Edinburgh, Scotland 1970
The IX Games from the 16th to the 25th of July, 1970 in Edinburgh will be remembered for a number of firsts. It was the first time that metric distances and electronic photo-finish technology were employed at the Games and also the first time that HM Queen Elizabeth II attended in her capacity as Head of the Commonwealth.
Forty-two nations sent a total of nearly 1,744 athletes and officials to the first Edinburgh Games. New medal winning nations included Tanzania, Malawi and St Vincent.
The nine sports were featured in the Games:
- Aquatics (swimming and diving)
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Boxing
- Cycling
- Fencing
- Lawn Bowls
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
Scotland won 25 medals including six gold, four of which were in athletics a feat which has not been matched since. Highlights included the Stewart brothers on the track with Ian taking gold and Peter coming 4th in the 5000 metres whilst Lachie Stewart (no relation) took gold in the 10000 metres. Rosemary Wright won gold in the 800 metres and Rosemary Payne also took gold in the Discus. In Boxing Tommy Imrie won gold in the 71kg weight category and Sandy Leckie took gold in the Fencing Individual Sabre event.