‘The Warmth of Comradeship'

‘During the organization period a few of us had the opinion we would be able to put the British Empire games over but few ever dreamed the Empire would rally so strongly. We had our moments of anxiety, but we always had a sensational ace in the hole, loyalty to the British Empire, and we felt that we could wave the good old flag and all would gather round.’ ¹ Bobby Robinson’s summary of the success of the first British Empire Games revealed the degree to which he and other organizers had relied on imperial sentiment to help establish the event. The opening of the Games, on 16 August 1930, was punctuated with reminders of the durability of the British bond through sport. Though modelled fairly closely on the Olympic protocol, the ceremony exuded the characteristics of a family gathering. ‘From all corners of the world, competitors have come, eager, of course, to reflect credit on their respective colonies, but proud of the blood ties that bind them in a great entity. ² It was sport for sport’s sake, rivalry in friendly competition that was ‘devoid of petty jealousies and sectional prejudices’. ³