Is it time to knock the Commonwealth Games on the head?

[LaliqueSaltGrinder]

I live in Glasgow and grew up in Edinburgh. There was a massive buzz around the Commonwealth Games in 1986 in Edinburgh, and the 2014 Commonwealth Games were such a massive event for the city with thousands of volunteers, events sold out within minutes and it was just brilliant.

The next games starts on Thursday and we're only hosting as nobody else wanted to or could afford to. They have scaled it back to far fewer events, they are struggling for volunteers (I initially applied then withdrew, and had an email yesterday telling me there was still time!), the events have not sold out, the collective feeling is that it's all just a bit meh and not worth getting ecxited about.

Given that the commonwealth games grew out of the Empire Games it just seems like it's run its course and after this event someone/King Charles needs to put it out of its misery.

I don't think the WC is held in dodgy places because non-dodgy places didn't want it, to be honest. I think a few brown envelopes change hands, and there's also a desire to hold it in places like the Middle East (and US come to that) to drum up interest in the sport in places where there is less interest in football.

And personally I am a lot more interested in some of the sports at the CG than I will ever be football. A borefest it is not, unless you think the Olympics are too.

Different event, but I've been to Eurovision in two different cities (Turin and Liverpool) and the difference in effort was staggering.

In Turin, there were one or two bars doing unofficial events, and ten official partner venues - but the partner venues even weren't even particularly trying.

In Liverpool, the entire city was heaving with side events - Eurovision was everywhere from bars, to train announcements, to nail bars.

It was very much a case that you get what you give. But it's hard to see how you could get the same out of a sporting event with participants spread out all over the globe.

I love the Commonwealth Games. I've volunteered a few times and there's a great atmosphere. I agree it allows athletes who couldn't qualify for the Olympics a chance to travel and compete and that's a great thing.

The problem with triathlon is that it is expensive to
run (have to close roads - especially for the cycling) and makes no money. (You can stand on a road and watch for free!)

Cycling is similar. They have scrapped the road race (expensive to run, takes in no money) but kept the track events (cheap to run, takes in lots of money).

It would be a shame to get rid of it but it is acceptable to limit it to financially viable sports.

Tickets were really expensive. I looked to take the kids but even with some pre general sale tickets via their clubs I couldn’t justify that much money for a family of 4 to see 2 hours of swimming. We missed the cheaper tickets so we’re only left with the more expensive ones. Prices may have dropped now if they haven’t all sold out but now we’ve made other plans.

Well I’m coming up to watch the athletics and my hotel bill will certainly help someone! It’s like three times what it would be the following week. Fair enough tho.

I was at the games in Brum where events sold out very quickly; certainly this is lower key. I do like how there is a Scotland team which includes some athletes I actually know! (I officiate too) and gives a chance of a national vest to a wider pool .

I'm also looking forward to visiting Glasgow for the first time.

If you are Australian don't you follow swimming or athletics? They always do really well at the CG especially the swimmers without the Chinese or Americans being there.

Yes, especially in the swimming, but lots of people have begun to find it a bit cringe to celebrate this in the comm games. News headlines like "Aus athletes topping the medal tally in swimming", well of course they bloody are, competing against (for example) Kiribati and Narau and the top nations aren't there.

We were keeping it quiet in the hope you Aussies wouldn't turn up, as you always win the most medals.

I don't mind watching some of the events, but in general there's not much interest in it here anymore. Compared to say world cup, which is in the headlines daily and a daily topic of conversation here, even though Australia isn't that interested in soccer nor good at it.

I think it is time to end the idea of a host city, perhaps have a host country, or even a host continent.

I think one thing that made a large dent was once there were world athletic championships, as that meant for the main headline sport, it was not second only to the Olympics for athletes living in Commonwealth countries.

I’m looking forward to watching the netball and some of the other events but surprised by the lack of buzz around it. I thought it may just have been because of the World Cup, perhaps there will be more coverage next week.

il disappointed BBC aren’t covering it as I’ll have to pay to watch it on TNT.

I've paid a fortune to go to the netball over 3 days. Daughter's netball club have been offered £10 tickets for another day. DH has been offered free tickets for something else, they obviously aren't shifting tickets. We're excited to be going though

Interestingly this is the route fifa is going as well, 2030 will be held in 6 countries across 3 continents. So even fifa can no longer make the host city idea work.

Technically the BBC are showing it... just not in English. They won the contract for Gaelic language coverage but not English coverage.

I think with the greater satuation of sports coverage globally there isnt the interest in the same way.

Plus its coming directly on the back of the Mens Football World Cup. Thats the Big Event of the year.

And sadly there is no hockey this time. I’d hoped to take my hockey mad daughter to watch it.

Given that every Olympic games since 1982 has lost money... no

And given Victoria, the Aussie state initially won the bid, then pulled out that is very very disappointing

I’m a sports fan and I didn’t realise the Commonwealth Games was on this month. If the BBC have pulled the plug, it’s over & time to pull the plug. It should have died with the Queen.

I do get that it is a chance for the smaller countries to compete. I was a press volunteer in 2014 and there were very excited people from Guernsey, Gibraltar, Channel Islands, Northern Ireland all competing under their own flags.

But in terms of world class competition it's not up there with the Olympics or the European Championships, no China, USA, European countries, most of Asia, South and Central America...

Times change, this is a competition which was great for a long time but is a relic of the past.

It kind of makes sense,with the level of spectacle you're expected to launch the damn thing, but the actual events being more like a family daytime outing.

Like I said, I'd be very surprised if Liverpool didn't turn a profit for Eurovision, but it basically turned into a week long festival.

Not at all. This is a good summer of sport and I'm thankful. Is thread for people watching?

I’m looking forward to the netball.

If people think it's imperialistic nonsense maybe ask the smaller countries which compete if they want to knock it on the head?

Instead of always thinking that we can decide for them.

The BBC were outbid for it by Warner Brothers Discovery. It's being broadcast on TNT Sport and I believe there's a YouTube feed.

Over 20 years ago I was a volunteer at the Manchester games and it was an amazing experience. Manchester had rebuilt after the IRA bombing.

I’ve been watching the gymnastics this morning and it seems to be quite well attended . Excellent coverage on HBOmax / TNT