Birmingham breathes fresh life into Commonwealth Games with ultimate sporting palate cleanser
IndependentJul 28, 2022
The Facts
The Australian state of Victoria has canceled plans to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to budget concerns, putting the next edition of the multi-sport event in doubt.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the decision on Tuesday, stating that revised estimates suggest the cost of the 12-day tournament have overrun from A$2.6B ($1.7B) to nearly A$7B ($4.77B).
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The 2026 Commonwealth Games is under threat because an irresponsible political stratagem led Victoria's Labor premier to increase spending ahead of last year's state election, with the aim of helping his party secure a majority. Now that political goal has been achieved, it has suddenly been declared that the state will not host the event, despite the damage it does to Australia's credibility and reputation. Opportunistic electioneering has put these Games at risk.
Establishment-critical narrative
Though it's too early to declare that the days of the Commonwealth Games are over, this cancelation undeniably poses an existential threat to the Olympics-lite second-tier event created for the outdated purpose of celebrating the oppressive history of the British empire and its colonial past. Unless the Games can adapt to modern values, its demise is positive news, as it will mean funding is redirected into social policies.