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.
Bibliography
The Postage Stamps of New Zealand Volume VI |
Edited by D. E. G. Naish FRPSNZ and K. J. McNaught FRPSNZ FRPSL | Publsihed 1975 by The Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand Incorporated | Pages 190 - 191 |
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