1986 Commonwealth Games

The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland, between 24 July and 2 August 1986. This was the second Commonwealth Games to be held in Edinburgh. Thirty two of the eligible fifty nine countries (largely African, Asian and Caribbean states) boycotted the event because of the Thatcher government's policy of keeping Britain's sporting links with apartheid South Africa.

The Games were commemorated on the UK's first-ever £2 circulating coin, which showed a Scottish thistle upon the St. Andrew's saltire design on the reverse side of the coin.

Organisation

Unlike the 1970 Games in Edinburgh, which were popular and successful, the 1986 Games are ill-famed for the wide political boycott connected with them and the resulting financial mismanagement.<ref name="theguardian">Template:Cite news</ref>

Controversies

In addition to the boycott, further controversy arose when it was revealed that through this much-reduced participation and the resultant decline in anticipated broadcasting and sponsorship revenues, the Organising Committee was facing a big financial black hole. The boycott ended any prospect of securing emergency government assistance. Businessman Robert Maxwell stepped in to offer funding, taking over as chairman; but although he promised to invest £2m, his contribution was just £250,000. On a budget of £14m, the Games opened with a deficit of £3m, which later grew to £4.3m, and instead of putting enough money into the event to save it, the new chairman of the Games asked creditors to forgo half the payment due to them to keep the event out of liquidation. The debt was finally paid off in 1989, with the city of Edinburgh losing approximately £500,000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Several athletes were excluded because they breached the amateurism rules, most notably lawn bowlers Phil Skoglund from New Zealand and Willie Wood from Scotland, both of whom have competed in subsequent Games.

Participating teams

Due to the boycott only 27 teams from across the Commonwealth were represented at the 1986 Games.

File:Commonwealth games 1986 countries map.PNG

Participating Commonwealth countries and Territories

Boycott

File:1986 Commonwealth Games (Edinburgh) boycotting countries (red).png

1986 Commonwealth Games boycotting countries dark red

Thirty two of the eligible fifty nine countries (largely African, Asian and Caribbean states) boycotted the event because of the Thatcher government's policy of keeping Britain's sporting links with apartheid South Africa in preference to participating in the general sporting boycott of that country and the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Consequently, Edinburgh 1986 witnessed the lowest turnout since Auckland 1950.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bermuda was a particularly late withdrawal, as its athletes had appeared in the opening ceremony and in the opening day of competition before the Bermuda Olympic Association decided to formally withdraw.<ref name="Boycott">Fraser, Graham (25 April 2014). Glasgow 2014: The Bermuda boycott of 1986 that still hurts . BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2 November 2014.</ref>

Commonwealth countries and territories that boycotted the Games

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Opening ceremony

Banner celebrating the University of Edinburgh Quartercentenary in 1986 that had been hanged on the wall of the Sports Hall during the 1986 Commonwealth Games

Banner celebrating the University of Edinburgh Quartercentenary in 1986

The theme of the opening ceremony celebrated the "Spirit of Youth" and included 6500 Scottish schoolchildren taking part in a series of large Mass Games-style Gymnastics routines. The theme song "Spirit of Youth" was written by Gerard Kenny. The ceremony began on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle from which hundreds of schoolchildren ran down the Royal Mile, through Holyrood Park to Meadowbank Stadium.<ref name="youtube">Template:Cite web</ref>

Venues

• Balgreen, (Bowls)<ref name=Bell>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Barry Buddon (Shooting)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ingliston Centre (Boxing)<ref name=Bell />
• Meadowbank Stadium (Badminton)<ref name=Bell />
• Playhouse Theatre (Wrestling and weightlifting)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Royal Commonwealth Pool (Aquatics)<ref name=Bell />
• Strathclyde Park, Glasgow (Rowing)<ref name=Bell />

Medals by country

Commonwealth games medal, Scotland, 1986

Commonwealth games medal, Scotland, 1986

Commemorative medal Front side, Scotland, 1986

Commemorative medal Front side

Medals by event

Boxing

Light Flyweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
Flyweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
Bantamweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
Featherweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
Lightweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
Light Welterweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
Welterweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
Light Middleweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
Middleweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
Light Heavyweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
Heavyweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
Super Heavyweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete

Cycling

Track

Men
Time Trial	Template:Flagathlete	00:01:06	Template:Flagathlete	00:01:06	Template:Flagathlete	00:01:07
Sprint	Template:Flagathlete		Template:Flagathlete		Template:Flagathlete
Individual Pursuit	Template:Flagathlete	00:04:44	Template:Flagathlete	00:04:51	Template:Flagathlete	00:04:54
Team Pursuit	Template:AUS Glenn Clarke Brett Dutton Bill Hardy Wayne McCarney Dean Woods	00:04:27	Template:NZL Gary Anderson Russell Clune Stephen Swart Andrew Whitford	00:04:34	Template:ENG Chris Boardman Gary Coltman Rob Muzio Jon Walshaw Guy Rowland	overtaken
10 Miles (16 Kilometres) Scratch	Template:Flagathlete	00:19:41	Template:Flagathlete	00:19:41	Template:Flagathlete	00:19:41

Road

Men
Road Race	Template:Flagathlete	04:08:50	Template:Flagathlete	04:08:50	Template:Flagathlete	04:08:50
Team Time Trial	Template:ENG Alan Gornall Deno Davie Keith Reynolds Paul Curran	02:13:16	Template:NZL Blair Cox Graeme Miller Greg Fraine Paul Leitch	02:14:50	Template:NIR Alastair Irvine Cormac McCann Joseph Barr Martin Quinn	02:16:13

Rowing

Men
Single sculls	Template:ENG Steve Redgrave	7:28	Template:AUS Richard Powell	7:33	Template:NZL Eric Verdonk	7:39
Double sculls	Template:CAN Bruce Ford Pat Walter	6:19	Template:AUS Paul Reedy Brenton Terrell	6:21	Template:ENG Carl Smith Allan Whitwell	6:34
Coxless pair	Template:ENG Andy Holmes Steve Redgrave	6:40	Template:NZL Barrie Mabbott Ian Wright	6:43	Template:SCO Ewan Pearson David Riches	6:43
Coxless four	Template:CAN Grant Main Kevin Neufeld Paul Steele Pat Turner	6:01	Template:NZL Andrew Stevenson Shane O'Brien Neil Gibson Don Symon	6:01	Template:ENG Graham Faultless Richard Ireland Mostyn Field Humphry Hatton	6:06
Coxed four	Template:ENG Martin Cross Adam Clift Andy Holmes Steve Redgrave Adrian Ellison	6:08	Template:NZL Nigel Atherfold Chris White Greg Johnston Bruce Holden Andrew Bird	6:10	Template:AUS Mark Doyle James Galloway Mike McKay James Tomkins Dale Caterson	6:11
Eights	Template:AUS James Galloway Malcolm Batten Andrew Cooper Mike McKay Mark Doyle James Tomkins Ion Popa Steve Evans Dale Caterson	5:44	Template:ENG John Garrett John Maxey Jonathan Spencer-Jones Mark Buckingham Patrick Broughton Richard Stanhope Stephen Peel Terence Dillon Vaughan Thomas	5:46	Template:NZL Mike Burrell<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Neil Gibson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Barrie Mabbott<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Shane O'Brien<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Andrew Stevenson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Don Symon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Carl Vincent<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ian Wright<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Andy Hay (cox)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	5:48
Lightweight single sculls	Template:AUS Peter Antonie	7:16	Template:CAN Peter Tattersall	7:27	Template:ENG Carl Smith	7:27
Lightweight coxless four	Template:ENG Christopher Bates Peter Haining Neil Staite Stuart Forbes	6:26	Template:AUS Simon Cook Brian Digby Merrick Howes Joseph Joyce	6:28	Template:CAN Dave Henry Brian Peaker Bob Thomas Ryan Tierney	6:36
Women
Single sculls	Template:NZL Stephanie Foster	7:43	Template:CAN Lisa Wright	7:49	Template:ENG Gillian Bond	7:53
Double sculls	Template:NZL Stephanie Foster Robin Clarke	7:22	Template:CAN Heather Clarke Lisa Robertson	7:49	Template:ENG Diane Prince Claire Parker	7:55
Coxless pair	Template:CAN Kathryn Barr Andrea Schreiner	7:35	Template:ENG Pauline Bird Flo Johnston	7:42	Template:AUS Catherine Hall Alison Smith	7:53
Coxed four	Template:CAN Tina Clarke Tricia Smith Lesley Thompson Jane Tregunno Jenny Wallinga	6:50	Template:AUS Deborah Bassett Susan Chapman-Popa Robyn Grey-Gardner Marilyn Kidd Kaylynn Fry	6:54	Template:ENG Joanne Gough Ann Callaway Kate Holroyd Trish Reid Alison Norrish	7:06
Eights	Template:AUS Annelies Voorthuis Deborah Bassett Vicki Spooner Margot Foster Marilyn Kidd Robyn Grey-Gardner Susan Chapman Urszula Anne Kay Kaylynn Fry	6:44	Template:ENG Pauline Bird Alison Bonner Ann Callaway Kate Grose Joanne Gough Kate Holroyd Flo Johnston Alison Norrish Trish Reid	6:46	Bronze medal not awarded	<ref name=TheStandard>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Lightweight single sculls	Template:AUS Adair Ferguson	7:45	Template:NZL Philippa Baker	7:46	Template:CAN Heather Hattin	7:52
Lightweight coxless four	Template:ENG Alexa Forbes Gillian Hodges Lin Clark Judith Burne	6:55	Template:AUS Deborah Clingeleffer Amanda Cross Virginia Lee Gayle Toogood	7:00	Template:CAN Anne Drost Marni Hamilton Marlene van der Horst Wendy Wiebe	7:01

Shooting

Pistol

Men/Open
50m Free Pistol	Template:Flagathlete	551	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete	549
50m Free Pistol – Pairs	Template:CAN Tom Guinn Claude Beaulieu	1099	Template:ENG Paul Leatherdale Richard Wang	1090	Template:AUS Phil Adams Bengt Sandström	1085
25m Centre-Fire Pistol	Template:Flagathlete	583	Template:Flagathlete	582	Template:Flagathlete	580
25m Centre-Fire Pistol – Pairs	Template:AUS Phil Adams Rod Hack	1165	Template:ENG Bob Northover Michael Cutler	1157	Template:NZL Rex Hamilton Barry O'Neale	1153
25m Rapid-Fire Pistol	Template:Flagathlete	591	Template:Flagathlete	588	Template:Flagathlete	585
25m Rapid-Fire Pistol – Pairs	Template:ENG Brian Girling Terry Turner	1169	Template:AUS Pat Murray Jack Mast	1152	Template:CAN Mark Howkins André Chevrefils	1150
10m Air Pistol	Template:Flagathlete	575	Template:Flagathlete	574	Template:Flagathlete	574
10m Air Pistol – Pairs	Template:ENG Paul Leatherdale Ian Reid	1143	Template:AUS Phil Adams Bruce Favell	1143	Template:NZL Greg Yelavich Barrie Wickins	1140

Rifle

Men/Open
50m Rifle Prone	Template:Flagathlete	599	Template:Flagathlete	598	Template:Flagathlete	597<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
50m Rifle Prone – Pairs	Template:CAN Michael Ashcroft Gale Stewart	1175	Template:AUS Donald Brook Alan Smith	1171	Template:WAL Terry Wakefield Colin Harris	1165
50m Rifle Three Positions	Template:Flagathlete	1170	Template:Flagathlete	1167	Template:Flagathlete	1150
50m Rifle Three Positions – Pairs	Template:ENG Malcolm Cooper Sarah Cooper	2278	Template:CAN Jean-François Sénécal Michael Dion	2276	Template:SCO Alister Allan Bill MacNeill	2241
Full Bore Rifle	Template:Flagathlete	396	Template:Flagathlete	396	Template:Flagathlete	395
Full Bore Rifle – Pairs	Template:CAN Bill Baldwin Alain Marion	583	Template:AUS James Corbett Stan Golinski	583	Template:NIR David Calvert Martin Millar	582
10m Air Rifle	Template:Flagathlete	588	Template:Flagathlete	583	Template:Flagathlete	582
10m Air Rifle – Pairs	Template:CAN Guy Lorion Sharon Bowes	1167	Template:AUS Wolfgang Jobst Anton Wurfel	1151	Template:ENG Malcolm Cooper Robert Smith	1146

Shotgun

Men/Open
Trap	Template:Flagathlete	195	Template:Flagathlete	192	Template:Flagathlete	192
Trap – Pairs	Template:ENG Peter Boden Ian Peel	185	Template:NIR Tom Hewitt Eamon Furphy	183	Template:AUS Terry Rumbel Domingo Diaz	183
Skeet	Template:Flagathlete	196	Template:Flagathlete	195	Template:Flagathlete	195<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Skeet – Pairs	Template:ENG Joe Neville Ken Harman	195	Template:CAN Brian Gabriel Don Kwasyncia	193	Template:NZL John Woolley Jeff Farrell	189

Weightlifting

Men
Flyweight – Overall	Template:Flagathlete	212.5	Template:Flagathlete	185	Template:Flagathlete	177.5
Bantamweight – Overall	Template:Flagathlete	245	Template:Flagathlete	217.5	Template:Flagathlete	215
Featherweight – Overall	Template:Flagathlete	252.5	Template:Flagathlete	250	Template:Flagathlete	235
Lightweight – Overall	Template:Flagathlete	315	Template:Flagathlete	307.5	Template:Flagathlete	290
Middleweight – Overall	Template:Flagathlete	302.5	Template:Flagathlete	300	Template:Flagathlete	270
Light Heavyweight – Overall	Template:Flagathlete	350	Template:Flagathlete	325	Template:Flagathlete	317.5
Middle Heavyweight – Overall	Template:Flagathlete	350	Template:Flagathlete	342.5	Template:Flagathlete	340
Sub Heavyweight – Overall	Template:Flagathlete	360	Template:Flagathlete	332.5	Template:Flagathlete	327.5
Heavyweight – Overall	Template:Flagathlete	375	Template:Flagathlete	372.5	Template:Flagathlete	370
Super Heavyweight – Overall	Template:Flagathlete	392.5	Template:Flagathlete	347.5	Template:Flagathlete	342.5

Wrestling

Men
Light Flyweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
Flyweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
Bantamweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
Featherweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
Lightweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
Welterweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
Middleweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
Light Heavyweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
Heavyweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
Super Heavyweight	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete

See also

• 1970 Commonwealth Games, held in Edinburgh
• 2014 Commonwealth Games, held in Glasgow.
• 2026 Commonwealth Games, to be held in Glasgow.

External links

• Commonwealth Games Official Site
• 1986 Commonwealth Games – Australian Commonwealth Games Association official website
• Video of the Opening Ceremony