Embarrassing? Humiliating? Deceitful? Cowardly? Take your pick | Graham Cornes

Victoria beats its chest and boasts that Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world. It may have just killed off a global event, writes Graham Cornes.

In a previous working life, as an afternoon sports presenter, I once described the Commonwealth Games as the “Mickey Mouse Games”.

I had no real evidence to back-up such a brash, ill-informed judgement, other than they weren’t the Olympic Games. Shortly after a caller came through on the talkback line. We can only see the callers’ first names on the screen. “Sean, good afternoon”, I said.

“Graham, it’s Sean Carlin”, replied the caller.

Uh-oh. Sean Carlin was a big man, a South Australian hammer thrower who won gold medals at two consecutive Commonwealth Games – 1990 in Auckland and 1994 in Victoria, British Columbia.

Additionally, he finished eighth at the Barcelona Olympic Games. Luckily, for someone whose achievements at the Commonwealth Games had been severely disrespected, he was remarkably balanced on the talkback line.

But he was aggrieved at the assessment. He had a point.

To represent your country at the Commonwealth Games, you have to be the best in the Australia.

To win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games places you amongst the best in the world. It doesn’t always follow that Commonwealth Games medallists go on to win Olympic gold medals, but plenty have. Cathy Freeman, Sally Pearson, Nova Peris, Stuart O’Grady, Mike Turtur, our men’s and women’s hockey teams, Susie O’Neill, Ian Thorpe, Kyle Chalmers, plus a host of other swimmers and athletes, for instance.

These are elite athletes and to describe their competition as “Mickey Mouse”, is unforgivably disrespectful, although I hope Sean Carlin has forgiven me.

So what to make of the Victorian government’s decision to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games for which it had successfully bid and made a part of its last election campaign?

Embarrassing? Humiliating? Deceitful? Cowardly?

Take your pick of the adjectives. Premier Dan Andrews rolled out the old hospitals and schools line: “I will not take money out of hospitals and schools in order to fund an event that is three times the cost as estimated and budgeted for last year,” was his trite, hackneyed explanation.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Other economists disputed that figure, but either way, the incompetence of Andrews and the bean-counters who advise him is appalling.

No one can blame a city, state or country for not wanting to host the Commonwealth Games, but once you commit, surely you have to stay the distance. It has been a disgraceful act that has brought shame, not only on Victoria but on Australia itself. We pride ourself as an elite, successful sporting nation. That reputation is in tatters.

The strategy Victoria had for hosting the Games was quite sound and sounded exciting, especially for regional areas. Sporting hubs would be established in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland. Facilities would be upgraded and athlete’s villages would be established in each of those centres.

It was more than just the games. Given chronic housing shortages, they would be welcome infrastructures once the visiting athletes had departed.

Victoria metaphorically beats its chest and boasts that Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world. It hogs the big sporting events, namely tennis and football.

Once it saw how successfully Brisbane and Perth could host the grand final, it panicked and seduced the AFL with vast sums of money, to hold its grand final at the MCG ad infinitum. That was an infuriating decision because football is Australia’s national game and in this modern world the grand final should be showcased in all the capital cities.

Not to be however.

Victoria even stole our Formula One Grand Prix, although if truth be known, we had tired of it. The novelty had worn off so we didn’t fight for it. Besides, the Adelaide/Clipsal/Valo 500, with its Supercars and drivers who are much more accessible, is a much better event.

This decision by Premier Andrews and the Victorian government may be the end of the Commonwealth Games as we know it. If a supposedly wealthy first-world state like Victoria can’t afford to host them, who can?

For many years our own Rob Gerard, one of South Australia’s most generous benefactors has campaigned for Adelaide to host the Commonwealth Games. His passion was irresistible and his arguments almost convincing.

Almost, because it was hard to see how our state could afford such a sporting extravaganza. South Australia’s population is approximately 1.8 million. Victoria’s is 6.6 million. Perhaps Rob Gerard’s vision would have left a lasting sporting legacy but given the Andrews’ disaster unfolding in Victoria it would seem wiser heads have prevailed. We hate to quell Gerard’s passion and enthusiasm but any likelihood of South Australia bidding for those games has been extinguished. Our government can concentrate on “hospitals and schools.” Perhaps add housing and transport to the list.

If this is to be the end of the Commonwealth Games, which in another era had been called the Empire Games, so be it. The British Commonwealth is outdated. We are loosely attached to Great Britain but drift further apart with each year, increasingly shamed by the British historic zeal to colonise and subjugate. However, we have no say over our ancestors. We are who are. We are proudly Australian and Australian athletes leave us with great memories of Commonwealth and Empire Games successes. I have five.

SA hammer thrower Sean Carlin training in 1994.

Jessica Stenson of Team Australia celebrates winning Gold in the Women's Marathon on day two of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

One: in John Landy, we Baby Boomers had a true athletic hero. He and Roger Bannister, who were the only athletes to have broken the four-minute mile barrier, fought out the “Miracle Mile” in the 1954 Vancouver games. We saw it later in black and white, with Landy finishing second, but it didn’t diminish his standing. Every young kid wanted to be John Landy.

Two: Rob De Castella overcame stomach cramps and a Tanzanian rival, Juma Ikangaa to win the marathon in Brisbane in 1982. It was in our time zone and we watched it unfold in real time. The diminutive, moustachioed “Deek” became a style icon. Briefly.

Three: fifteen-year-old Ian Thorpe won four gold medals and announced himself to the world at Kuala Lumpur in 1998. It was obvious we were witnessing greatness.

Four: Jess Stenson (Trengove) finished third at the two previous games before winning the gold medal in 2022 at the Birmingham games. She’s South Australia’s own and her finishing smile illuminated a state that had struggled under all sorts of Covid restrictions.

Five: how can I overlook Sean Carlin? His two gold medals in 1990 and 1994 did our state proud. Significantly however he taught this cynic a lesson about respect and appreciation.

There is talk that other cities and venues, namely Queensland’s Gold Coast, will save the games. They claim to have the means and the infrastructure but it’s unlikely they will proceed in the current format. Perhaps the format did have to change. Perhaps the expenses had to be curtailed. Perhaps Dan Andrews has initiated a necessary change. Perhaps, but that won’t change the damage he has brought upon himself, his state and our reputation as a sporting nation.

Originally published as Embarrassing? Humiliating? Deceitful? Cowardly? Take your pick | Graham Cornes