Despite the desire of many, including on this site, to kill off the Commonwealth Games, their future can and should be secured through a dedicated commitment to award the Games to more developing nations, not less.
This is not an article discussing the credibility of the Commonwealth Games, but rather its future, for it is clearly here to stay for a considerable time yet.
» HOW TO LIVE STREAM THE 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
The Commonwealth Games Federation should bite the bullet and make a public pronouncement that, for the future prosperity of the Games, the Federation will wherever possible pursue a goal to entrust future versions to host cities from developing countries.
Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom have hosted 13 of the 19 Games to date, with Glasgow making it 14 of 20 by 2014.
The contribution of ‘The Big Three’ has been enormous and, in time, all should be given the opportunity to host again. The future, however, lies in emerging nations.
With just two bids to host the 2018 edition, the Federation are faced with an interesting choice between the Gold Coast and Hambantota, Sri Lanka.
On one hand, an almost guaranteed smooth organisation period followed by twelve days of competition in a nation that has time and again proved adept at hosting global sporting events.
On the other hand sits a gamble on another developing sub-continent nation keen to impress on the world stage but without the experience or potentially even the resources to fund and produce such an event.
It sounds an easy choice but should the Hambantota bid be deemed credible, feasible and logistically possibly, for the future of the Commonwealth Games, Sri Lanka should win the bid.
While the Gold Coast would undoubtedly be a fine host, yet another Australian hosted Games will add little to the vitality of an event often ridiculed but still significant on the sporting landscape.
So, after Hambantota is hopefully declared host city winner next November for the 2018 Games, the Federation should open nominations not just for the Games of 2022 but also 2026 and 2030.
Then, when the announcement in 2015 is made to award the Games to a host city for the 2022 event, winners for 2026 and 2030 should also be revealed.
Giving nations such as Ghana, Kenya and Jamaica well over a decade to direct funding and resources to build venues, housing and transport infrastructure, will allow the Commonwealth Games to ease itself away from its usual reliance on Australia, Canada and the UK.
Furthermore, it genuinely takes the Games to the people of the Commonwealth and utilises its position as a landmark multi sport event to enhance the lives of particularly young people through their engagement with sport while providing a legacy of venues and infrastructure to a host city. On this score, the likes of Australia are hardly wanting.
Unfavourable opinion on the Games from Australian viewers teetering on national anthem fatigue is not a true reflection on the significance of the Games across all competing nations.
To ensure its survival for generations to come, a shift in focus toward emerging Commonwealth nations is needed now.
The Commonwealth Games is faithful to its core, never being so pretentious as to suggest it competes alongside the Olympic Games. It simply is what it is – a gathering to celebrate sport and diversity.
It sounds corny but, with 80 years of history, it deserves its place.
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