It was in 1958 that most Indians took note of the Commonwealth Games, when the late Milkha Singh claimed gold in a record-breaking 440 yard race in Cardiff, Wales. It was even more obscure then as it was known as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Indians used to relate more to the Asian Games, which was born in New Delhi in 1951.
Milkha had arrived in Cardiff with two gold medals under his belt. He won them two months earlier at the Asian Games in Tokyo.
Before Milkha Singh’s gallant victory in Cardiff, India struggled to get on the podium at the Commonwealth Games. It had bagged just one bronze medal in three appearances. By 2010, the year New Delhi hosted the quadrennial games, India had won 272 medals. This, combined with the 101 medals it bagged as the host, made. the Commonwealth Games is almost as popular as the Asian Games.
Now the Commonwealth Games is back in the news. After the Australian state Victoria withdrew from hosting the 2026 Games, Ahmedabad is reported to have shown interest in taking its place.
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Can they afford it?
According to reports, sources in the Gujarat government said that the city has been preparing to bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games anyway and had set its target to complete the necessary infrastructure by 2028. However, with Australia pulling out, Gujarat officials say that the work will be completed before the 2026 games and they are considering bidding to host it.
It is not easy to raise all necessary infrastructure in such a short time, even if the ruling BJP returns to power at the Centre after the 2024 general elections. Besides a financial guarantee, the host city also has to assure political stability in the bid document for the Games. Even though the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is desperate to find a host for the 2026 Games, it would not like to make a hasty decision.
Not just Victoria, even the Canadian province of Alberta has backed out from the bid for the 2030 edition of the Games. Two successive withdrawals within a month are a big blow to the Commonwealth Games.
Both Australia and Canada cited rising costs for their exit. Victoria’s premier, Dan Andrews, said, “I will not take money out of hospitals and schools to fund an event that is three times the cost as estimated and budgeted for last year.”
Can Ahmedabad afford to ignore providing better roads, schools, and hospitals to the citizens at the cost of organising the Games?
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Colonial legacy
The Commonwealth of 54 Nations is an association of countries across the world, historically connected to the British Empire and headed by the British Monarch. Currently, King Charles III holds that position. For quite some time, there has been severe criticism of the Commonwealth. And when King Charles III, formerly known as The Prince of Wales, became King upon the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, there were protests against the monarchy in several places, even in the United Kingdom.
A top Olympic official, wanting to remain anonymous, calls Commonwealth Games Federation a ‘defunct organisation’ and says “there is no Commonwealth”.
It was during Congress’ rule that India hosted the Games. The BJP leaders called it a colonial legacy. Questions were raised about the participation of an Indian delegation at the Queen’s Baton Relay ceremony in London. How will the present BJP government give the nod for the so-called Colonial Games when it is in the process of erasing everything remotely connected to the British Raj? Will it not be a contradiction of its own policy?
The author is a sports columnist and senior freelance journalist. Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)