2014 Commonwealth Games

[Paq]

It's easy to say the Commonwealth Games are shit because the Americans aren't there, but that does it a big disservice as in a lot of sports the best nations are Commonwealth nations. Jamaica dominate the sprint events at Olympics and World Championships, likewise the Kenyans with the distance events. 16 of the 26 track events at the last World Championships were won by Commonwealth athletes.

All the best teams were in the Sevens tournament except Fiji (I'm not sure why they weren't, as they're part of the Commonwealth.) But still, the Sevens tournament wouldn't have been significantly improved by France or USA being there. Australia and South Africa are two of the strongest swimming nations, likewise hockey.

For a number of sports which aren't part of the Olympics this is the pinnacle of their sport, certainly in terms of media coverage and exposure to the public. How many people will have watched squash, for example, over the last couple of weeks but have no idea when the squash World Championships are?

It's also great for young athletes competing in a major international competition for the first time. A lot of the English and Scottish athletes who were relatively unknown before the start of the games will benefit come the next Olympics. It's also the only major competition to integrate para sports in with able bodied sports. I doubt many future Paralympics will have the same number of spectators that London had, but by including track events for wheelchair and visually impaired athletes in the Commonwealth Games a lot more people will see that than if they were held in a separate competition.

Great post. I defy anybody watching our girls in the Netball not to get completely caught up. Pure drama, the stuff of Hollywood.

 

[LSUY]

Bugger me that road race was good.

 

[nidge]

Bugger me that road race was good.

Very pleased the G won it. Always has to ride for someone else when in team sky.

 

[Paq]

Heart in the mouth stuff with that puncture lol

 

[Wellspurs]

Fantastic tournament... didn't see Alex Salmonds face once.

 

[riggi]

ffs

 

[LSUY]

I thought the Gold Coast was where Neighbours characters went to live after being written out of the show.

 

[Mustard]

Great games. Well done the Sweaties.

 

[chinaman]

Why are orientals so ruddy good at table tennis?

Nimbleness of hand and feet because of shorter limbs and hence smaller moving arcs.

 

[LSUY]

From an Australian newspaper:

 

[mark87]

Anyone watched the brook/porter fight?