As the Paralympics drew to a close at the start of September, it marked the end of a fantastic summer of sport. With the Euros came the thrill of England reaching yet another final, quickly followed by abject misery after defeat at the hands of the Spanish. The wait for the men’s team to win a major tournament trundles into its 59th year.
These solemn English faces were soon soothed by tones of triumphant British patriotism as Team GB romped home to 65 Olympic medals, surpassing their Tokyo tally. The Paralympics provided countless moments of elation with Great Britain placing second, defeating sporting powerhouse the US. There was also the men’s Cricket World Cup, Tour de France, Wimbledon, and many more incredible events.
So why, among this demonstrable appetite for global sporting spectacle, is one of the biggest multi-sports events on the brink of collapse?
The Commonwealth Games are going through an unparalleled existential crisis. 2026 host Victoria (Australia) pulled out towards the end of 2023 due to ballooning costs, a major blow considering these events take years to plan. The frantic search to find a replacement failed to find any potential suitors, despite the best efforts of the Commonwealth Games Federation, leaving the Games’ future in limbo.
Glasgow, hosts in 2014, have stepped up to hold a limited version of the Games using existing infrastructure and at no cost to the taxpayer. Cutting the number of sports and reducing the scale because no one wants to host the event is a backwards step and a stopgap measure.
The future looks bleak with potential 2030 hosts Alberta (Canada) withdrawing their centenary bid citing financial constraints. This leaves the Games in dire straits with their future uncertain, raising the question of whether they remain relevant at all.
The Commonwealth Games have always been distinctly political. They started as the British Empire Games in 1930, an initiative designed to bring together British colonies and further unify the Empire. It was not until 1978 after a period of decolonisation that they underwent a much needed rebrand and any mention of the Empire or Britain was removed.
The Games have often been accompanied by political unrest. Over 50% of participating nations boycotted the 1986 Edinburgh event in protest at the Thatcher government’s continued sporting links with apartheid South Africa. ‘Stolenwealth Games’ protests against the discriminatory treatment of Australian Aboriginals by state governments were also held when the nation played host in 1982, 2006 and 2018.
Moving from the political to the economic, the Games have become almost financially unviable to host. The shift from amateur to professional sport increased demands on host nations to provide modern sporting facilities at high cost to the taxpayer. 88% of the Games have been held in the wealthiest Commonwealth countries with less developed economies unable to afford the high cost.
The sporting relevance has also been questioned. Heavyweights US and China don’t compete, reducing global appeal and potential revenue. The Games must also compete with a packed sporting calendar, forcing athletes to select which competitions they should, and indeed can, compete in.
So, is this the end? Are the Commonwealth Games really just an antiquated colonial relic destined to fade into obscurity?
I hope not. It is my firm belief that the Games are an important sporting institution that should be protected and preserved for years to come.
Although a colonial product, the Commonwealth Games are now contested by over 50 sovereign and equal nations with countries who never constituted the British Empire, such as Macau and Gabon, expected to compete in the 2026 Games.
Nations all compete voluntarily and choose to remain part of broader Commonwealth institutions because they believe in their purpose and function. The Games provide a vehicle through which to promote Commonwealth values such as racial and gender equality, democracy, and human rights.
Furthermore, inclusivity is at the heart of the Games. In 2018, they became the first multi-sport event to fully integrate disabled athletes into their national teams. They were also the first to ensure an equal number of male and female athletes, and in 2022 they became the first multi-sport competition to have a higher proportion of female athletes.
Away from the politics, the Games provide a unique sporting opportunity for myriad reasons. Due to the competition’s size, smaller nations are able to compete on a more equal footing, providing greater opportunities for their athletes.
Countries who do not compete at the Olympics, such as Wales or Scotland, can put forward national teams and the event is often used as a basis for national funding in these countries. Some regions also lack developed continental competitions and countries, such as Australia, use the Commonwealth Games as a precursor event to the Olympics.
The Games also mark the premier competition for a range of sports that lack alternative opportunities. Netball and squash are two sports not in the Olympics, but which have global audiences. The Commonwealth competition provides vital exposure and opportunities for their athletes to compete on the world stage.
Finally, although the financial costs of hosting the Games are problematic, it is by no means an insurmountable issue. More innovative thinking is needed to provide alternative models of how the event can be staged - this could involve competitions held in multiple nations to spread costs, or a focus on using existing infrastructure and personnel to reduce expenditure.
The Commonwealth Games deserve to be saved for future generations to enjoy. They provide a fantastic festival of sport that should be cherished, not left to rot because of unimaginative thinking. Action needs to be taken, and soon, before the Commonwealth flame burns out.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Broomcleaning2006
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