Our Games History

‘The Commonwealth Games,’ as they are known today, were first held in Hamilton in 1930 and called the British Empire Games. In 1958 at Cardiff, when the Isle of Man first joined, they were named ‘The British Empire and Commonwealth Games.’ The name was then changed to ‘British Commonwealth Games’ in 1970 and changed once again in 1978 to ‘Commonwealth Games’ as it stands today.

The Commonwealth Games have developed dramatically over the years starting with only 400 athletes, 11 countries and 6 sports at the first ever games in 1930. Increasing to 4049 athletes, 71 countries and 16 sports in the last games held in 2006. There is also the Youth Games which started in 2000 held in Edinburgh, followed by the 2004 Bendigo Games.

In the Kingston 1966 Games an athlete (Peter Buckley) from the IOM broke a record in the Men’s Road Race, 120miles. The score he set was 5:07:52.5 hours and still stands today. Below shows all of the medals the IOM have won whilst taking part in the Commonwealth Games.

Isle of Man medals at the Commonwealth Games

The Isle of Man didn’t attend the Hamilton (1930), London (1934), Sydney (1938), Auckland (1950) or Vancouver (1954) games and was first invited to joint the Games in Cardiff for the 1958 Games.

The Isle of Man won medals at the following games

Gold
2006 in Melbourne - GOLD: Mark Cavendish – Cycling (Men’s Scratch Race, 20km)
1986 in Edinburgh - GOLD: Nigel Kelly – Shooting (Men’s Skeet)
1966 in Kingston - GOLD: Peter Buckley – Cycling (Men’s Road Race, 120 miles)

Silver
1998 in Kuala Lumpur - SILVER: David Moore – Shooting (Men’s 50m Rifle Prone)

Bronze
2006 in Melbourne - BRONZE: Trevor Boyles and David Walton – Shooting (Men’s Clay Pigeon Trap, Team)
1978 in Edmonton - BRONZE: Stewart Watterson – Shooting (Men’s 50m Rifle Prone)
1970 in Edinburgh - BRONZE: Alex Jackson (now Solly) – Swimming (Women’s 200m Freestyle)
1958 in Cardiff - BRONZE: Stuart Slack – Cycling (Men’s Road Race, 120 miles)

It is important to note that a substantial amount of the 70 Manx competitors finished in the top ten in their respective events.

The Isle of Man was also represented at the following games.

1962 in Perth
1974 in Christchurch
1982 in Brisbane
1990 in Auckland
1994 in Victoria
2002 in Manchester

Clerical Medical is proud to support the Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man by sponsoring this website

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