The Commonweath Games is a waste of time, but I love it anyway.
Most of my readers are in the USA, and probably have no idea what I am talking about...
The Commonwealth is what used to be the British Empire - after the empire was pretty much dissolved, they stayed together in a genteel club of nations. The are some obvious members, like Canada and Australia, for which the Queen is still head of state, and some more obscure ones, like South Africa, Norfolk Island and Singapore.
And the games are the Commonwealth olympics, and include a curious mix of sports.
They sit oddly in the sporting cycle. Most sports follow a natural progression - national championships, regional (eg European), world and/or Olympics. These games don't really fit anywhere in that, except to be practice for the Olympics.
As a result no-one takes it very seriously in sporting terms and focuses on having a good time. The media are encouraged to call it 'the friendly games' and it's a reasonably fair description.
So although in sporting terms I have no interest in the Commonwealth Games, I still watch them.
Where else can you see Guernsey v Papua New Guinea at Lawn Bowling, followed by the Bahamas v Malaysia in the boxing ring?
If the games were scrapped for lack of interest (the England team couldn't even get a sponsor) I wouldn't miss them, but while they continue I will revel in sporting gentility.
Comments (1)
You say "no-one takes it very seriously in sporting terms", I beg to differ. The Australian media is all over the games like a pash rash. For where else do Australians kick so much sporting butt? Australian medalists are held on high for all to marvel at, for a short while before fading into obscurity, (unless of course they can actually follow up with an Olympic medal, then they have a chance at the Australian of the Year title).
Posted by Callisto | March 18, 2006 4:56 PM
Posted on March 18, 2006 16:56