In addition to the 11 nations that competed in Hamilton, 1934 games saw Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) and Trinidad making their debut. Sixteen nations sent a total of 500 competitors to the Games in London. This was also to be the last time that Newfoundland took part independent of Canada.

Six sports were featured in the Games – athletics, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, swimming and diving and wrestling. A highlight of the 1934 Games was the inclusion of events for women in athletics, which was a breakthrough for women in sport. The running events were restricted to the short sprints and a shortened 4 x 220 yard relay instead of the 4 x 440 yard realy as per the men's program.