
  •  British Guiana
  •  Canada
  •  England
  •  Ireland
  •  Newfoundland
  •  New Zealand
  •  Scotland
  •  South Africa
  •  Wales
  • Medal table

    Venues

  • Prince of Wales Public School - accommodations
  • Civic Stadium - Athletics
  • Jimmy Thompson Memorial Pool - Aquatics
  • 1950 British Empire Games

    The 1950 British Empire Games was the fourth edition of what is now called the Commonwealth Games. It was held in Auckland, New Zealand between 4 and 11 February 1950, after a 12-year gap from the 3rd edition of the games. The main venue was Eden Park, although the closing ceremonies were held at Western Springs Stadium, see New Zealand at the 1950 British Empire Games. The fourth games were originally awarded to Montreal, Canada and were to be held in 1942 but were cancelled due to World War II.

    Participating teams

    (Teams participating for the first time in bold).

  •  Australia
  •  Canada
  •  Ceylon
  •  England
  •  Fiji
  •  Malaya
  •  New Zealand
  •  Nigeria
  •  Scotland
  •  South Africa
  •  Southern Rhodesia
  •  Wales
  • Medals by country

    At the 1950 British Empire Games all the teams won at least one medal.

    Medals by event

    Athletics

    Boxing

    Cycling

    Track

    Road

    Diving

    Men's events

    Women's events

    Fencing

    Men's events

    Women's events

    Lawn Bowls

    All events were for men only.

    + won play offs

    Rowing

    All events were for men only. The events were held at Lake Karapiro, 160 kilometres (99 mi) south of Auckland. Three special trains took 1500 people to Cambridge on 7 February 1950.

    1934 British Empire Games

    The 1934 British Empire Games were the second of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games, held in England from 4–11 August 1934. The host city was London, although the track cycling events were in Manchester. Seventeen national teams took part, including the Irish Free State (the only Games in which they participated, although at the 1930 Games a team representing the whole of Ireland competed).

    The 1934 Games had originally been awarded to Johannesburg, South Africa, but were changed to London because of concerns (particularly from Canada) about the way South Africa would treat black and Asian athletes.

    Six sports were featured in the Games: athletics in White City Stadium; boxing, wrestling, and aquatics (swimming and diving) in the Empire Pool and Arena, Wembley; cycling in Fallowfield Stadium, Manchester; and lawn bowls at Paddington and Temple. Women's events in athletics were held; the previous games had women's events only in swimming.

    Participating teams

    1938 British Empire Games

    The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games being the modern-day equivalent. Held in Sydney, New South Wales, 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.

    The star of the games was the Australian athlete Decima Norman, who won five gold medals in track and field. Margaret Dovey, the future wife of 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.

    Participating teams

  •  Australia
  •  Bermuda
  •  British Guiana
  •  Canada
  •  Ceylon
  • 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

    The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, from 30 July–7 August 1954. These were the first games since the name change from British Empire Games took effect in 1952.

    It was at these games that the "Miracle Mile" took place between Roger Bannister and John Landy at Empire Stadium. This was the first time these two (and at that time the only two) sub-four-minute mile runners appeared in the same race, and also the first time two runners broke four minutes in the same race. On the same afternoon, Jim Peters, the holder of the world best time for the marathon, entered the stadium 17 minutes ahead of his nearest rival, but collapsed on his final lap, and never completed the race.

    The games were attended by 24 nations and 662 competitors.

    Venues

  • Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Athletics: Empire Stadium, Hastings Park
  • Bowls: West Point Grey Club, New West Club
  • Boxing: Exhibition Forum, Pacific National Exhibition
  • Commonwealth Games

    The Commonwealth Games (known as the British Empire Games from 1930–1950, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1954–1966, and British Commonwealth Games from 1970–1974) is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, which were cancelled due to World War II, has taken place every four years since then.

    The games are overseen by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which also controls the sporting programme and selects the host cities. A host city is selected for each edition. 18 cities in seven countries have hosted the event. Apart from many Olympic sports, the games also include some sports that are played predominantly in Commonwealth countries, such as lawn bowls and netball.

    Although there are 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, 71 teams participate in the Commonwealth Games, as a number of dependent territories compete under their own flag. The four Home Nations of the United Kingdom—England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—also send separate teams. Only six countries have attended every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales. Australia has been the highest achieving team for twelve games, England for seven, and Canada for one.

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    The Empire

    by: MxPx

    Sink your teeth into me,
    Bite so hard it bleeds, I need some answers more than ever, please!
    We are fallen angels with no place to go we are fallen angels looking for a home
    You are dead, you’re alive, but why?
    You’re the empire, the rebellion, but why?
    Just look at your hands, holding them tight to your chest!
    Look at your hands, what have they done to the wrists?
    Reach your head into me stir up bitter memories,
    Steal my dreams while I’m asleep, please!
    We are fallen angels with no place to go we are fallen angels looking for a home
    You are dead, you’re alive, but why?
    You’re the empire, the rebellion, but why?
    Just look at your hands, holding them tight to your chest!
    Look at your hands, what have they done to the wrists?
    My head turned with a doorknob, as you walked in the room, as you walked in the room
    My head turned with a doorknob, as you walked in the room, as you walked in the room
    You are dead, you’re alive, but why?
    You’re the empire, the rebellion, but why?
    You are dead, you’re alive, but why?




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