<P> The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada . This event was the first to bear the current day name of the Commonwealth Games and also marked a new high as almost 1,500 athletes from 46 countries took part . They were boycotted by Nigeria in protest of New Zealand's sporting contacts with apartheid - era South Africa, as well as by Uganda in protest of alleged Canadian hostility towards the government of Idi Amin . </P> <P> The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia . Forty - six nations participated in the Brisbane Games with a new record total of 1,583 athletes and 571 officials . As hosts, Australia headed the medal table leading the way ahead of England, Canada, Scotland and New Zealand respectively . Zimbabwe made its first appearance at the Games, having earlier competed as Southern Rhodesia and as part of Rhodesia and Nyasaland . </P> <P> The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland and were the second Games to be held in Edinburgh . Participation at the 1986 Games was affected by a boycott by 32 African, Asian and Caribbean nations in protest of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's refusal to condemn sporting contacts of apartheid era South Africa in 1985, but the Games rebounded and continued to grow thereafter . Twenty - six nations did attend the second Edinburgh Games and sent a total of 1,662 athletes and 461 officials . </P> <P> The 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand . It was the fourteenth Commonwealth Games, the third to be hosted by New Zealand and Auckland's second . A new record of 55 nations participated in the second Auckland Games sending 2,826 athletes and officials . Pakistan returned to the Commonwealth in 1989 after withdrawing in 1972, and competed in the 1990 Games after an absence of twenty years . </P>

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