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1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

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VIII British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Host cityKingston, Jamaica
Nations34
Athletes1,316 (inc. officials)
Events110 events in 10 sports
Opening4 August 1966
Closing13 August 1966
Opened byPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Main venueIndependence Park
← VII
IX →

The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica, from 4 to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions. The opening ceremony was the first Games to be opened in the evening.[1] The event was followed by the 1966 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games for wheelchair athletes. Jamaica remains the only host nation of a Commonwealth Games that did not win at least one gold medal in its own games.

Two sports; lawn bowls and rowing were dropped from the Games due to lack of facilities and were replaced by the debut sports of badminton and shooting. A record 38 countries competed at the Games.[2]

The National Stadium was the primary venue for the Games

Host selection

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A Jamaican five-shilling coin commemorating the Games

Kingston was elected host by the CGF in Rome, Italy, during the 1960 Summer Olympics.

1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games bidding results
City Country Votes
Kingston Jamaica 17
Edinburgh Scotland 12
Salisbury Rhodesia and Nyasaland 5

Venues

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[2]

Participating teams

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Countries that participated

34 teams were represented at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
(Teams competing for the first time are shown in bold).

Participating Commonwealth countries and territories:

Medals table

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  *   Host nation (Jamaica)

Medals won by nation, ranked and sortable
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 England33242380
2 Australia23282273
3 Canada14202357
4 New Zealand851326
5 Ghana5229
 Trinidad and Tobago5229
7 Pakistan4149
8 Kenya4138
9 India34310
 Nigeria34310
11 Wales3227
12 Malaysia2215
13 Scotland1449
14 Northern Ireland1337
15 Isle of Man1001
16 Jamaica*04812
17 Bahamas0101
 Bermuda0101
 Guyana0101
 Papua and New Guinea0101
21 Uganda0033
22 Barbados0011
Totals (22 entries)110110120340

Sports

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References

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  1. ↑ "Empire Games Moonlight opening ceremony". Birmingham Daily Post. 4 August 1966. p. 25. Retrieved 11 December 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. 1 2 3 "38 countries set Games record". Belfast Telegraph. 4 May 1966. p. 22. Retrieved 7 December 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ↑ "British Empire and Commonwealth Games Sabina Park & National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica August 4-13, 1966". Amateur Boxing. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "Commonwealth Shooting reports" (PDF). WTSF. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "Louis Martin's win thrills Jamaicans". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 10 August 1966. p. 16. Retrieved 11 December 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
Preceded by
Perth		 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Kingston
VIII British Empire and Commonwealth Games		 Succeeded by
Edinburgh
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