1974 Commonwealth Games
This issue commemorates the 10th British Commonwealth Games held in
Christchurch with the exception of the 5 cent stamp which commemorates the
4th Paraplegic Games held in Dunedin in 1974.
The Commonwealth Games
were held from January 24 to February 2. Following the massacre of Israeli
athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics, the Commonwealth Games in
Christchurch was the first multi-sport event that placed the safety of
participants and spectators above all else. Security guards surrounded the
athlete’s village - which are now halls of residence on the
University of Canterbury campus - and there was an exceptionally
high-profile police presence. Despite the precautions, the games went
without hitch and were called "the friendly games".
Nine
sports were featured with 1,276 athletes competing in athletics, badminton,
boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, shooting, swimming and diving, weightlifting
and wrestling.
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This page was last updated on 21 Feb 2019
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