The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, opened the Commonwealth Games on this day in 1982.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He arrived in Brisbane and began an 11-day round of engagements from the day prior.
He started his tour only hours after the Royal yacht Britannia sailed up the Brisbane River to a rousing welcome, as well as a plethora of protests.
Hundreds of small boats and thousands of flag-waving spectators turned out in brilliant sunshine and light winds to welcome the royal party.
About 500 craft took part in the river procession, providing an hour-long spectacle for onlookers.
Half a dozen helicopters hovered overhead as the Britannia turned in the river, nosed into her Newstead berth and broke out her flags.
The Duke greeted onlookers on the deck at the stern of the boat.
Over the next 10 days, over 2000 athletes from 52 nations competed for 710 medals.
Five nations - Antigua, Bangladesh, Lesotho, St Kitts and the Seychelles - did not send teams for financial reasons.
This was in addition to the possibility that predominantly black Commonwealth nations would not attend in order to protest the presence of New Zealand.
The country had sporting links to South Africa, which was at the time still under apartheid.
Aboriginal land-rights marches also took place peacefully through the streets of Coolangatta and Brisbane on this day.
About 1800 people were counted to have protested.
Lanie Tindale
I am City reporter at The Canberra Times. I previously covered health for the masthead, and was a trainee before that. I have written on courts, federal politics, breaking news, features and opinion. lanie.tindale@canberratimes.com.au.
I am City reporter at The Canberra Times. I previously covered health for the masthead, and was a trainee before that. I have written on courts, federal politics, breaking news, features and opinion. lanie.tindale@canberratimes.com.au.
