As we discussed, both Australia and Canada have pulled out of hosting the Commonwealth Games. The games are for athletes from British commonwealth countries exclusively, and they’re meant to be a Commonwealth version of the Olympics, only much smaller. The thing is, even a smaller version of the Olympic games will still cost a sh-tload of money to host, which is why Canada and Australia both dropped their “winning bids” to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026 and 2030. While I used photos of Prince William and Kate in the previous post – they went to the games in Birmingham last year for one solitary day – it’s King Charles who is getting the blame for the lack of enthusiasm for anything related to the British Commonwealth.
The King cannot evoke the same enthusiasm for the Commonwealth Games as the late Queen, a former Australian diplomat has warned after a second potential host nation pulled out. Alexander Downer, who served as his country’s high commissioner to the UK, said the Canadian province of Alberta’s withdrawal plans for a 2030 Games bid was disastrous coming just weeks after Australian state Victoria withdrew as confirmed host for 2026.
He told The Telegraph: “The Commonwealth revolved very much around the [late] Queen and I used to argue that if it hadn’t been for [her], it’s hard to believe the Commonwealth would have held together. And it’s not that anybody has a problem with the King… but he doesn’t have the same aura that the [late] Queen had about her, yet.”
Mr Downer added that it has become “hard to generate any enthusiasm” for the Commonwealth Games after the “perfect storm” of factors, including the death of the late Queen last year and escalating costs of putting on the event.
“It’s an incredibly serious time for the Commonwealth,” Mr Downer told The Telegraph, adding that the Games, the most high-profile Commonwealth event, “has now entered a period where its future is uncertain”.
“It’s another huge blow, and the Games brand is taking a major hit to its reputation,” said the executive, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Immediate and radical action is needed from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) at this point to save the event.” One of the solutions that has been suggested is a financial restructuring of the event to make it “much more modest” and “not on the lines of the Olympic Games”.
Maybe it’s because Americans can’t participate, but I’m left feeling like… why all the drama to save the games? Why not just take the L and say that the games have outlived their usefulness? Within the Telegraph’s report, various people suggest that the games should be reimagined so that they’re smaller and less expensive, and could perhaps be hosted by cities which already have existing infrastructure. All of which are good ideas, but will anyone follow through on it? Will they actually put people in charge who are willing to make deep cuts in the program and make smart decisions about the cost? Or will they just blame everything on King Charles? Like, I know there are a lot of factors and God knows, I think Charles is dogsh-t, but the Commonwealth Games have much bigger problems than “Charles is not popular in Commonwealth countries.” If that’s the excuse they want to use though, who am I to stand in their way.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- Britain’s Prince Charles poses with athletes from Scotland as he visit the Athletes’ Village at the University of Birmingham during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Britain July 28, 2022.,Image: 710682773, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: PHIL NOBLE / Avalon
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- Britain’s Prince Charles poses with athletes and members of the team from Sierra Leone as he visit the Athletes’ Village at the University of Birmingham during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Britain July 28, 2022.,Image: 710682795, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: PHIL NOBLE / Avalon
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- Britain’s Prince Charles poses with Dame Louis Martin President of the Commonwealth Games Federation as he visit the Athletes’ Village at the University of Birmingham during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Britain July 28, 2022.,Image: 710682845, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: PHIL NOBLE / Avalon
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- Britain’s Prince Charles poses with athletes and members of the team Jamaica as he visit the Athletes’ Village at the University of Birmingham during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Britain July 28, 2022.,Image: 710682879, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: PHIL NOBLE / Avalon
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- Britain’s Prince Charles, Prince of Wales reacts as he meets a toddler during a visit to the Commonwealth Games ‘Festival Site’ at Victoria Square in Birmingham, central England, on July 28, 2022, on the eve of the Commonwealth Games.,Image: 710683306, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: BEN STANSALL / Avalon
Meghan could’ve drummed up support.
But anyway…
No she couldn’t. It was a failing event for years long before she came on the scene.
Considering that their brief was the commonwealth, I agree with Thatsnotokay – I think DDOS would have helped.
Why can’t Sporty Spice and Sir-Egg-Head drum up support
Agree. Meghan WOULD have had ideas.
That picture of him looking at the baby . He probably frightened that child.
Can confirm – my 10yo son has been mildly freaked out by his face for a few years now. 😂
The remaining royal cult members are not a good return on your investment.
@susanCollins your right Susan, I think this is blow back from wank and keens disastrous tour, and I wonder who has been whispering this to the press mmm, the “do as little as possible duo” are conspicuous By their absence!
The CG are a non-starter in Canada unless you’re an athlete. The CG are incredibly expensive to put on with almost no financial return. The pigeons are starting to come home and roost, Chuckles and Will! By driving out the only bi-racial member of the family and then gleefully recreating colonialism-era photographs, everyone is reminded how appallingly indigenous peoples and people of colour were and still are being treated within the commonwealth. There’s absolutely no need for the royals to exist in the way they still do. Mind, what would the British press do without them?
I thought Toronto had hosted a Commonwealth games a few years ago, but then realized it was the Pan Am Games. That’s how little these games matter. And I do recall that the Pan Am games were going to be a testing ground for a potential Olympic Games bid. (Don’t think that’s happening though)
I can see why they walked away. With many of the citizens Commonwealth nations not exactly swimming in wealth, it would be next to impossible to offset the cost of hosting the games with related tourism. Time to retire the games and the Commonwealth
Other than the athletes themselves (and maybe their families?), does it actually bring in any tourism? I can’t imagine tons of people flocking to see these games like they do the Olympics.
The Commonwealth Games were struggling long before the Queen died. It has nothing to do with Charles. Most of the top athletes don’t participate in the games. As I said yesterday, Birmingham only became the host last year when South Africa pulled out. It’s too expensive and meaningless.
Agreed! Many cities are pulling out of the actual Olympics due to not being able to justify the costs. It’s not a Charles problem, it’s a dying empire problem!
Agree – it’s like how many countries don’t actually profit from hosting the Olympics but it’s way more prestigious and the investment put in can still see returns years from the event.
I will say, as someone from a small Commonwealth country is that I preferred the CG over the Olympics – the Olympics are way too dominated by the US, China and Russia that it’s like… what’s the point of other countries. The CG, because it’s much smaller it feels like a slightly more even field.
Agree with this, in sports where non-Commonwealth countries dominate the Games are regarded almost like a continental championships – it gives athletes a chance to achieve success and experience international competition that they might not get otherwise. And it gives an opportunity for sports that are mainly played only in Commonwealth countries to experience being part of a multi-sport event, which helps with the development of new players.
I think they’d be better off doing only Commonwealth sports events that actually have a lot of support in many of those countries.
A Commonwealth Cricket tournament would have interest.
They can pick 4 popular sports and do a Commonwealth tournaments of those every year.
Or 3 popular ones and a rotating other one.
All those sports that only get any interest during the Olympics and people then forget about for another 4 years should probably be scrapped from the Commonwealth games to save costs.
Given that it’s mainly Commonwealth countries that play cricket a Commonwealth tournament is meaningless. The Cricket world cup already exists.
Interesting – I’m British and live in the U.K. and I have never for a moment associated the Commonwealth Games with the royal family. I don’t care about them for the same reason I don’t care about the Olympics, I have no interest in watching sport of any kind. I don’t even care about them when they do take place in the U.K., beyond being irritated by the wall to wall media coverage. So it’s funny to hear that other countries have such a different perspective on them and associate them so strongly with the Queen and her love for the Commonwealth.
Hi Jane, me too! Obviously I knew the queen was the head of the commonwealth and how it came about but that games was just another sporting event that I assumed existed in its own right these days.
If no-one wants it and the poor reputation of the royals is having an impact it sounds like its time to move on.
It seems like the only people who would miss these games are the athletes who compete. Since these games are very expensive to hold, blame the economy and move on.
This is kind of like how Harry was getting dragged in that Daily Beast article about Betterup’s struggles. Just like Harry has become kind of the face of Betterup, Charles is the face of the Commonwealth. And it’s easier to blame things on the face than actual structural and systemic issues that are plaguing things like BetterUp or the Commonwealth/ Commonwealth games.
These are two very different things. Charles’s job as the King is to increase the enthusiasm and to bring the commonwealth countries together even though he can’t even bring together his own family together. Since Harry joined the company, BetterUp’s value skyrocketed. He is not in charge of day-to-day job. Hiring and firing practices don’t involve him. Besides, tech companies are firing a lot of people to correct course, they are not unique in that way. The only reason Harry is blamed for it is because he dared to sue media and stop taking their abuse.
Welcome to your reign, you cruel and abusive POS. May it be short and filled with eggs, protest signs, and the loss of more and more CW nations.
@SussexWatcher
Well now! (LOL) All I can say to this is DITTO!!! 🙂
The Commonwealth games are a great opportunity for the smaller counties/islands who can’t compete at the Olympic level and don’t have the infrastructure or resources to build up their athletes up like the large counties do and gives them that exposure. A focus on what it means to those athletes from an inclusion perspective should be understood and what the loss of the opportunity means to them, Canada and Australia have the infrastructure and funding to compete at the top levels the smaller counties do not. Charles popularity is political and superficial and makes great headlines.
Im an Aussie.
Australia actually doesn’t have the funding OR infrastructure for it because Dan Andrews, the Premier of Victoria where it was to be held, messed up.
He decided rather than use existing facilities that were perfect for it, he would spread the games out to regional areas – meaning new facilities would have to be built.
It resulted in a massive budget blow out and in this economic climate it didn’t look good to spend that money.
Alexander Downer was also our Foreign Minister, and a good one at that.
Charles has the appeal of a skunk. He’s reducing the appeal of the Commonwealth day by day.
Victorian here.
“He decided rather than use existing facilities that were perfect for it, he would spread the games out to regional areas – meaning new facilities would have to be built.”
With the object of bringing much needed money and funds to regional areas which have been sorely hit by the Covid pandemic – not helped by Glady’s lasseze-faire approach to containment and removalists who decided quarantine was for other people.
Also, Downer was a good foreign minister? News to me.
I feel for the athletes from the poorer, smaller nations, like many of the Pacific islands.
Which is why is the Games are to continue, they should be hosted by Britain.
If they had any brains among them, they would know that quietly restructuring the games to a cricket tournament, or some other smaller event (fewer countries, fewer sports) is the right thing to do. Not to mention the games would be the hottest event in town if the Sussexes were still part of things (and supported by the royals and media instead of being undermined).
But as we know that there’s not a brain amongst the royal establishment, so they’ll just wring their damp little hands and sigh, or put out another fake story about how the Wales are the sexiest, dreamiest, most exciting couple alive. Couples goals, for sure. Really, I mean it.
The royals made a big shit sandwich over the past 7 years. Is it any wonder they have to eat it now?
Harry and Meghan couldn’t help the games and there are already international cricket tournaments that exist.
Fans will watch multiple events of their favorite sport.
I agree that they couldn’t have helped the games in any meaningful way. But bet your bottom dollar if they were still working royals, they’d be bearing the brunt of the criticism.
I don’t think this is Charles’ fault at all, I mean I’m not sure what he could be doing to save the games, but I’m not mad if he’s getting blamed for it, lol.
Let’s just blame Charles for everything. Sounds like a plan! Maybe eventually the Brits will get tired of the monarchy which is such an expensive chaos agent and abolish it!
I couldn’t generally care less about this, but there is a relatively cost-effective option, which is to use the existing infrastructure from London 2012 in Stratford, most of which has been maintained and continues to be in use (the games would have to be outside of the Premier League season). Sports that can’t be accommodated in Olympic Park or other existing venues in London/southeast should be removed from the list. The main gating item is accommodation, but frankly we need a lot more housing in the region and developers could be given incentives to develop housing that could be turned into flats afterwards. The games are only every 4 years, the amount of housing is a drop in the bucket of what’s needed here.
I don’t care if the Commonwealth as an organisation or the games themselves fail, but this would be a lot cheaper than trying to find a new host each time.
Alberta would have existing infrastructure in Calgary from the 1988 Winter Olympics and Edmonton is a large city with arenas for hockey and CFL facilities. The fact that they backed out of the Games with facilities already in place is very telling.
Since Britain is so great and the BaRF is all that and a bag of chips, if they want the games to happen, they should fund it.
Seriously tho, the sun has set on the empire (games). World class athletes have world championships, diamond leagues and so on to focus on. This is a waste of time and money for all involved.
I have to say, some posts suggesting, or just outright saying, that Meghan (Harry) could help promote or save the games just hits wrong.
It’s not up to Black women to save anything.
Though I understand the intentions, it’s still a micro aggression to even think that way, especially considering what she is still being put through & abused by the RF.
This conversation doesn’t need Meghan involved. She’s long gone. Let her go people.
Thank you for this. Meghan is not a pawn to be used and abused by the BaRF.
You’re so right.
Yeah, its not on Meghan to save everything commonwealth related or monarchy related and it never was.
H&M were the best chance to keep the CW relevant to a younger generation. That is why QEII appointed Harry as QCW Trust President, and Meghan Vice President. However, the rf foolishly and shortsightedly stripped them of those roles because it feels better to be vindictive than patient and wise.
Like the Royal Family the ‘Common Wealth’ games are increasingly an anachronism that need to end with the late Queen.
My suspicion is that the embarrassment will be greater if Charles tries to revive it. Better just to let it wither away.
Countries are already shying away from holding the Olympics and the World Championships and globally countries are more focused on their own games i.e. Asian Games and African Games which makes far more sense on many levels.
Let that sh!t go and move on Chucky.
Most of the countries were waiting for QEII to pass before leaving the CW and/or removing the monarch. Diana was the only royal to turn the tide against breaking away from the UK monarch, in Australia. She raised the profile of the rf and lent them her charm and glamour for decades. They never acknowledged that she carried them, then or now. Understand it will be the same for Meghan, they will never acknowledge her brilliance or glamour.
Oh no! Poor Harry is going to get the blame, everyday there is an announcement from Germany about the Invictus Games.
Trains painted in I G colors, a Mascot named Buddy, check out the T shirts with all the contestants names.
You can get free tickets from Amazon to attend the games, new sponsors are joining the games.
I’m up for blaming Charles for everything that goes wrong.
Raining today when I planned a family picnic? Stupid Charles. Missed a deadline at work? That was dumb Charles’ fault. Climate change? Charles.
I absolutely blame Chuck for this. He’s a useless & heartless bully.
This one isn’t on Charles. Victoria said no as costs spiraled and other cities didn’t want to take on the costs either.
The same thing is happening with the Olympics, residents of prospective cities are saying no due to the cost to build the infrastructure like new sports venues, athlete housing etc with no long term benefit. It’s why you see the Olympics going back to cities like Paris and Los Angeles that have the infrastructure or to counties who don’t invite citizen feedback and impact and don’t care about the cost to build venues that will be little used after the games.
The CW gives nothing of value for its membership, certainly not wealth. The Queen’s appeal held the members together and gave the impression that the CW was one big, happy family. But the truth is, the RF cannot change the growing perception that they obviously disdain the brown and black people who comprise the majority of the Commonwealth nations. It’s difficult to maintain something that is so completely behind the times and on the wrong side of history.
Most people are beginning to acknowledge it’s no longer fashionable or morally acceptable to hold one racial group over the others while claiming white superiority. The non-white people of the CW have seen Windrush, Duchess Meghan, and various non-white British citizens being treated like abominations and they’re done with the *mighty British Empire*.
The sun is about to completely set on that mess. Welcome to the new reality!
Kate being kind,caring and helpful? As Nacho would say:”BS.”
I think that some of the unwillingness of countries like Canada & Australia to host again during globally tough economic times is in part due to the fact that the burden of ho$ting the game$ falls predominately on a handful of countries. Out of the past 21 Commonwealth Games only 3 games have been hosted from countries other than repeat host (Canada 3, Australia 6, New Zealand 3, UK countries 5). Perhaps, they need to rethink how to fund the games. They could be doing what The World Cup and other events have done in recent years, games hosted across multiple neighboring host countries. The US and Canada (and at times Mexico) will share hosting duties/costs. It gives the opportunity to use existing venues, eliminating some of the higher costs. Maybe King C3, Queen C u next thursday and the other “working” royals should show more enthusiasm for their leadership roles within the commonwealth and do more that just show up at the opening and/or closing ceremonies with a quick wave. They should be more actively involved with the games, lord knows they have plenty of spare time.
Host Countries:
1930: Hamilton, Canada
1934: London, England, UK
1938: Sydney, Australia
1950: Auckland, New Zealand
1954: Vancouver, Canada
1958: Cardiff, Wales, UK
1962: Perth, Australia
1966: Kingston, Jamaica
1970: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
1974: Christchurch, New Zealand
1978: Edmonton, Canada
1982: Brisbane, Australia
1986: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
1990: Auckland, New Zealand
1994: Victoria, Australia
1998: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2002: Manchester, England, UK
2006: Melbourne, Australia
2010: Delhi, India
2014: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
2018: Gold Coast, Australia
The Commonwealth games were hosted by Victoria, British columbia.
Thank you, yes they were held here in 1994.
The city built sorely needed new pools, a velodrome, housing, and apparently had a $20 million surplus afterwards.
We’re still kind of talking about it!
https://www.saanichnews.com/opinion/david-black-facilities-and-legacies-a-big-part-of-1994-games-245107
The blame actually does fall fully and squarely on Charles.