1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games (Welsh: Gemau Ymerodraeth Prydain a'r Gymanwlad 1958) were held in Cardiff, Wales, from 18 to 26 July 1958. It was the sixth edition of what would come to be known as the Commonwealth Games, the second Games held in the United Kingdom, and the second held under the name British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

VI British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Original poster for the Games
Host cityCardiff, Wales
Nations35
Athletes1122
Events94
Opening18 July 1958
Closing26 July 1958
Opened byPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Queen's Baton Final RunnerKen Jones
Main venueCardiff Arms Park
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Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including, for the first time, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya and the Isle of Man. 178,000 tickets were eventually sold during the Games.

The Cardiff Games introduced the Queen's Baton Relay, which has been conducted as a prelude to every Commonwealth Games ever since. England topped the medal table.

Venues

The British Empire and Commonwealth Games, including the opening and closing ceremonies, were held at the Cardiff Arms Park.

The following venues were used during the Games.

  • Village - Royal Air Force St Athan
  • Aquatics - A new Wales Empire Pool was constructed for the event
  • Athletics - Cardiff Arms Park
  • Boxing - Sophia Gardens Pavilion
  • Cycling (track) - Maindy Stadium
  • Cycling (road) - Ogmore-by-Sea District Loop
  • Fencing - Cae'r Castell School
  • Lawn bowls - Sophia Gardens and Guest Keen Sports Club
  • Rowing - Llyn Padarn in Llanberis
  • Weightlifting - Memorial Hall in Barry
  • Wrestling - Sophia Gardens Pavilion

Participating teams

36 countries and territories were represented (and 1,100 athletes), being the largest number to date, with a significant number of teams competing for the first time at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

At Cardiff Arms Park, an anti-apartheid crowd protested at the all-white South African team; games organisers responded that non-white South Africans were ineligible as their associations were not affiliated to the international federations. South Africa left the Commonwealth in 1961 and next appeared at the Games in 1994.

Participating Commonwealth countries and territories:

  • Australia
  • Bahama Islands
  • Barbados
  • British Guiana
  • Canada
  • Ceylon
  • Dominica
  • England
  • Fiji
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar: first appearance
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Isle of Man: first appearance
  • Jamaica
  • Jersey: first appearance
  • Kenya
  • Malaya
  • Malta: first appearance
  • Mauritius: first appearance
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • North Borneo: first appearance
  • Northern Ireland
  • Northern Rhodesia
  • Pakistan
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: first appearance
  • Sarawak: first appearance
  • Scotland
  • Singapore: first appearance
  • Sierra Leone: first appearance
  • South Africa
  • Southern Rhodesia
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Uganda
  • Wales (host)

Medal table

  *   Host nation (Wales)

Medals won by nation, ranked by number of golds, with totals—sortable
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 England (ENG)29222980
2 Australia (AUS)27221766
3 South Africa (SAF)1310831
4 Scotland (SCO)55313
5 New Zealand (NZL)46919
6 Jamaica (JAM)4217
7 Pakistan (PAK)35210
8 India (IND)2103
9 Singapore (SIN)2002
10 Canada (CAN)1101627
11 Wales (WAL)*13711
12 Northern Ireland (NIR)1135
13 Bahama Islands (BAH)1102
Barbados (BAR)1102
15 Malaya (MAL)0202
16 Nigeria (NGR)0112
17 British Guiana (BGU)0101
 Uganda (UGA)0101
19 Kenya (KEN)0022
Southern Rhodesia (SRH)0022
 Trinidad and Tobago (TTO)0022
22 Ghana (GHA)0011
 Isle of Man (IOM)0011
Northern Rhodesia (NRH)0011
Totals (24 entries)9494105293

Sports

  •  Aquatics (details)
    •  Diving (details)
    •  Swimming (details)
  •  Athletics (details)
  •  Boxing (details)
  •  Cycling (details)
  •  Fencing (details)
  •  Lawn bowls (details)
  •  Rowing (details)
  •  Weightlifting (details)
  •  Wrestling (details)

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