The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.
The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years (1958) since the country last competed in the Games. It was also Hong Kong's last appearance at the games before the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from Britain to China.
The official mascot of the Games was an anthropomorphic killer whale named "Klee Wyck". "Klee Wyck" – meaning "the laughing one" – was a nickname given to Canadian painter and sculptor Emily Carr by the Ucluelet First Nation.
Ten types of sports were featured at the Victoria Games: athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, lawn bowls, shooting, weightlifting, and wrestling.
Read more about 1994 Commonwealth Games: The "Lightweight Games", The Last "Original Games", Opening Ceremony, Boxing Committee
Famous quotes containing the words commonwealth and/or games:
“Was I not born in this Realm? Were my parents born in any foreign country?... Is not my Kingdom here? Whom have I oppressed? Whom have I enriched to other’s harm? What turmoil have I made to this Commonwealth that I should be suspected to have no regard of the same?”
—Elizabeth I (1533–1603)
“In 1600 the specialization of games and pastimes did not extend beyond infancy; after the age of three or four it decreased and disappeared. From then on the child played the same games as the adult, either with other children or with adults. . . . Conversely, adults used to play games which today only children play.”
—Philippe Ariés (20th century)