The 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony at Meadownbank Stadium.The 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony at Meadownbank Stadium.
The 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony at Meadownbank Stadium.

Edinburgh Commonwealth Games 1970 - These 23 pictures take you back to when the games took over the Capital for the first time

With the Commonwealth Games getting underway in Birmingham next week, we take a look at back when the Capital hosted the feast of international sports for the first of two times.

The 1970s Commonwealth Games held in Edinburgh heralded a number of firsts – the first time the Games had been held in Scotland, the first time ‘British Commonwealth Games’ was adopted (and later abandoned), the first time metric units were used in all events, and the first time a unique logo was designed (the games emblem intertwined with a St Andrews Cross and a thistle).

Edinburgh won the opportunity to host the games after winning a vote against Christchurch, in New Zealand, by 18 votes to 11 at a ceremony held in Jamaica.

Competitors from 42 countries travelled to the Capital, including first time appearances for Grenada, Guernsey, Malawi, Swaziland and Gambia.

Australia topped the medal table with 82 medals including 36 golds, followed by England with 66 (18 gold) and Canada with 66 (18 gold).

Scotland finished in a creditable fourth place with a total of 25 medals – six gold, eight silver and 11 bronze.

A total of 1,744 people (including officials) took part in 121 events in 10 sports, with the action centred around Meadowbank Stadium, which also hosted the opening ceremony.

Here are 23 pictures to take you back to that summer of sport.

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Competitors from 42 countries travelled to the Capital, including first time appearances for Grenada, Guernsey, Malawi, Swaziland and Gambia.