The
2002 Commonwealth Games were held in
Manchester,
England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII
Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in England, eclipsing
London's
1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.
After the 1996 Manchester bombing, the Games formed the catalyst for the widespread regeneration and heavy development of Manchester, and bolstered its reputation as a European and Global City internationally. Rapid economic development and continued urban regeneration of the now thriving city continued after the Games and has helped cement it's place as one of the main cities in the United Kingdom.
Events were held across Greater Manchester. The opening and closing ceremonies, the athletic and the rugby sevens events were held at the City of Manchester Stadium, which was purpose built for the Games. Unusually for a large multi-sport event – the second largest competition by number of countries and athletes participating – the shooting events were held in the National Shooting Centre in Bisley, Surrey, some 200&_160;miles (322&_160;km) from the main focus of the Games in Manchester.
Seventy-two nations competed in 14 individual sports and 3 team sports events.
