The Commonwealth Games

Maybe if we bring Carl Lewis back to do the Jessie Jackson crap. Actually maybe someone who wasn't on the juice.

Aditya wrote:Good luck to Commonwealth when the Olympics itself had a grand total of 2 cities bidding for 2024. And LA handed the 2028 games overriding the whole bidding process because the IOC knew nobody would bother.

I think multi-sport events have started to get the message in terms of keeping a lid on costs, after for example the overgrown white elephant venues of Athens 2004 and its contribution to the country’s bankruptcy/near-Grexit... there will always be self-promoting propaganda states willing to push the boat out, but they need to make it accessible to a wide range of cities, and there’s a problem with local public opinion turning against bids, now the whole “legacy” idea has been shown up as largely false. There’s a lot further to go to address it, and we could end up with some ”ready to go” repeat hosts stepping in.

Birmingham seems to be using a lot of existing and temporary facilities for 2022, including hosting the track cycling 100 miles away in London instead of building another expensive velodrome.

Is there anything as plainly silly and irrelevant as the Colonwealth? I note Prince Chuckles was elected last night as tit head of CHOGM, tho 6 rebel countries voted against him or abstained.

The BREXIT Pomgolians appear desperate to find 'friends' in an unkind world. In an Empah Redux, PM Maybe struck the stentorian tones of a dementing Thatcherite.

Oz PM Truffles squealed obeisance.

A pox on this period of history.

I think you'll find Liz nommed him to replace her once she dies. She is still head of CHOGM.

... And yoiu are happy about this?

skully wrote:I think you'll find Liz nommed him to replace her once she dies. She is still head of CHOGM.

No longer. Chuckles got 46 votes from a potential 53. Off with their heads. German Betty is cross.

Taips voted twice.

horace wrote:... And yoiu are happy about this?

I expressed no emotion, h. Merely correcting your statement.

horace wrote:

skully wrote:I think you'll find Liz nommed him to replace her once she dies. She is still head of CHOGM.

No longer. Chuckles got 46 votes from a potential 53. Off with their heads. German Betty is cross.

He was approved as the NEXT head of CHOGM, after Liz steps down (or dies).

o🍥 should withdraw from this nonsense tatty relic of Pomgolian Empah imperialism

Where's the sport?

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE SPORT?!

Just making a little bit of sport.

I remember how exciting the Commonwealth Games were in 1982. These days they seem so pointless.

needs more winking kangaroos

JGK wrote:I remember how exciting the Commonwealth Games were in 1982.   These days they seem so pointless.

Try telling that to the athletes, and to the sizeable crowds in Birmingham and surrounding areas (and London…) It’s a lot more exciting when it’s on your doorstep I suppose, and I don’t tend to get into it quite as much when it’s in Australia, scheduling times being a factor as well!

The quality and depth of talent varies but in many sports it’s second only to the Olympics and the ideal stepping stone to the global event. The British athletes enjoy the chance to compete for their individual nations as well.

JGK wrote:I remember how exciting the Commonwealth Games were in 1982.   These days they seem so pointless.

70 years past its use by date, imo. Last useful thing this group did was in 1986.

In view of the football world cup, LIV, F1 and Manchester city... would say that this is the most successful sportwashing event of the lot. And for heaven's sake, I wish the commentators never refer to it as the friendly games again.

As a sporting event, at least it's an attainable goal for developing countries with the lower quality in most sports. However, even there the hegemony of cycling and swimming needs some dilution to maintain relevance outside UK & Australia.

That said, a bowls 4s gold was a pleasant surprise.

Look, I'll watch it because it's sport. But it's hard to get excited about Commonwealth Games gold medals. It's really world records and world ranked performances that I get excited about.

At least we’re (UK nations) giving you a run for your money in the swimming these days, on the men’s side anyway. Fingernail victory in the medley relay saved Tom Dean from the dubious distinction of seven silvers in one Games (though he will always have his Olympic victory over great rival Duncan Scott last year in any case…)

the only interest is seeing if we can stay ahead of England on the gold medal tally.

Nath wrote:the only interest is seeing if we can stay ahead of England on the gold medal tally.

No chance.

Kind of a multi-sport Ashes, with Australia getting a bit of a swimming-driven head start but England with a stronger sprint finish potentially.

A lot of the top British track and field athletes at the moment are Scottish… UK combined is pulling well clear of Australia now anyway!

JGK wrote:

Nath wrote:the only interest is seeing if we can stay ahead of England on the gold medal tally.

No chance.

Yup. England will smash us in Athletics.

England women cricketers turned over by India, so one potential gold slips away. Jake Wightman (competing for Scotland) couldn’t follow up his world title either, worse still it went to an Aussie Hoare

Did Oliver Hoare win the 1500? That is great news!




I think I tried to start some discussion on here about him a couple of years ago.

About forty years ago, I applied to name a litter of dogs with the likes of Oliver Beer, Oliver Pie, Oliver Sausage, Oliver Nutha, etc. They were all rejected. If I was doing it now, I'd try Oliver Hoare.

Yeah, Wightman took it up with 200m to go as in Oregon but ran out of steam, the Kenyan looked to have it but Whore had the legs to take it…