Manchester, England 2002
The XVII Commonwealth Games was the most significant multi-sport event to be held in the United Kingdom since the Olympics of 1948. It was the largest in the history of the Commonwealth Games in terms of participating nations with 72 countries taking part across 14 individual and three team sports from 25 July - 4 August 2002. The Games took on added significance in 2002 as the Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty The Queen, celebrated her Golden Jubilee.
The sports were contested by 3,679 athletes in a programme that included:
- Aquatics (diving, swimming & synchronised swimming)
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Boxing
- Cycling
- Gymnastics
- Hockey
- Judo
- Lawn Bowls
- Netball
- Rugby 7s
- Shooting
- Squash
- Table Tennis
- Triathlon
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
For the first time in the Games history, indeed at any multi-sport event in the world, a limited number of full medal events for elite athletes with a disability (EAD) were included in a fully inclusive sports programme. The sports which included EAD events were Athletics, Lawn Bowls, Swimming, Table Tennis and Weightlifting.
Sponsored by Bank of Scotland for a second successive Games, Scotland’s team of 202 athletes gave one of its best ever performances, winning 30 medals including six gold. Highlights included cyclist Chris Hoy winning gold in the 1km Time Trial on the track; Alison Sheppard winning gold in the pool in the 50m Freestyle; Graeme Randall winning gold in Judo 81kg; Lawn Bowlers Alex Marshall and George Sneddon winning gold in the Men’s Pairs; David Heddle, John Robertson and Ivan Prior winning gold in the Lawn Bowls Triples Physically Disabled; and Scotland’s first ever Artistic Gymnastics medal with gold on the rings from Steve Frew.
Go to Scotland's Highlights to read all about the team's superb performance.