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British Commonwealth Games

by Dean Thomas, 18 May 2002

Origin of the flag
History
British Commonwealth Games Seal

See also:

Origin of the flag

The British Commonwealth Games Association of Canada donated the flag for it's first use in Edinburgh, 1970, at the IX British Commonwealth Games.
Purely for asthetic reasons, the flag color was set at Royal Blue (with no fancy border as in the previous flag), and the chain configuration was changed from Pentagonal to Oval.

(Source: Commonwealth Games Council of England )

Dean Thomas, 17 May 2002

History

The British Commonwealth Games came about when the meeting of the British Empire and Commonwealth Games Federation during the XIII Games at Kingston (Jamaica), voted to drop the word "Empire" from the Games title, reflecting the continuing transformation of the old British Empire into a Commonwealth of independent nations and dominions.
Reflecting the transition from the old British Empire to the new British Commonwealth, the Tudor (or "Imperial") Crown in the Games Seal was replaced by the St. Edward's Crown, which Queen Elizabeth II had adopted after she assumed the throne. The St. Edwards Crown reflected the fact that the British Monarch no longer ruled over a vast Empire.

British Commonwealth Games Seal

BCG Seal

The St. Edwards Crown and the lettering were the only changes made to the seal when the name change took place. Even though the name change took place during the 1966 Kingston Games, it was too late to change the medals and other items used at the 1966 Games to reflect the new title. It was not until the next Games (at Edinburgh) that this seal configuration was used.

Dean Thomas, 22 May2002