Amid news this week that the Australian state of Victoria has withdrawn from hosting the Commonwealth Games, London has been considered as an alternative destination.
The capital’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, yesterday suggested that London could host the 2026 Games.
If the plan goes ahead, it will mark the first time since 1934 that the sport has been deregulated in London.
At the time, the event was known as the British Empire Games and was largely held at Shepherd’s Bush in West London and Wembley in North London.
More than 50,000 people packed into the now-demolished White City Stadium for the opening ceremony, where 40,000 pigeons were released into the sky.
The Games were originally scheduled for South Africa, but London stepped in to avoid a political crisis over the country’s apartheid policies, which would have affected the ability of black and Asian athletes to compete.
London hosted the British Empire Games in 1934. The Games were originally scheduled for South Africa, but London stepped in to avoid a political crisis over racial apartheid policies. Above: Female competitors compete in the women’s 80m hurdles at White City Stadium in West London in 1934
A crowd of workers watch Indian wrestlers including Ajaib Singh (left) in training. Warriors arrived in London to compete in the Empire Games. In the background is the Empire Pool, which was built specifically for the games
When the inaugural British Empire Games were held in Canada in 1930, the Daily Mail prophetically predicted that the event would become a ‘permanent institution’.
The week-long extravaganza in Hamilton, Ontario saw English athletes top the medal table as they competed against sportsmen and women from countries including Wales, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
The word Empire – then a tribute to Britain’s global territories – was only dropped from the Games title after the 1966 event, which was held in Jamaica.
The White City Stadium, which was demolished in 1985, previously enjoyed the distinguished honor of hosting the 1908 Olympics, when London paid for Rome’s plans to host after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
The stunning photos show the event itself and the lead-up, while the athletes relax and spend time training.
In one picture, Indian wrestlers are seen brawling outside a pool at Wembley, while in another, three female athletes are seen focusing intently on an 80-metre hurdles competition. Thousands of spectators were watching.
The games opened at the White City Stadium on 4 August. Around 600 athletes wander around the sun-drenched field, before the pigeons are released into the sky.
Women’s swimmers from England, Australia and Jersey are seen spending some time on the water cycle a day before the start of the Empire Games. Women competed only in athletics and aquatics events that year
A girl throws a tin lid as a makeshift discus at a rally in Regent’s Park inspired by the Empire Games, which were then in full swing.
Around 40,000 pigeons are seen released into the sky during the opening ceremony of the 1934 British Empire Games at the White City Stadium in Shepherd’s Bush.
At the opening ceremony, some 50,000 people flocked to watch 600 athletes march around the sun-drenched field. Above: A Coldstream Guard band performs in front of thousands of spectators at White City Stadium during the opening ceremony.
Competitors from a total of 16 countries and regions participated. At the time, all the competing countries – including Canada, Australia, South Africa, Jamaica and India – were part of the British Empire. By the time the Games ended on 11 August, England topped the medals table with 73 gongs – including 29 gold, 20 silver and 24 bronze. Above: An Indian athlete is seen during the opening ceremony
The youngest athlete was a 14-year-old girl from South Africa, while the oldest was a 45-year-old hammer thrower from Newfoundland, Canada.
At the time, all the competing countries – including Canada, Australia, South Africa, Jamaica and India – were part of the British Empire.
Daily Mail report of the opening ceremony of the Empire Games in 1934
By the time the Games ended on 11 August, England topped the medals table with 73 gongs – including 29 gold, 20 silver and 24 bronze.
London was confirmed as the host in February 1933 and therefore had just 18 months to prepare for the event.
As part of the leadership, Wembley’s Empire Pool was designed by renowned engineer Sir Wayne Williams and completed in July 1934.
Competitors from a total of 16 countries and regions took part, but women only competed in the athletics and aquatics categories.
At the 1930 Games, women did not compete in any events, meaning the times they set in 1934 were new records.
Reporting on the opening ceremony, the Daily Mail said at the time: ‘Fifty thousand people and 40,000 pigeons in the White City on Saturday saw the opening of the Empire Games – the biggest athletics festival in this country since 1908.
‘People paid to get in. Pigeons were released from hundreds of baskets for an ‘Empire Game’ of their own.’
They noted how there was ‘quite a stir’ in the crowd as they listened to the speeches, while each team of athletes had ‘something special to set it apart’.
The oldest competitor was William Caulfield, who at age 45 had been throwing the hammer for over 20 years.
The youngest was 14-year-old South African champion back stroke swimmer Molly Ride.
The Daily Mail noted that Indian wrestler Ajaib Singh was ‘very proud of his long beard’ and wore his hair ‘neatly coiled on top of his head’.
A female diver, a Miss O. Whitsitt, from South Africa, smoked cigarettes in an attempt to calm his nerves.
The Empire Pool was built specifically for the British Empire Games. Above: Workers are pictured below during construction of the pool in July 1934 The impressive building was built less than a year before London hosted the Games
Members of the South African women’s swimming team pose for a photo during training at Hyde Park’s Serpentine Lake ahead of the opening of the British Empire Games.
Australian team from left: A Higginson (swimming), JP Metcalfe (athletics), JL Knight (wrestling), N Ryan (swimming), H Pethebridge (cycling), RV Clarke (swimming), L Thompson (swimming), L Cook (Boxing), HS Yeats (Athletics), C Dennis (Swimming), RE Garrard (Wrestling), N Dempsey (Athletics), EL Gray (Cycling), FI Woodhouse (Athletics)
The women of the Australian swimming team are seen taking a break from training for the game by competing in the sport of coots, where the aim is to throw a ring over a spike on the ground.
Three South African athletes (left to right) high jumper Marjorie Clarke, Jay Luckhoff and hurdler Barbara Burke train at London’s Paddington Recreation Ground for the British Empire Games.
England javelin and discus thrower Louise Fawcett is seen teaching her 11-year-old niece Doreen how to throw a discus at Paddington Recreation Ground during training ahead of the Empire Games.
Three South African athletes (left to right) high jumper Marjorie Clarke, Jay Luckhoff and hurdler Barbara Burke train at London’s Paddington Recreation Ground for the British Empire Games.
South African competitors and officials on the Union Castle liner ‘Armadale Castle’ leaving Southampton on their way back from the Empire Games in London
The boating lake outside Empire Pool can be seen being used by swimmers and boaters in 1934, the year the pool was built.
A view from the southwest shows the front elevation of the Empire Pool, which was built specifically for the Empire Games. The swimming pool was last used in 1948 for that year’s Olympic Games. The building was renamed Wembley Arena in 1978 and is now commonly used for music and comedy events.
The first change with the name of the games came in 1952, when they came to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
The term empire was dropped entirely in 1970.
The last event to feature this was the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, held in Kingston, Jamaica.
The long-term future of the Games was said to be under threat this week after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews decided to pull out of hosting, fearing rising costs.
He said it had become clear the cost would exceed $6bn (£3.5bn).
The decision comes after Birmingham staged the Games at the last minute due to the decision to scrap plans to host them again in Durban due to cost concerns.
A spokesman for London Mayor Sadiq Khan said a spokesman for Mr Khan said yesterday: ‘Any decision will have to be made by the Government.’
‘However, London is the sporting capital of the world, with experience hosting major sporting events.
‘Mayor ready to support a submission for 2026 and future global events.’
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