Tommy Martin: How is the Commonwealth Games still a thing?
LOAD OF BULL: The Raging Bull is wheeled in during the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham. Pic: PA Wire
The eyes of the world may be on Australia thanks to the Women’s World Cup but the Aussies’ enthusiasm for hosting major events appears to have waned. The decision by the state of Victoria to pull out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to spiralling costs has hardly distracted from World Cup excitement but does pose two distinct questions: just how much public dough should be coughed up on sporting events; and how on earth is the Commonwealth Games still a thing?
The latter point is triggering for those of us who had ‘the channels’ back in the day. Pre-satellite television, having access to BBC television brought with it many advantages. Thanks to the strange wonders of the TV deflector system, we got to enjoy Match of the Day, Attenborough, various Dimblebys and, of course, Felicity Kendall (if you know, you know).
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