The initial concept of the "Commonwealth Games" can be credited to Rev Astley Cooper of England who, in 1891, suggested a "Pan-Britannic-Pan Anglican Contest and Festival every four years as a means of increasing the goodwill and good understanding of the Empire." Although the first Games was not to take place for nearly forty years, it is fitting to make reference to this chapter in its history.

Mr Richard Coombes, for 35 years, President of the Amateur Athletic union of Australia, later, both before and after the "Festival of Empire" in 1911, continually drew attention to the value of an "Empire Sports" gathering.

Mention must also be made of the so-called "Inter-Empire Championships" which were held in 1911 as part of the "Festival of Empire" in London to mark the Coronation of King George V. Teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom competed against each other in athletics, boxing, swimming and wrestling.

All such plans were overshadowed by the First World War. Nevertheless, in 1920 after the Olympic Games in Antwerp and those in 1924 in Paris, Track and Field events between the British Empire and USA were held at Queen's Club and Stamford Bridge, in London.

It was not until the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam that the first practical steps were taken to organize the British Empire Games. It was Mr M M (Bobby) Robinson of Canada who called a meeting of representatives of all Empire countries, and made the proposal that the British Empire Games should be held in Canada in 1930. The Games in Hamilton, Canada, are regarded as the true starting point of the present series of Commonwealth Games.

Singapore was first invited to participate in the Games in 1958 and won two gold medals for weightlifting. Since then, the Commonwealth Games have been a regular feature in Singapore's sports calendar.

The Commonwealth Games Flag

The opening of the Games is symbolized by the raising of the Commonwealth Games Ceremonial flag. The first ceremonial flag was presented by the British Empire Games Association of Canada after the first Games in Hamilton in 1930. On it was the name of the Games and names of those countries competing in Hamilton.

With the change of the name in 1966 to British Commonwealth Games, the former flags were no longer appropriate. Subsequently, the British Commonwealth Games Association of Canada presented a new flag bearing the symbol of the crown encircled by a continuous chain of 35 links representing the number of countries taking part, with the letters BCG in gold on a solid dark blue field.

The ceremonial flag is hoisted at the opening of the Games, and flies continuously night and day during the Games until it is lowered at the closing ceremony. It is then handed to the Chief Citizen of the Host City for safekeeping until it is sent by him four years later to the Chief Citizen of the next host city to stage the Games.

The Queen's Message Rally

For the VI British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, 1958, Her Majesty, the Queen handed over at Bucking ham Palace, a specially designed baton, containing a message from herself to be carried by a series of runners to Cardiff, and to be handed over the opening ceremony and there read to all those assembled in the stadium. A total of 664 runners carried the baton.

The relay conveying the Queen's message is now an integral part of the Games.