With just over a week to go before the start of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the news just goes from bad to worse. ‘Terrorism’ has been mentioned for months in the lead up to the games, with warnings of an imminent attack. And just two weeks out, these threats were realised when a tourist bus came under fire.
If these threats weren’t enough of a concern, health issues began surfacing with an outbreak of dengue fever reported in Delhi.
Alarm bells were ringing about whether Delhi would be able to finish building the venues in time for the start of the Games on October 3. Now the question needs to be asked: are these venues even safe?
Already a bridge has collapsed near the main stadium, and only a day later, parts of a roof collapsed at the new weightlifting venue.
After the poor judgement in handing the games to India, it seems highly unlikely that the Commonwealth Games Federation would make a sensible decision to call off the Games, or at the very least, postpone them.
The ultimate question must be asked though: are the Commonwealth Games really worth it??
It can be hard to judge whether the Australian public’s interest in the Commonwealth Games is still existent. Perhaps the Australian media’s negative focus on the Delhi Games is a sign of Australia’s waning interest.
The Melbourne 2006 Opening Ceremony was the fourth most watch program of the last decade with a total of 3.56 million viewers. But this was a home Games, so can we really judge this as a fair representation?
For many sports the Commonwealth Games is not the pinnacle, for some even Olympic Gold falls short of what athletes strive for. Athletes have already begun pulling out, signaling that it really is not worth it. So is there still a place for the Commonwealth Games?
No matter what happens from here on in, the Delhi 2010 situation has already become a farce and may just have erased any appreciation or relevance the Commonwealth Games may have still had.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland will certainly have to put on a show to gain back some dignity. And with Gold Coast bidding for the 2018 event, Australia’s enthusiasm for the Commonwealth Games could certainly be sustained.
But it still doesn’t mean it should be.
Dan Winters
Guest
Republican - I agree with you that the CWG are irrelevant - I think above anything else, CWG are irrevelant to a lot of the athletes!! So many stars have pulled out, the list is endless. At the end of the day, Commonwealth Gold = not worth the metal it is scratched on. After an Olympic medal, nect best thing you can win is the world championships int hat sport eg. FINA World Swimming, IAAF world athletics, not a CWG medal.
Republican
Guest
The C/W is irrelevant and especially so to we Republicans. The sun should have set on it a long ago and most Australians don't give a toss about it to be perfectly frank. Keep it going by all means, for those south sea poms though, they need all the competition they can muster. Viva le Republique.
Alders
Guest
Just get it over with Australia. Cease the endless whining, pull out and let the remaining participating nations who are generally positive about the games to man up and get on with it.
Tortion
Guest
Australians will come to appreciate the Commonwealth Games when they are thrashed by GB at the Olympics. Glasgow, Scotland? I'd hope we all know where Glasgow is. Big question marks regarding the education system if not.