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’ve enjoyed watching it and like the fact that the para games run concurrently.

Yes, that's been great, and the combined medal table. Equality in action there.

It tells you that they could not match the amount paid by TNT hence it's been on a minor cable channel which has seriously rduced the interest, it also come almost immediately after the World Cup. Many of the elite England atheletes declined to take part, preferring to save themselves for, I think, the World Championships.

For athletics, the Europeans are in a very short time in Birmingham, hence the absences. But some big names, Kerr, Sawyers, Hunt, Wightman, Hunter-Bell etc did show up. And we got to see some others coming through, I liked that.

I think gymnastics was similarly affected, but again, we got to see some new ones. Swimming was pretty much the turn out I expected.

Either way, it was good to watch.

@JudgeJ if you are talking about track and field athletes, it's the European champs. And for athletes from team GB and NI, a key aspect of that is that the champs are in the UK for the first time so they will benefit from home-crowd support (as they would in Scotland tbf). The Euros start in eight days’ time (on 10 August) so it's understandable.

Interestingly Josh Kerr has opted not to compete at Birmingham, choosing instead to run the mile at Scotstoun in a Scottish vest, and hear Flower of Scotland as he accepted the gold medal. I mean I totally respect his stance on that tbh.

ETA: X-post @murasaki I agree about newer athletes as well. Great to see people like Mabel Akande, Emily Newnham and Success Eduan and many others get their chance on a world stage.

Yes, i can totally see why he made that choice. And having just broken the record the crowds were really there for him.

I mean we are taking the kids to see some stuff just because we may as well, but I agree it’s probably time to knock it on the head. Also hate the mascot, find it well creepy but maybe that’s just me.

Totally.

As an aside, I was surprised to see Zharnel Hughes run for England, as I know he does GB because Anguilla isn't an Olympic member, but thought it might have its own commonwealth team.

And for anyone criticising quality, both the mens and womens 100m final times were excellent given the biblical flood they were running in. They would have been impressive in sunshine, let alone in a massive puddle.

Yes that’s also true.

I worked the commonwealth games in 2014 from june to September and it was brilliant, people couldnt get shifts as it was so popular. This time I've had texts daily from work asking for staff as there is just no interest in it.

I usually love watching athletics etc from olympics and cwg but not even put it on this time.

I’m another one who thoroughly enjoyed the games. I actually thought the HBO/TNT coverage was decent as it had the choice to watch each sport but I admit that I never watched the “general” coverage very often. It was a shame that some athletes decided to not compete but even this meant that some less experienced athletes got a great opportunity. There were still some big names taking part though! I watched some of it with my 2 year old grandson who has loved watching the (shorter) athletics, swimming and cycling events and shouting his support for the Scottish athletes!

It’s been a real shame that it hasn’t been covered by any of the usual channels. The World Cup and Wimbledon had plenty of airtime, why didn’t the Commonwealth Games? It would have been been great to have seen more (or any!) of it.

I quite enjoyed seeing the women's cricket when it came to Brum. However, I was horrified that they knocked down a children's playpark in a run down bit of the city to build a fancy running track that as far as I'm aware, locals still can't use.

Only watched the netball great value! Phenomenal games for the Netballers

We paid £4.99 for HBO Max for a month via Amazon Prime :) it was amazing value!

It needs a different name

Why? It's the competition for countries in the Commonwealth, it does what it says on the tin.

I competed in the commonwealth games many years ago. There’s a reason they’re called the friendly games, they were great, one of my best trips ever. The commonwealths are for sports played in the commonwealth countries, so many sports are featured which aren’t in the Olympics, although my sport is one that does. The problem is not many places can afford the facilities, which is why they struggle to find somewhere to host, it’s sad but I’m sure something could be done, although spreading it out would lose the friendly part for the athletes. I didn’t watch much this time but that’s because I was busy with something else.

I’d never seen a mixed relay before Saturday. It was so exciting to watch.

Yes the gymnastics European Championship starts next week which is a qualifier for the World Championships - which in turn is a qualifier for the 2028 Olympics....

I guess that when it was due to be in Australia it was likely originally planned for later in the year.

I'm sure there are some who are pearl clutching that countries which were colonised, then attained freedom and independence or chose to retain the Crown are happy to compete will fellow colonies and their colonist in a spirit of friendship and sportsmanship.

Much better than getting stirred up by haters and the usual Perpetual Offended.