WILL CLARK: Does the Commonwealth Games deserve to be a thing of the past?
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I have always had a moral issue with the Commonwealth Games given the reason behind why it all began.
And as a result, I find it difficult to support the actual event when it takes place every four years.
First established as the British Empire Games in 1930, the event’s legacy representing an era of colonialism, associated with exploitation and slavery, is not one which should be fondly remembered.
It changed its name to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1954, to the British Commonwealth Games in 1974 before becoming Commonwealth Games in 1978.
Today, the Commonwealth Games mission is for "Everyone’s, innovative, sustainable and socially impactful events, which showcase world-class athletes, engage fans and benefit host communities from all regions of the Commonwealth."
But, for me anyway, the word Commonwealth is always going to be associated with the word empire, and the negative connotations it brings with it.
However, in recent months, the future of the Games has been brought into doubt, not due to a moral debate over its origins, but the financial cost to stage the event.
Australia, a passionate sporting nation, and arguably the biggest supporter of the Commonwealth Games, announced Victoria was pulling out of hosting the event scheduled for three years time.
It was announced that the estimated cost of £1.3 billion was likely to be closer to £3 billion, which resulted in Victoria pulling the plug, with no takers to stage the event in 2026 at the time of going to press.
A few weeks later, Alberta announced it was pulling out of hosting the 2030 event, which would be the event's 100th anniversary.
The Canadian province said the estimated cost of £1.5 billion was also too expensive for their tastes. Again, nobody has come forward to replace them yet.
Even Birmingham 2022 was a late replacement for Durban after the South African city also pulled out of hosting the event due to costs in 2017.
But Birmingham had five years to save the Games rather than three.
It is hard to see where the desire is going to come from to stage the next Commonwealth Games, especially if its biggest supporter Australia has given up on hosting it for 2026.
Five of the last six Commonwealth Games has alternated between Australia and United Kingdom, Manchester (2002) Melbourne (2006) Glasgow (2014) Gold Coast (2018) and, after Durban bailed, Birmingham (2022).
There are glimmers of hope, but only flickering hope at best at the moment.
Scotland could step in to help save the Games in 2026, with First Minister Humza Yousaf says he is willing to consider the country hosting some, but not all, of the events, if it goes ahead in three years time.
London mayor Sadiq Khan's said he would be prepared to support a bid for the city if given approval by the UK Government. Again no word from Westminster at the time of going to press.
However, it is not just the Commonwealth Games which is suffering from trying to find a host to stage its event.
France pulled out of hosting the Rugby League World Cup in 2025.
It said the costs of the Rugby Union World Cup next month and the Olympics in Paris next year, meant there was no sufficient funding to host it. It resulted in the tournament being cancelled completely and it was being replaced with a reduced event in the Southern Hemisphere in 2026 with 10 teams instead of 16.
Brisbane was the only city to bid for the 2032 Olympics and was awarded it unopposed.
The UK and Ireland now looks to be unopposed to host Euro 2028 with Turkey preferring to stage a joint bid with Italy for Euro 2032. Maybe we’re in an age where Governments around the world are prioritising its own needs than clamouring to stage international extravaganzas like before.
The Commonwealth Games allows athletes to represent Scotland rather than Great Britain, not always the case in a number of sports. Also sports without Olympic status such as bowls, netball and squash enjoyed the platform to showcase itself to a new audience.
It has also been a chance for athletes in the Highlands and Moray to represent Scotland, with 13 from the region in the squad for Birmingham 2022.
My colleagues and myself had the pleasure of interviewing each of them in the run up to the Games and afterwards.
To the athletes, I know how much it meant to them to compete at a major event and represent Scotland on an international stage, and I am not taking away anything from their accomplishments.
For any athlete, representing your country on the international stage must be the biggest honour.
But in terms of attracting the world’s attention, the Commonwealth Games does fail to captivate people in the same way as a continental or world championship or an Olympics.
Perhaps, that is now being accepted by many due to the lack of bids to stage the event.
The debate is now being had if the Commonwealth Games is worth all the trouble. And maybe it is a conversation which is well overdue.
