The awarding of the Games to Vancouver was the culmination of two years of very hard work by an enterprising group of Civic leaders spearheaded by then Mayor, Charles E. Thompson. Vancouver then proceeded to set new standards in organization and presentation of not only Commonwealth Games but all multi-sport Games of the times.The athlete’s oath was taken by the captain of the Canadian team, Mr. Bill Parnell, which for the first time would reflect the involvement of Commonwealth nations outside of the British Empire.The Fifth (V) Games placed Vancouver on a world stage and featured memorable sporting moments as well as outstanding entertainment, technical innovation and cultural events. The ‘Miracle Mile’, as it became dubbed, saw both the gold medalist, Roger Bannister of England, and silver medalist, John Landy of Australia, run sub-four minute races in an event that was televised live across the globe for the first time.
Participating Nations: 24 nations
Participants: 662 athletes and 127 officials
This was a ‘quantum leap’ in size for the Commonwealth Games and represented the most significant increase in (100%) for any Commonwealth Games.
Sports/Disciplines: The sports on the program were athletics, boxing, cycling, diving, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling.
Winners
Nations winning medals at the Games included England, Australia, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, Trinidad, Northern Ireland, (Zimbabwe)North and South Rhodesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Wales, Jamaica, Hong Kong, Uganda, Barbados and British Guiana.