by Mayukh Ghosh

Bobby Robinson was there with the Canadian team as a journalist during the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.
He was furious when he saw there was no Canadian flag while Percy Williams received the gold medal for winning the 100 meters.
Moreover, the Americans were allowed to train on the tracks but the Canadians weren't.
A disputed judges' decision gave the gold medal and the world record to USA's Betty Robinson in the women's 100 meter final. The Canadians thought that their own Bobbie Rosenfeld had won.
On top of everything, there was a direct insult by Avery Brundage to a Canadian official.

Robinson was not very impressed with the Olympic movement. Neither was he particularly happy how the Americans sidelined the Canadians in every possible way.

Robinson and Howard Crocker were already discussing ways of giving the nation's best athletes stronger competition. The happenings during the Amsterdam games helped them have a clearer idea of what they wanted to achieve.

As the depression years began, America announced tariffs on goods imported from Canada and elsewhere. It gave birth to a rather ugly trade war. The relationship with their neighbours deteriorated drastically but on the other hand, Canada's bond with the Empire was strengthened.

Amidst all the turmoil, Robinson's efforts gave birth to the Empire Games.
"The events will be designed on an Olympic model, but these games will be very different. They should be merrier and less stern, and will substitute the stimulus of a novel adventure for the pressure of international rivalry."

It was Robinson who made it possible. In the words of Harold Abrahams, " But for the unbounded enthusiasm and persistence of Mr. Robinson, the whole thing would never have started."

The founding father of the Commonwealth Games was born on April 8, 1888.