Are the Commonwealth Games on Their Last Leg?
We’ve moved on from Aaron Smiths toilet rendezvous, the Black Ferns Sevens triumph in Rio, and Team New Zealand thumping team Oracle in the America’s Cup.
2018 has another stellar line up for us.
With the Commonwealth Games just around the corner, the Football World Cup fast approaching, and the odd sporting scandal thrown in the mix. It is going to be one heck of a sporting year.
This year’s Commonwealth Games kicks off 4th April with the sunny Gold Coast as its host. But will this Commonwealth Games be the last?
Originally Durban, South Africa was set to host the 2022 Games. But after funding issues they had to step down.
Luckily, Liverpool came to the rescue as the new host for the next Commonwealth Games in 4 years.
However, this has raised concerns about whether the curtains should be closed on the event all together.
Hosting the games is becoming an economic burden on selected countries.
Some are also arguing the relevance of the event is diminishing.
This year’s games will cost Australia over $2 Billion, almost a whopping $300k per athlete.
It is expected that 1.5 billion viewers will tune in to watch the games. However, over the years it is evident interest in the games is withering.
With an array of top of the line sports accessible on live television, Commonwealth Games broadcasters are competing to maintain viewers.
When stuff.co.nz asked whether the games should be canned, 55% of respondents said yes.
“A mile away from the Olympic standard giving even average athletes a leg up. The commonwealth is dead. Kill the games too,” one commented.
But I’m with the 45% that strongly believe the games still matter.
The Commonwealth games are perfectly positioned between the Olympics which prove another outlet for athletes to experience competing on a world stage (almost).
By abolishing the games, we are also removing the opportunity for promising athletes to perform against some of the best in the world.
What’s more, the Commonwealth games send important sporting messages to the rest of the world.
This year the Games are responding to increasing discussion about equality in sports.
This is the first year there will be an equal number of female and male sports events.
Adding to this, para-athletes are becoming more renowned in the Commonwealth. The amount of para-sports doubling since the last games.
Seven para-sports are on show this year including Powerlifting, Triathlon, and the very first wheelchair marathon!
See we need the Commonwealth Games.
By holding a competition without sporting giants like America, the talent and hard work of our Commonwealth athletes are no longer overshadowed.
Instead their efforts are acknowledged and rewarded.
Giving athletes the chance to reflect and improve before the Olympics roll around.