Commonwealth Games 2026: Why Dan Andrews and the woke mob will never kill the Comm Games

The Commonwealth Games will never die, what is dead is the myth that Victoria is some sort of mystical sporting paradise, writes Julian Linden.

If the Commonwealth Games ever dies, it won’t be at the hands of grandstanding politicians fudging the numbers to cover up their own failings.

Ninety-three years old and as sprightly as ever, the ‘Friendly Games’ have survived far bigger crises than the one Victorian state premier Dan Andrews has ditched it in.

Dismissed by the woke mob as an imperial curiosity that has no relevance in the 21st century, the Commonwealth Games are too resilient and too important to be consigned to the scrap heap because of grubby politics.

They have been cancelled before – twice around the Second World War – and have also been forced to find new hosts at short notice before.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews cancelled Victoria’s hosting of the 2026 Comm Games. Picture: AAP

But they survived those setbacks and will do so again, outlasting any opportunist party leader.

They are not the Olympics — but they have never pretended to be — because they showcase eclectic sports that are ingrained in Australian culture and are part of the unbreakable bond to the Commonwealth.

Sports such as cricket, and netball, and lawn bowls, and hockey, and squash and rugby.

They also bring able-bodied and impaired athletes together as one, while allowing major powers and tiny island nations to compete together on the same field.

There’s just something magical about multi-sports events between nations that everyday Aussies love – which was only reinforced further when the world was locked down during the pandemic.

Australian lawn bowler, Aaron Wilson, celebrates his gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Getty

Victoria, of all places, should understand that.

But that’s the thing with self-serving politicians. They never truly understand what sports mean to ordinary Australians because they see everything through the lens of a ballot box.

While they happily dish out billions to professional codes, which are already taking handouts from anywhere they can get these days, small-minded governments just don’t get that the Commonwealth Games are a throwback to happier times, holding out against crass commercialisation.

The only thing that is dead and buried now, is the myth that Victoria is some sort of mystical sporting paradise.

For years, Victorian politicians have been feeding manure to the masses, telling everyone that Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world when the public only really care about AFL.

It never has been a global sporting megacity. And never will be.

This announcement has finally buried the myth that Victoria is a global sporting megacity. Picture: David Caird

And losing the Commonwealth Games is just further proof of how insular Bleak City has become.

Just last week, BCW released its findings from its 2023 study into the world’s greatest sporting cities.

Melbourne didn’t come out first on the list – with Paris the clear No.1.

Melbourne didn’t come second either – that went to Los Angeles. Or even third, because that was London.

In fact, the Victorian capital wasn’t in the top 10, or the top 20. It was listed way down in 23rd spot, which didn’t even make it the top Australian city. That honour went to Brisbane.

The repercussions from this fiasco will harm Victoria’s sporting reputation for generations.

Melbourne had already lost out to Sydney as the host for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

And it’s a safe bet Melbourne has just blown any chance of beating Sydney for the right to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup final after this latest blunder.

The one thing international sporting organisers want is a safe pair of hands and Victoria no longer offers that.

Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2026: Why Dan Andrews and the woke mob will never kill the Comm Games