Australia at the Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games 1974

In contrast to Perth, Kingston and Edinburgh, the Paraplegic Games in New Zealand were hosted by a different city than the able-bodied Games. The host city for the Paraplegic Games was Dunedin, while the Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch. Two hundred and twenty-nine athletes from thirteen countries travelled to Dunedin to participate in the wheelpass at the opening ceremony and the subsequent competitive events. Continuing the theme of previous Commonwealth Paraplegic Games’ logos, the Dunedin organising committee chose a wheelchair archer with a Maori- inspired style and a ball that resembled the kiwi bird.

Performance
Australia sent its largest-ever international contingent of fifty-one athletes, who enjoyed unparalleled success. Cliff Rickard, Pauline English and Tracey Freeman produced very strong individual performances in a team that excelled collectively, winning forty-five gold, thirty-six silver and twenty-nine bronze medals. Australia won one more gold medal, and nine more medals in total, than England. Bragging rights went to the Australians.

In contrast to Perth, Kingston and Edinburgh, the 1974 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in New Zealand were hosted by a different city than the able-bodied Games.