Edinburgh, Scotland 1986
After nearly two decades successfully averting political stay-aways and protests because of apartheid and sanction-busting sports tours to South Africa, the XIII Games, the second to be staged at Edinburgh, was to become known as “the Boycott Games”. Sadly, despite there being so many fond memories of the Scottish hospitality offered in 1970, 32 Commonwealth nations decided that they could not attend, because of their opposition to apartheid in sport.
Twenty-six nations did attend the second Edinburgh Games and sent a total of 1,662 athletes and 461 officials.
Ten sports were featured at the second Edinburgh Games:
- Aquatics (diving, synchronised swimming & swimming)
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Boxing
- Cycling
- Lawn Bowls
- Rowing
- Shooting
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
Scotland won its highest ever medal tally of 33 including three gold. Highlights included Liz McColgan winning gold in the 10,000 metres; in Badminton Dan Travers and Billy Gilliland winning gold in the Men’s Doubles; and in Lawn Bowls George Adrain and Grant Knox winning gold in the Men’s Pairs.
Go to Scotland's Highlights for details of the team's performance in Edinburgh.