Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1998
For the first time in its 68-year history, the Commonwealth Games were held in Asia. The XVI Games, held in Kuala Lumpur were also the first Games to feature team sports with Cricket, Hockey and Netball making their Commonwealth Games debut. They were an overwhelming success adding large numbers to both participant and TV audience numbers and Hockey and Netball have been included since as core sports on the programme.
A new record of 70 countries sent a total of 5,065 athletes and officials to the Kuala Lumpur Games with Tuvalu and Kiribati participating for the first time. Fifteen sports were featured in the Kuala Lumpur Games:
- Aquatics (diving, swimming & synchronised swimming)
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Boxing
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Gymnastics
- Hockey
- Netball
- Lawn Bowls
- Rugby 7s
- Shooting
Malaysia welcomed the Games by building a new 100,000 seat stadium and state of the art facilities for all sports. These were linked to central Kuala Lumpur by a new metro system.
Scotland sent a team of 95 men and 55 women to Kuala Lumpur and was represented in all but two of the sports in the Games, not qualifying in Netball and not entering in Rugby Sevens due to the restructuring as rugby turned professional worldwide.
Scotland did take part in Cricket, Women's Hockey, Squash and Ten Pin Bowling all of which took place for the first time in a Games.
The Scottish Team, with the Bank of Scotland as first time title sponsors, had been preparing for the heat and humidity of the Games with the support of the Scottish Institute of Sport, but despite better preparation than before, found medals hard to come by and won only 12 including three gold.
Go to Scotland's Highlights for details of the action in Kuala Lumpur.