大象传媒

Carolyn Hitt explores the story of Wales in the Commonwealth Games from the biggest names to the less famous faces who played their part in Welsh success.
As the current team prepare to compete in this year's Commonwealth Games on Australia's Gold Coast, we hear how Wales is one of just six countries to have competed in every Games since 1930.

Colin Jackson, Iwan Thomas, Lynn Davies, Kirsty Wade, Nicole Cooke and Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson recall why competing for Wales is different to wearing the GB vest and we delve deep into the archives to hear stories including the tale of Wales' first ever gold medallist.

In 1938 Jim Alford became the first athlete in a Welsh vest to strike gold in the Empire Games, winning the mile in Sydney, on the grass track of the cricket ground. He was also the manager, captain and cook for the six-strong Welsh team that went down under that year, taking six weeks to do so via Gibraltar, Rome, Bombay and Calcutta. On his return he complained that cash-strapped Wales - who brought home two golds and a silver - were the only team without their own distinctive tracksuit.
The programme looks back on how Wales staged the Empire Games in Cardiff in 1958 - instigating the tradition of the Queen's Baton Relay - and how the home gold medal hero was Howard Winstone who won the men's bantamweight division in the boxing ring.

And we'll hear how Wales has punched above its weight: 10 gold medals in 1990, including the track double of men and women's 110 metre hurdles thanks to Colin Jackson and Kay Morley while in Melbourne 2006, Wales won more medals per head of population than any other country.