Aside from the global embarrassment, this is yet another impact of Dan Andrews’ devastating decision

Dan Andrews has denied Victorians a legacy moment, with fewer and fewer opportunities to see Gout Gout run on home soil as he blossoms into a world superstar.

Gout Gout could have been steaming down the home straight at Eureka Stadium in Ballarat. Picture: Richard Walker

The people of Ballarat are always searching for gold and Dan Andrews has denied them the biggest nugget in Australian sport.

Gout Gout steaming down the home straight at Eureka Stadium in the gold mining town could have happened next year if the Victorian government had kept its promise to host the Commonwealth Games.

Instead it will be the folks of Glasgow, Scotland, who will have the opportunity to see the teenage sprinting sensation who is being anointed as the next Usain Bolt.

Gout is being anointed as the next Usain Bolt. Picture: Casey Sims

There will be fewer and fewer opportunities to see Gout run on home soil as he blossoms into world superstardom, and what the kids of Ballarat and Victoria are missing is a legacy moment.

This could have been the Cathy Freeman moment from the Sydney Olympics, and we know what impact that had.

Kids who watched it on TV or were fortunate enough to see it live at Sydney Olympic Stadium were inspired to take up athletics and try to become the “next” Cathy.

Cathy Freeman winning gold at the Sydney Olympics. Picture: AFP

Imagine what seeing Gout go under the magical 10-second barrier – which has never been done by an Aussie in Australia – would have done for the sport over the next 20 years.

The same for the people of Geelong, who would have had the privilege of seeing Canada’s three-time Olympic gold medallist Summer McIntosh clash with Australia’s best in a newly built pool.

Instead they will have to watch it on TV – though given the time zone most kids will probably be in bed when these magical moments happen in Glasgow.

Aside from the global embarrassment, this is yet another devastating impact of Andrews’ decision to ditch the Games in Victoria in July 2023 at a cost of $589m – a decision that almost killed off the four-yearly event for good.

Dan Andrews visiting Mars Stadium in Ballarat before his decision to ditch the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth Games had been going for almost a century but was on life support for more than 12 months after Andrews’ about-face.

Fortunately, a modified version with fewer sports and no new infrastructure has been put together by Glasgow, which held the Games back in 2014, using $200m of our coin.

And they’ve been rewarded with Gout Gout chasing gold, while for Ballarat it’s back to Sovereign Hill with pans in hand.

Originally published as Aside from the global embarrassment, this is yet another impact of Dan Andrews’ devastating decision