Taken from Time Magazine, July 18th 2023:

We're told that:

"On Tuesday, Australia pulled out from hosting the 2026
Commonwealth Games after the projected costs ballooned
from $1.8 billion to more that $4 billion becoming -
"well and truly too much," for host state Victoria to bear."

Premier Daniel Andrews said in a press conference:

"I will not take money out of hospitals and schools in order
to fund an event that is 3 times the cost estimated and
budgeted for last year."

Time tells us that "This decision has once again re-kindled
a debate whether the Commonwealth Games are still relevant on
the global sporting stage today, and if the outsized costs
of hosting global sporting tournaments is worth the trouble.
When you include all of the costs and the total amount of
revenue they bring in - is it a good financial balance?"

Should The Olympics be enough?

Should The Olympics be enough?
Foxy,
More than enough ! Whatever economic benefit stems from such events always only ever benefit a selected few.
If you listen to Radio Garden you get to hear real stories & comments from all over the World.
And, Dan Andrews is congratulated on his common sense decision.
In my opinion, those who so desperately want those mindless events can always financially contribute rather than expect those of us who aren't interested in saturation Sport to always fork out for.
Building industrial/ecological etc infrastructure with the available funding would do a hell of a lot more for the economy than 12 days of masturbation by crowds who don't even know what gender they're supposed to be cheering on !

Thanks Individual.

The cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games took a lot
of people by surprise. From stakeholders to game officials,
to sports bodies and local government officials.

There may be legal and reputational damage ahead.

The Canberra Times tells us that Victorian taxpayers could
be on the hook for more than $1 billion in compensation
after pulling the pin on hosting the games.

And who knows what else is on the horizon? Are the games as
popular as they once were?

We'll have to wait and see what reactions follow.

games as popular as they once were?
Foxy,
There's definitely a fed-up with Sport factor. The gender circus has contributed to this loss of interest.
Speculation & predictability by commentators, drug abuse etc etc has killed interest in genuine Sport.
Insane amounts of money charged & paid is another issue for people no longer watching.
Football sport is getting so rough that we might as well have Gladiators & wild animals back.
Sport has had its day !
This may well save humanity from going to the dogs !

Dear Individual,

I enjoy seeing athletes competing
in their chosen sports. However in this case - I
can understand that the cost of hosting these games
has to be weighed up.

Foxy,
Athletics, a big Yes from me too but weren't we talking about Sport ?

Dear Individual,

I thought we were talking about the Commonwealth games?

The Commonwealth Games is just like the Commonwealth itself, an anachronism, both are long past their 'use by dates'. The $7 billion dollars that a few over indulgent types wanted to spent to show a couple of white dominated rich countries could kick arse of a bunch of dirt poor black countries is ridiculous!

Foxy,

It was not Australia it was Dan Andrews who promised the earth to get the games and then backed out costing Victoria a huge cost for zero benefits and blackening Australia's reputation.

blackening Australia's reputation.
shadowminister,
On the contrary, think need vs greed !

$7 billion does seem very extravagant.

I'm sure that this wasn't just the Premier's decision
alone. Economic advisers would have contributed as well.
If the Coalition was in power - I think they would have made
the same decision. Jeff Kennett certainly would have.

Behind the financial reasons for cancelling the games,
there were a number of other factors at play.
The following link explains:

http://theconversation.com/cancelling-the-commonwealth-games-wont-come-cheaply-victoria-now-faces-the-legal-consequences-210054

Foxy,

The cost of the games is to be weighed against TV revenues etc and the boost to businesses that will pay more tax.

This should be weighed up before signing up. Dan screwed Victoria's chances for other events for years. The sooner Vic dumps this moron the better.

Dear Shadow Minister,

Read the link I gave. What you're saying may not be
the case.

Reading An SBS article some were pleased that the colonialists' games being abandoned. Dan is not a supporter of the Commonwealth of nations.

Evidence please.

It was a team of people from lots of different departments
who canvassed all potential alternatives for the Games.
None came close to the original cost of $2.6 billion budget
which came from the analysis of one fo the "big 4"
consultancy firms. When the price ballooned - there was
no other choice but to cancel.

Foxy,

Dan is the moron that walked away from a freeway build and had to pay $1bn in penalties.

The planning for the games was done by Labor, and it is very common for their estimates to be out by 200%. It is no one's fault but Labor's.

Couple of issues here.

1. Dan used the games and the winning thereof as part of his re-election push last year, particularly in the regions where the events were supposedly going to be held. Now that the election is won and is out of the way, he can ditch the games as surplus to needs - ie the need to win re-election. OK, he's wasted a coupla billion but that's nothing compared to retaining power.

But fear not, come the next election the ALP will find a new shiny bauble to entice the electorate and the usual Dan-ophiles will fall for it all over again.

2. We are increasingly seeing just how hopeless our bureaucracy has become. Snowy 2.0 has already increased in estimated costs by 500% and counting as well as taking a decade longer to complete than estimated. The bureaucracy were equally culpable in the Robodebt debacle. And now this, where the cost estimates went from $2.6b in May to $7b two months later. Who could ever trust a bureaucratic estimate of costs again.

But we will. The next iffy estimate that comes out will be treated by a drooling media as fact - until it's not

I read a piece that the Mayor of the Gold Coast is offering to take up the games.
http://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/other/gold-coast-offers-to-host-the-2026-commonwealth-games-after-victoria-pulled-out/ar-AA1e6kOt

Hi Foxy,

Lawn bowls doesn't come cheap, there's those prissy white uniforms for starters, peanuts and cheese on the bar for the old fellas, and free beer afterwards as well.

Gota give it to SM, "Dan is the moron that walked away from a freeway build and had to pay $1bn in penalties." He said nothing when "ScumO' was the moron that walked away from a submarine build and had to pay $5bn in penalties to the French with nothing to show for it."

With the Noalition government led by ScumO' Morrison wasting a trillion dollars, Australia could have staged the Commonwealth Games 150 times over! At $7 billion each, with the first one in 2026, and every 4 years thereafter the last one would have been in the year 2626

Dear Paul,

South Australia, Queensland, NSW, and WA have all
ruled out making a bid for the Games - ending any
speculation. Dan Andrews said as a State he was
initially happy to help out with the Games - but
not at any price and when it tripled in cost -
this wasn't a difficult decision to make.

What's interesting is that in its 93 history the
event was almost always been hosted in the UK.
Australia, New Zealand, and Canada with Jamaica,
India, and Malaysia being the only one-off
hosts.

Hell no, I like watching the white water canoe events, & the equestrian, even the swimming is better than repeat of lousy soaps. Some of the winter stuff is good watching too. Remember Edy the eagle.

No we just need Australia to stop doing it. Someone else can pay, & it puts the good stuff on at good night time viewing. Running it locally puts the events at the wrong time for TV watching, & somehow we get the screen filled with those dreadful Victorian personalities, who are famous for being famous, at least in Victoria.

Of course to make them meaningful we would have to revert to strictly amateur athletes, as it was back when Melbourne hosted the things.

The Gold Coast apparently is ready to step in as
2026 Hosts for the Commonwealth Games and Canada
is the only country publicly exploring a bid for
the 2030 Commonwealth Games, possibly in Alberta.

The Commonwealth Games went down hill after they got ride of the Dwarf Throwing competition in 86'. Although there is some talk that the Jelly Wrestling could make a return at the 2032 games in Gumbo Uganda to boost male viewer interest. Personally I am going to miss the Eye Ball Staring competition, it was rumoured that the long standing world record of 14 hours 17 minutes and 46 seconds held by Frank Cobbledick of Manchester England since 1932 could have be broken at the upcoming games, by that rising star of staring, pig farmer Jim Dikshit from Wappertydoo Victoria. Jim was shattered by the news of the cancellation of the 26 games, he said; "I've put in thousands of hours of training staring down hundreds of pigs on the farm, for the past 27 years preparing for this, only to be denied a chance at the world record, and future immortality, I'm shattered!". For myself, I am going to miss such riveting viewing! I was sure Jim would add another gold to Australia's expected tally of 600 medals.

Dear Paul,

Ok. I'll play:

You forgot to mention the Derogatory Songs competitions,
(singing while extremely drunk). A way of indulging in
patriotism to upset the sensitive locals. That's surely
part and parcel of the Games and is going to be missed?

Also where would the Games be without a bit of violence
thrown in? National and local pride is after all
important. (smile).

'Derogatory Songs competitions'
- Derogatory songs and drinking is Australian culture.

You Orta' See Me (When I'm Pissed)
http://youtu.be/_D4CAsT6N-s

Kat McSnatch isn't too bad either, she might get a showing.
http://youtu.be/9cdq9pNkH6E

'Should More Countries Back Out Of Hosting Global Sporting Events?'
- Only if they wish to look stupid, incompetent and completely incapable of keeping their word / following through with contracts they made.

Beyond that, I hope governments stop putting their hands up to host the events,
- Put it to the vote and let the people decide.
Governments are costing the citizens too much, and it only benefits a few, mainly in construction for the event.
I'm not sure there are any significant benefits to the citizens of nations that host the events, maybe a few athletes will get to use the facilities later down the track.

I think Dan Andrews got more respect now than ever for this common sense approach !

I agree. More people seem to understand the reasons
behind Victoriá's cancellation of the games. Other
states, have also backed out.

My Uncle Harry was artist at the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid. He had charge of putting the designs in the ice for figure skaters and the artistic aspects of other events. There was no Olympic village or team sports. In media coverage the feats of the individual athletes were more important than the number of medals a country won. Athletes came to Lake Placid and had to find places to stay. In 1936 the Olympics were in Nazi Germany. National rivalry, Nazi glitz and commercialism prevailed. The Olympic torch was a creation of Goebbels, the Nazi minister of propaganda. It was downhill from then on. We're not going to go back to 1932. All international sporting events are dominated by national rivalries and commercialism. I see no point in having more of them.

I think that sporting events unite people.
Especially international events like the
Olympics which separate athletes across
continents divided by countries. The Games
are not just about one nation. They're a
collection of culture, diversity, and life.

We can contribute to building a better world by
educating youth through sport. To aim for higher
goals without discrimination of any kind, and
friendship, solidarity, and fair play.

Watching the Para-Olympics is truly inspirational.

Talking about discrimination?

18 Black athletes represented the US in the 1936
Olympics in Germany where African Americans dominated
the popular track and field events.

Many American journalists hailed the victories of
Jesse Owens and other Black athletes as a blow to
the Nazi myth of "Aryan" supremacy.

But this was under scored when the athletes returned
home to the US where discrimination against Blacks still
prevailed.

Still the friendship made by the athletes in Germany
lasted for life.

Carl Ludwig "Luz" Long - a German Olympic long jumper
notable for winning the silver medal at the 1936
Olympics in Berlin was also famous for his friendship
with the Black American athlete - Jesse Owens who went
on to win the gold medal for the long jump.

The WDG (World Dwarf Games) will take place -
July 28th until August 5th at the German Sport University
Cologne.( Deutsche Sporthochschule Koln) .

Hi Foxy,

"But this was under scored when the athletes returned
home to the US where discrimination against Blacks still
prevailed."

Did you know when black American servicemen first arrived in Australia during WWII, they were band from disembarking ship under the 'White Australia' policy. White servicemen were allowed ashore, no problem, but not Blacks. Australia to get around the impasse, then issued 8,000 special visas to Negros allowing them ashore.

Dear Paul,

I learned about their sad
history while working at the University of Southern
California Library in Los Angeles. I learned about Australia's
White Australia Policy from an Afro-American kid who
worked in the University Library's Mail-Room. I did not
believe him at first - because it wasn't something I
was familiar with at the time. Working at the University
was an education in more ways than one.