2002 Commonwealth Games

The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from July 25 to August 4. 72 nations competed in the following sports:

After experimenting with it on a smaller scale at the 1994 Commonwealth Games[?] and dropping it at the 1998 Games[?], disabled competitions were held in swimming, athletics, bowls, table tennis and weightlifting. The medals were added to the final tally for each nation.

Final medal Table

     Country                         Gold Silver Bronze Total
  1. Australia                       82   62     62     206 
  2. England                         54   51     60     165 
  3. India                           32   21     19      72 
  4. Canada                          31   41     42     114 
  5. New Zealand                     11   13     21      45 
  6. South Africa                    9    20     17      46 
  7. Cameroon                        9     1      2      12 
  8. Malaysia                        7     9     18      34 
  9. Scotland                        6     8     16      30 
 10. Nigeria                         5     4     11      20 
 11. Wales                           4    15     12      31 
 12. Kenya                           4     8      4      16 
 13. Jamaica                         4     6      7      17 
 14. Singapore                       4     2      7      13 
 15. Bahamas                         4     0      4       8 
 16. Nauru                           2     3     10      15 
 17. Northern Ireland                2     2      1       5 
 18. Cyprus                          2     1      1       4 
 19. Pakistan                        1     3      3       7 
 20. Fiji                            1     1      1       3 
 21. Zambia                          1     1      1       3 
 22. Zimbabwe                        1     1      0       2 
 23. Namibia                         1     0      4       5 
 24. United Republic of Tanzania     1     0      1       2 
 25. Bangladesh                      1     0      0       1 
 26. Guyana                          1     0      0       1 
 27. Mozambique                      1     0      0       1 
 28. St Kitts and Nevis              1     0      0       1 
 29. Botswana                        0     2      1       3 
 30. Uganda                          0     2      0       2 
 31. Samoa                           0     1      2       3 
 32. Trinidad & Tobago               0     1      0       1 
 33. Barbados                        0     0      1       1 
 34. Cayman Islands                  0     0      1       1 
 35. Ghana                           0     0      1       1 
 36. Lesotho                         0     0      1       1 
 37. Malta                           0     0      1       1 
 38. Mauritius                       0     0      1       1 
 39. St Lucia                        0     0      1       1

Some of the more memorable events of the Games included:

The netball final between Australia and New Zealand. Played before a capacity crowd of 12,000 people, the game see-sawed throughout the four quarters, both teams pulling out to significant leads only to be clawed back to level pegging. New Zealand were one goal up with only 30 seconds to go, and in attack, when called for stepping, Australia taking advantage to score and tying the game at 46-all at full time. Two seven minute periods of overtime were played, with the game becoming increasingly more frantic and scrappy as the score was levelled again at 55-all after overtime, with the situation that the first team to get two goals ahead won the game. After three minutes of sudden-death extra time Australia won the game 57-55, in one of the most exciting games of netball ever played.

In a slightly underwhelming Australian performance at the pool, Ian Thorpe still managed to set yet another world record in his pet event, the 400 metre freestyle swimming. His quest for seven gold medals was ended by teammate Matt Welsh in the 100m backstroke.

British track athlete Paula Radcliffe won her first major gold medal with a dominant, front running performance in the 5,000 metres, to record a time of 14:31.42, over 20 seconds ahead of silver medalist Edith Masai[?] of Kenya.

In the final of the 100 m for men (athletics), the two British favourites both pulled up with injuries. The race was won by Kim Collins[?] of Saint Kitts and Nevis, winning the country's first Commonwealth title.

On the last day of track competition, England won gold in both the men's 4x100 and 4x400 relays by tiny margins, recording the same time (38.62) as the Jamaican quartet in sprint relay and holding off a fast finishing Welsh team by 1/100th of a second in the longer race, with a winning time of 3:00.40. The women's 4x400 relay was won by Australia in a major upset after the favoured Jamaican team dropped the baton, with Cathy Freeman, out of condition as she looks after her ill husband, nevertheless ran the second leg to assist the team to victory.

In winning the triple jump England's Jonathan Edwards simultaneously held the World, Olympic, European and Commonwealth championships and the World record. He would lose the European title a week later in Munich.

Another world record was set in the 4000 metre team pursuit at the track cycling by the Australian team. Scot Chris Hoy[?] took the individual time trial and 19-year old prodigy Nicole Cooke[?] of Wales won the women's cycling road race in a sprint finish, having seemed out of contention after a mistake on the last lap.

South African swimmer Natalie du Toit[?] created history. As well as winning her events in the newly-included disabled swimming event, the 18-year-old, missing the lower section of her left(?) leg, made the final of the 800 metre able-bodied freestyle event. The integration of a small number of elite disabled sporting events into the games was regarded as a success.

Manchester's famously grey weather, which had largely behaved itself for the games, got its revenge in the closing ceremony as it drenched those dignitaries, spectators and athletes who turned up (many stayed in the village and watched on television). Melbourne singer Vanessa Amorosi[?] managed to keep a straight face, but only just, as she sang her signature tune, "Shine".

[BBC coverage http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/commonwealthgames2002/] : Excellent for checking times/positions

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