Format: Collection

Linked To

Ephemera

Collection (10)

Map

no geotags or polygons yet

Use Conditions Apply

Information about the use of this item, provision of copies and copyright can be found at Use and Copying.

Tools

Download Add to Collection Contact us about this Citation for this item

Hocken Digital Collections

Xth British Commonwealth Games, 1974: Ephemera

Details

Reference NumberEph-Gp-0170Date[1973]Description"For the first time at any Commonwealth Games a poster for each of the nine sports has been produced by the Games Organising Committee. The brightly coloured and graphic posters depicting action in the Games sport are available at 85 cents each or $6.80 a set." (From: "Xth British Commonwealth Games 1974 Progress Report No 3", [1973].)
The posters were designed by Peter Calcott the Games design coordinator. Images were 'achieved by a process using contour line films to generate the four printing plates required from original black and white photo collages. The plates were printed in the four basic Games colours, with some areas overprinted to produce the broader color range shown." (From: 'Games Posters', Designscape, 51, September 1973, page 8.)History / BiographyHeld every four years since 1930, the Commonwealth Games were originally titled the British Empire Games. The inaugural games took place in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and involved 400 athletes from eleven countries competing in 59 events over six sports. In 1954 the games became known as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, changing to the British Commonwealth Games in 1970, and called the Commonwealth Games since 1978 reflecting the corresponding changes to the British empire and Commonwealth. At the 2022 Birmingham (England) Commonwealth Games over 4500 athletes from 72 countries competed in 283 events over 19 sports. New Zealand has participated in every games since 1930, and hosted games in 1950 (Auckland), 1974 (Christchurch), and 1990 (Auckland).
The Xth British Commonwealth games were opened in Christchurch on 24 January 1974 by the president of the British Commonwealth Games Federation, HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. 1276 athletes from 38 countries participated in 121 events over nine sports in a relaxed atmosphere at the "friendly games" despite high security following the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. A threatened boycott of the games by African nations had been averted by the cancelling of the 1973 Springbok rugby team tour of New Zealand. For the first time in New Zealand television viewers could watch athletic, boxing and swimming events in colour. Colin Simon won the competition to design the games symbol that featured Commonwealth colours (red, white, and blue), and a repeating arrangement of the letters N.Z. with an X (for the Xth games) in the design centre. Queen Elizabeth II closed the games on 2 February 1974.
(From: 'Commonwealth Games - 1930-2022', Commonwealth Sport https://www.commonwealthsport.com/commonwealth-games, accessed 28 February 2024; Joseph Romanos, 'Olympic and Commonwealth games - New Zealand as the Commonwealth Games host', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/olympic-and-commonwealth-games/page-9, accessed 28 February 2024; Xth British Commonwealth Games 1974 Progress Report No 1, [1973].)

Xth British Commonwealth Games, 1974: Ephemera

Depicts Or Relates To

NamesCalcott, Peter, 1939-1991PlacesChristchurchSubjectsBritish Commonwealth Games (10th: 1974: Christchurch, N.Z.)WeightliftingWrestlingAthleticsBoxingSwimmingShootingCyclingBowling on the greenBadmintonCommonwealth Games

Start typing here to find a location	Latitude	Longitude	Zoom	Actions

loading google map....

Save Cancel

Digital Collections

Hocken Digital Collections

Menu

Xth British Commonwealth Games, 1974: Ephemera

Hocken Collections | Te Uare Taoka o Hākena