Former Governor-General Lord Alexander opens the Fifth British Empire Games at Empire Stadium. Twenty-four nations sent a total of 662 athletes for a major international sporting event held more than half a century before the 2010 Olympics.
The highlight was a footrace dubbed the "Miracle Mile" between Roger Bannister and John Landy, at the time the only two men in the world to run a mile in under four minutes.
Bannister won the race in a time of 3:58.8. A statue located outside the Pacific Coliseum commemorates the head-to-head finish.
