1978 Commonwealth Games

Host city selection and context

The right to host the 1978 Commonwealth Games was awarded to Edmonton during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The event was staged just two years after Montreal hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics, demonstrating a concentrated period of major international sport hosting in Canada. The Games were also notable for being the first to use the simplified title 'Commonwealth Games', reflecting the evolving political relationships within the Commonwealth. This change was part of a broader move away from the event's colonial-era nomenclature, which had previously included 'British Empire' and 'British Commonwealth' in its title. The Bid Election process, held in Munich, solidified Edmonton's position as a capable host city for a growing international event.

Venues and infrastructure

A significant new facility built for the Games was Commonwealth Stadium, constructed at a cost of $42 million to serve as the main venue for athletics and ceremonies. The athletes' village was located at the University of Alberta, utilizing the Lister Hall Residential Complex which provided accommodation for 2,000 athletes in a two-per-room configuration. The village dining hall could seat up to 1,000 people and operated 24 hours a day to cater to athletes from different time zones, with a dedicated shuttle bus service connecting the campus to the stadium five miles away. A variety of other venues across Edmonton were used, many of which were existing facilities adapted for the competition, creating a mix of new construction and efficient use of civic infrastructure.

The competition venues for the 1978 Games included a range of specialized facilities across the city. Aquatics events for diving and swimming were held at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre, while athletics took place in the new Commonwealth Stadium. Badminton was contested at the University of Alberta Arena, and boxing matches were held at the Edmonton Gardens. Track cycling events used the Argyll Velodrome, with road cycling courses set along the North Saskatchewan River Valley. Gymnastics was staged at the Northlands Coliseum, and lawn bowls was played at the Coronation Park Greens, providing a diverse geographic spread of events for spectators.

• Shooting: Strathcona Shooting Range
• Weightlifting: Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
• Wrestling: University of Alberta main varsity gymnasium
• Lacrosse (demonstration): Edmonton Coliseum

Lacrosse was a demonstration event at the Edmonton Coliseum. The athletes' village was located at the University of Alberta. It had accommodation for 2,000 athletes in the Lister Hall Residential Complex. The dining hall could seat up to 1,000 people and was open 24 hours a day. A shuttle bus ran from the University campus to the main stadium five miles away.

Participation and political boycotts

A total of 46 national teams were represented at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, continuing the event's growth in scale and global reach within the association. However, the event was affected by political boycotts, a recurring theme in international sport during that era of Cold War tensions and anti-apartheid movements. Nigeria chose to boycott the Games in protest against New Zealand's ongoing sporting contacts with apartheid-era South Africa, a stance aligned with the broader African boycott of the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Uganda also boycotted, citing alleged Canadian hostility towards the government of Idi Amin, whose regime was internationally condemned for human rights abuses. These absences highlighted how geopolitical tensions could influence sporting gatherings, even within the Commonwealth framework designed to foster friendly competition.

Sports programme and events

The sports programme was designed to reflect the traditional strengths and popular sports within the Commonwealth nations, balancing track and field with indoor sports and precision events. Aquatics was divided into swimming and diving competitions, both held at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre, which provided a modern facility for water sports. Athletics, the centrepiece of the Games, took place in the new Commonwealth Stadium, while other sports like boxing, wrestling, and weightlifting provided a platform for strength and combat sports in dedicated venues. The inclusion of lawn bowls and shooting highlighted sports with deep historical roots in the Commonwealth, appealing to different demographics of athletes and spectators across the member nations.

The official sports on the programme represented a core set of activities common to many Commonwealth nations, facilitating broad participation from the 46 teams. Aquatics encompassed both Diving and Swimming events, requiring different sets of skills from the athletes competing in the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre. Athletics included track, field, and road events, serving as the largest single sport in terms of medal count and participant numbers within the new stadium. Badminton, Boxing, and Wrestling offered individual combat and racket sports, while Cycling covered both Track and Road disciplines across two separate venues in the city.

• Aquatics (Diving and Swimming)
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Boxing
• Cycling (Track and Road)
• Gymnastics
• Lawn Bowls
• Shooting
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling

Lacrosse was a demonstration event at the Edmonton Coliseum. The sports programme included aquatics, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, lawn bowls, shooting, weightlifting, and wrestling. Road cycling was held in the North Saskatchewan River Valley. Gymnastics was held at the Northlands Coliseum.

Canadian performance and medal standings

The host nation topped the medal table. The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held two years after the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada from 3 to 12 August. The main stadium was the Commonwealth Stadium, constructed specifically for the Games.

Innovations and lasting legacy

The 1978 Commonwealth Games introduced several important innovations that influenced future multi-sport events in Canada and internationally. Most notably, it was the first Commonwealth Games to employ a computerized system for handling ticket sales, a significant technological step that improved efficiency, accuracy, and customer service for large-scale events. The use of a university residential complex as an athletes' village became a model for cost-effective and sustainable event infrastructure, reducing the need for temporary construction and providing long-term benefits for the educational institution. The event also left a cultural legacy, documented in the National Film Board production 'Going the Distance', which captured the spirit and organization of the Games for historical record and public viewing. The successful organization of the Games enhanced Edmonton's and Alberta's reputation as capable hosts of world-class events, paving the way for future bids and events in the region throughout the following decades. The decision to officially shorten the event's name to 'Commonwealth Games' was a symbolic move that has endured, solidifying the modern identity of the event as a partnership of equals within the association of nations.

This was the first Commonwealth Games where a computerized system was used to handle ticket sales. The athletes' village was located at the University of Alberta. The main stadium was the Commonwealth Stadium, constructed specifically for the Games at the cost of $42 million. The Games were opened by Queen Elizabeth II. This was the first Commonwealth Games to be named under the current title as Commonwealth Games.

Questions about 1978 Commonwealth Games

Where were the 1978 Commonwealth Games held?

The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The main stadium was the purpose-built Commonwealth Stadium, constructed for the Games at a cost of $42 million. Other key venues included the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre for swimming and diving, the University of Alberta Arena for badminton, and the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium for weightlifting. The athletes were housed in the Lister Hall Residential Complex at the University of Alberta, which accommodated 2,000 athletes with a dining hall for 1,000.

Why were the 1978 Games significant for the event's name?

The 1978 edition was the first to be officially known as the 'Commonwealth Games', dropping the word 'British' from the title. This change reflected the evolving political nature of the Commonwealth of Nations, moving away from its colonial-era associations. Previous iterations had been called the British Empire Games and later the British Commonwealth Games. The simplified name has been used for all subsequent Games, making the 1978 event a landmark in the competition's nomenclature.

Which countries boycotted the 1978 Commonwealth Games and why?

Nigeria and Uganda boycotted the 1978 Commonwealth Games. Nigeria's boycott was in protest against New Zealand's sporting contacts with apartheid-era South Africa, a consistent political stance in African sports diplomacy of the era. Uganda boycotted due to alleged Canadian hostility towards the government of Idi Amin, whose regime was widely criticized for human rights violations. These political boycotts reduced participation but did not prevent the Games from proceeding with 46 competing teams.

What was innovative about the 1978 Games?

A key innovation at the 1978 Games was the introduction of a computerized system to handle ticket sales, a first for the Commonwealth Games. This represented an early adoption of computer technology for event management logistics at a major multi-sport event. The Games also featured a new, purpose-built main stadium and utilized a university campus as an integrated athletes' village, creating a model for future hosts. The event itself was the first to operate under the new 'Commonwealth Games' title, marking a formal rebranding.

Who opened the 1978 Commonwealth Games and what was the legacy?

The 1978 Commonwealth Games were officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 3 August at Commonwealth Stadium. This was her first time performing the opening ceremony for a Commonwealth Games since becoming Queen in 1952. The lasting legacy includes the Commonwealth Stadium itself, which remains a major sports venue, and the documentary 'Going the Distance' by the National Film Board. The Games also established Edmonton as a capable host city and provided a model for using university infrastructure for athlete accommodation.

How did Canada perform as the host nation in 1978?

Canada performed exceptionally well as the host nation, finishing at the top of the overall medal table. The host nation topped the medal table at the 1978 Commonwealth Games. This success occurred two years after the 1976 Summer Olympics was held in Montreal, Quebec. The Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 3 to 12 August. Canadian athletes competed in sports including aquatics, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, lawn bowls, shooting, weightlifting, and wrestling. The main venue for athletics was the newly constructed Commonwealth Stadium.

Sources and further reading

• 1978 Commonwealth Games (Wikipedia)
• Edmonton 1978 Commonwealth Games (commonwealthsport.com)
• Edmonton 1978 Commonwealth Games (teamengland.org)
• Commonwealth Games of 1978 | History | Research Starters (ebsco.com)
• Edmonton 1978 (teamscotland.scot)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.