The 1986 Commonwealth Games (Geamannan a ‘Cho-fhlaitheis 1986) were held in Edinburgh, Scotland, between 24 July and 2 August 1986. They were the second Games to be held in Edinburgh. Thirty-two of the eligible fifty-nine countries (largely African, Asian and Caribbean states) boycotted the event because of the Thatcher government’s policy of keeping Britain’s sporting links with apartheid South Africa.