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British Empire and Commonwealth Games

1954 11 min
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This short documentary presents highlights of the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. In Vancouver, top-ranking athletes from the far corners of the British Commonwealth competed for new records. The film records outstanding feats in racing, jumping, pole-vaulting, swimming as well as the "miracle mile" duel between John Landy and Roger Bannister.

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British Empire and Commonwealth Games

Details

This short documentary presents highlights of the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. In Vancouver, top-ranking athletes from the far corners of the British Commonwealth competed for new records. The film records outstanding feats in racing, jumping, pole-vaulting, swimming as well as the "miracle mile" duel between John Landy and Roger Bannister.

Sports and Leisure All subjects
  • director
    Jack Olsen
  • producer
    Nicholas Balla
  • camera
    Donald Wilder
    Jack Long
    Osmond H. Borradaile
    Felix Lazarus
  • sound
    Clarke Daprato
    Clifford Griffin
  • editing
    Fergus McDonell
  • narrator
    Andy O'Brien

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Education

Ages 11 to 17
School subjects
Health/Personal Development - Fitness/Physical Activities History - Canada 1946-1991 History and Citizenship Education - Imperialism and Colonization (1800s-1900s) Media Education - Documentary Film
Students can watch this film as an historical document. Have students discuss some of the outdated attitudes, such as sexist or colonial language. Students can explore the athletic milestones or changes (the 4-minute Miracle Mile, the high jump 12 years before the revolutionary Fosbury Flop, the exhausted marathoner in today's Ironman era, and so on). Do students watch the Olympics? Is this any different? What significance do world games have to world peace and understanding?
British Empire and Commonwealth Games
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Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

You may download this film for private, personal or classroom use only. Public screenings and institutional (non-educational institutions) uses are not permitted. Download films in standard or high definition. (Please note that bonus materials are not available for DTO films.) You can copy each file up to 5 (five) times, onto various devices. DTO films cannot be hosted on a streaming server. To add DTO films to an institutional or educational streaming server, please contact a sales agent to discuss pricing.

Institutional licence

The institutional price includes the rights to screen this film in institutional settings and in free public screenings.

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