EMPIRE GAMES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27375, 14 June 1954, Page 7

EMPIRE GAMES

RECORD NUMBER OF ENTRIES

25 COUNTRIES TO BE REPRESENTED

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

VANCOUVER, June 5. The fifth British Empire Games will begin in Vancouver in eight weeks’ time with the New Zealand team leading 792 of the Commonwealth’s finest athletes round the Empire Stadium. Now that the May 31 deadline for the receipt of national entry forms from member countries has passed, the Games general manager (Mr Blair Clerk) has produced figures showing that the Games, from' July 30 to August 7, will be the biggest and most spectacular ever. Twenty-five nations out of a possible 28—a record—will be represented. The previous record was 16 in 1934 in London.

The only Commonwealth countries not coming to Vancouver are Ceylon, Malta, ind Malaya.

A Games spokesman warned that Singapore might have trouble raising the money to send its team to British Columbia. In May, Singapore was represented at the Asian Games, won by Japan. An analysis of representation in various sports at the Games is:—

Totals - - 697 95 As host country, Canada has the greatest number of competitors, 221, followed by England with 127, Australia with- 75, New Zealand . 67, and South Africa 64. Other countries competing are Bahamas 7, Barbados 2, Bermuda 13, British Guiana 4, Fiji 5, Gold Coast 12, Hong Kong 10, India 5, Jamaica 15, Kenya 13, Nigeria 15, Northern Rhodesia 20, Pakistan 27. Scotland 36, Southern Rhodesia 14, Trinidad 13, Uganda 6, Wales 22. Singapore and Northern Ireland have not yet given an analysis of their teams. Representatives of Newfoundland, the country which led’the march in. the opening ceremony at the Games «in Hamilton in 1930, will this time be included in the Canadian team.

Track and field Men 216 Women tries 47 22 Boxing 53 12 Cycling 48 — 10 •encing 26 8 6 Lawn bowls 59 —— 10 Rowing and sculling Swimming 47 — 4 and diving 72 35 13 Weight-lifting 43 — 14 Wrestling .. 34 — 8 Teams officials 99 5 25