There was something about Cathy Freeman's success at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada which had a lasting effect on the sporting world.

The Australian sprinter took gold in both the 200m and 400m, the first woman in the history of the competition to win both events - but it was her celebrations which made the headlines.

Freeman completed her laps of honour with two flags - the Australian national flag and an Aboriginal one as a statement of pride in her origin and the prejudice she had suffered because of it.

That moment symbolised the drama, sensation, triumph and controversy which have permeated the 'Friendly Games' since their inception when just over 400 athletes from 11 different countries took part at the first competition in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930.

Known then as the British Empire Games, the event was marked by the performance of Canadian sprinter Percy Williams, who won gold in the 100 yards despite tearing a groin muscle midway through the race - an injury which ended his career.

Only six different sports were contested in 1930 and at that time women were allowed to compete in swimming events alone.

Four years later, the event should have moved on to Johannesburg but fears over how the South Africans would treat black and Asian athletes convinced officials to allow London to step in as hosts.

The issue of apartheid and racism in sport was one which would affect the Commonwealth Games throughout the 20th century.

The growing protest against South Africa eventually forced the nation to withdraw from the event after the 1958 Games in Cardiff and their exclusion continued for more than 30 years until the post-apartheid country was finally re-admitted in 1994.

No amount of controversy, though, was ever enough to force the abandonment of an event which has happened every four years with the exception of 1942 and 1946, when the Second World War put the Games on hold.

In 1954, the second competition after the war, the world saw one of the most memorable moments in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

Broadcast live across the globe for the first time, millions watched as Roger Bannister and Australia's John Landy battled for victory in the 'Miracle Mile'.

Landy looked to have the British star beaten in the final straight but Bannister responded to take the gold with a dramatic sub four-minute run. Landy also broke the four-minute barrier but had to settle for second place.

The legendary distance would take only place only another three times as in 1970 Commonwealth officials introduced the metric system at the Edinburgh Games where Jamaica's Don Quarrie was the star, winning three gold medals.

And as athletes became faster and races closer, that year also saw the first implementation of electronic photo-finish technology.

Concerns about the safety of competitors grew following the massacre of members of the Israeli team at the Munich Olympics in 1972, and the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand two years later saw a massive police presence with security guards surrounding the athletes' village.

The delicate issue of racism was still prominent despite the absence of the South Africans and it hit the headlines again in 1986 when 32 nations boycotted the Games in Edinburgh in protest.

However, among those who did compete in Scotland was infamous sprinter Ben Johnson, who won gold in the men's 100metres two years before his doping disgrace in the same event at the Seoul Olympics.

In 1998 Kuala Lumpur saw the introduction of team sports to the Games, including hockey and cricket as well as rugby. Malaysia also had the honour of becoming the first Asian nation to host the Commonwealth Games, which was attended by a record 70 different countries.

Four years later the Games' arrival in Manchester reignited England's appetite for hosting big sporting events.

The city underwent huge changes to stage the Games and, fired by England producing their best medal haul at the Commonwealths with 165 in total - 54 golds, 51 silvers and 60 bronze, it was a resounding success.

Significantly, it marked the beginning of the campaign for the nation to launch an Olympic bid - which ultimately proved successful - for 2012.

There were a number of memorable performances, including Australian swimming sensation Ian Thorpe winning six gold medals, and what Manchester contributed to the Commonwealth Games legacy means Melbourne has a lot to live up to.