1990 Commonwealth Games - Closing Ceremony

Closing Ceremony

A more relaxed affair was held for the 14th Commonwealth Games closing ceremony, reflecting that of Christchurch in 1974. Attended by HM The Queen, formality and respect played their due part in the beginning with formal salute and the acceptance of the Commonwealth Games flag to the next host city, Victoria, Canada. This was followed by a Native American and modern Canadian dancing display.

Then the fun began with thousands of children entering the stadium with a mass jumprope demonstration, followed by the Athletes themselves. The Queen then made the traditional closing speech and called for all the Commonwealth's athletes to assemble in four years time in Victoria BC in 1994. As the evening wore on, opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sang "Now is the Hour" a favorite New Zealand hymn as the Royal New Zealand Airforce's A4 Skyhawks made one final swooping flyover of Mt Smart Stadium followed by fireworks. It was then The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, and Prince Edward exited the stadium standing in open top vehicles.