What are members’ view on continuing with the Commonwealth Games? Do you think it‘S the moment to call time on them, or do you think they still ave a purpose for continuing on?
Personally, as someone who has long had a fondness for the “Commies”, and has defended them often in the past, it’s with sadness and regret that I think it’s a highly appropriate time to discontinue them.
At a time when two prospective hosts in a row have abandoned them and the CGF is having difficulty finding future hosts, I feel it’s pretty clear that the cost to benefits ratio has fallen dramatically. They don’t make commercial sense.
They’ve always been an anomaly on the crowded sporting calendar, but I think have become even more irrelevant as major “stars” skip the games in favour of world championships etc.
I believe the Commonwealth itself has lost a lot of prestige, and indeed the legacy of colonialism has become more of a problematic issue than a uniting factor.
Whatever ones thoughts on the monarchy, I think Queen Elizabeth II was regarded with great respect, and the games were closely associated with her. King Charles I do not think engenders the same affection, at least not outside the UK.
As we approach the 100th anniversary of the games, I think it’s an appropriate time to let them go. Perhaps with one final celebration to send them off with a bang and an acknowledgement.