The New Zealand Olympic Committee is preparing the celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Christchurch 1974 Commonwealth Games.
Known as the as the “Friendly Games”, the 1974 Commonwealth Games took place in Christchurch from January 24th to February 2nd. The iconic Queen Elizabeth II Stadium was host to the Opening Ceremony where Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, declared the Games open.
The New Zealand Team flagbearer at the opening ceremony was Warwick Nicholl who led the New Zealand team into the stadium in front of 35,000 spectators.
The New Zealand Team went on to finish an incredible fourth on the medal table, winning a total of 35 medals (9 Gold, 8 Silver and 18 Bronze).
Nine sports were on the programme and 1,276 athletes from around the Commonwealth took part in athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, diving, lawn bowls, shooting, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling.
Distance runner Dick Tayler provided an exciting victory for New Zealand on the first day of the games, claiming the gold medal in the 10,000 metres.
"I had a look back and saw I was clear and just charged to the finish line," said Tayler.
"I was in absolute disbelief. Someone asked me after the race why'd you thrown your arms in the air after you finished? And I said I heard someone in the crowd yell out the bar's open.
"It was my day in the sun and it was amazing to be there with the whole country behind me. It was a great Games, very special, and we were all so proud to wear that black singlet."
The track continued to provide great excitement with the 1500 metre final where Filbert Bayi (Tanzania) set a world record of 3:32:16. John Walker took the silver medal (also under the previous world record) with Rod Dixon claiming fourth in the same race.
New Zealand Swimmer Jaynie Parkhouse was another star of the Games, winning gold in the 800m Freestyle, while Mark Treffers won gold in the 400m Medley event.
The Games were also an important milestone for New Zealand television, with colour television broadcasts to the New Zealand public for the first time. The song “Join Together” was sung by a massed choir and provided the sound track to the Games. New Zealanders were also excited to host the entire immediate British Royal Family (Elizabeth II, her husband and children) who stayed aboard Royal Yacht Britannia as the royal residence during the Games.
New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Nicki Nicol says the 1974 Games were an iconic sporting event for the country.
"Christchurch 1974 was an amazing celebration of sport and the Commonwealth. The nation united behind our New Zealand athletes who made us extremely proud with their performances,' said Nicol.
"The 50 year anniversary is a fantastic chance to reflect back on these Games, and we look forward to connecting with many of the team members and Games organisers later this week."
To mark the anniversary the NZOC and the Local Organising Committee is hosting a celebratory dinner and reunion function for team members in Christchurch on January 27th.
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