McKeon’s parents hit out at haters of the Commonwealth Games

THE parents of Aussie swim champion Emma McKeon have called on the haters to stop undermining the Gold Coast’s Commonwealth Games and enjoy the spectacle for what it is.

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THE parents of Aussie swim champion Emma McKeon have called on the haters to stop undermining the Gold Coast’s Commonwealth Games.

Ron and Susie McKeon, former swim stars themselves who represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in 1982, have been part of the packed crowds at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre cheering in the stands and insist the event has been a huge success despite grumblings about transport, traffic and suffering local businesses.

Ron and Sue McKeon, parents of swimming champ Emma McKeon, want people to lay off the Games. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Speaking at a Speedo family lunch at the Southport Yacht Club, Mr McKeon said every major Australian sporting event in recent history had been besieged by negativity and had always proven the critics wrong.

“This happens every time there’s a home Games,” he said.

“It happened in Sydney (for the 2000 Olympics), it happened with Melbourne.

“All these doomsdayers and chicken littles saying there’s going to be traffic gridlock, or massive infrastructure problems, it never eventuated.

Australia's Emma McKeon competes in the women's 200m butterfly.

“We sat in the rain the other night and no one was complaining.

“It was awesome.”

He said it was hard to compare the vibe of the Gold Coast with Brisbane’s own turn in the spotlight in 1982.

“We were in our own little bubble back then,” he said.

“We’re still in that swimming bubble now (watching Emma and her brother David compete), going from the hotel to the pool and back again, but I think it’s been fantastic.”

Originally published as McKeon’s parents hit out at haters of the Commonwealth Games