Commonwealth Games

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TW1Bee

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Commonwealth Games

Surprised there's no thread on this but probably because no one knows it's on. Apart from being televised behind a pay wall it's also one of those events that is slowly getting to it's sell by date, a bit like the Commonwealth itself. When I was young it was second to the Olympics . When the athletics start there maybe a surge of interest but even then there will only be a few of the world's top athletes competing if they could be bothered and some have already pulled out through "injury". Discuss ?
 

Commonwealth Games

TW1Bee said:
Surprised there's no thread on this but probably because no one knows it's on. Apart from being televised behind a pay wall it's also one of those events that is slowly getting to it's sell by date, a bit like the Commonwealth itself. When I was young it was second to the Olympics . When the athletics start there maybe a surge of interest but even then there will only be a few of the world's top athletes competing if they could be bothered and some have already pulled out through "injury". Discuss ?
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Not behind a paywall there wont

I am happy to ‘watch’ any free sport. I am not fussy but it isnt worth paying for, as I dont watch it just have it on
 

Commonwealth Games

I'd normally be dipping in and out of this but with no BBC coverage it's a non-starter. Very short sighted approach to go with a higher bidder and a resulting paywall - will probably kill it off completely.

It's actually a protected event under the broadcasting act meaning there is some FTA coverage - channel 5 are doing highlights each day.
 
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Commonwealth Games

I dont see this lasting much longer - cut 8 sports from this edition and it is slowly dying a death. Shame as it used to be a big event but barely anyone wants to host it anymore either.
 

Commonwealth Games

I watched a bit of the swimming last night with my 11 year old daughter and when she asked what the commonwealth is and who, how and why each country is in it etc, I found myself thinking none of it really makes sense whilst trying to explain. And I think that's a significant part of the issue- it has no obvious meaning these days.

Some of the events are actually very strong where you have World and Olympic medalists in them -like the Aussies in the swimming. But then I caught a bit of a 3 on 3 basketball match (at one end like a game of 'Wembley' 🤷‍♂️) between Scotland and Australia and whilst I'm no basketball expert, it just looked like a few lads down the local park.
 

Commonwealth Games

BEEcool said:
I watched a bit of the swimming last night with my 11 year old daughter and when she asked what the commonwealth is and who, how and why each country is in it etc, I found myself thinking none of it really makes sense whilst trying to explain. And I think that's a significant part of the issue- it has no obvious meaning these days.

Some of the events are actually very strong where you have World and Olympic medalists in them -like the Aussies in the swimming. But then I caught a bit of a 3 on 3 basketball match (at one end like a game of 'Wembley' 🤷‍♂️) between Scotland and Australia and whilst I'm no basketball expert, it just looked like a few lads down the local park.
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Yeah. I switched over to TNT this afternoon thinking it might be worthwhile to watch some of the Games and was confronted by England playing Scotland on half a basketball court, playing defence v attack in turn.. It looked like a Monty Python parody. Needless to say I've lost what very little interest I had in the tournament.
 

Commonwealth Games

Gazza Bee said:
I dont see this lasting much longer - cut 8 sports from this edition and it is slowly dying a death. Shame as it used to be a big event but barely anyone wants to host it anymore either.
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Time to finish it.

Australia were meant to host, but pulled out citing they couldn't afford it. Glasgow stepped in, but apparently the opening ceremony was rubbish. Like you, a major event 30-40 years ago.

The only things I've read in the past week are numerous athletes pulling out citing injury. I wonder how injured they'd be if it was Olympic year.

I tuned into channel 5 highlights last night. It was some kind of Paralympic weightlifting. The British bloke was about 4 ft tall.

I'm not always the most up for inclusivity, but if that's the leading event for CG highlights, good luck finding an audience
 

Commonwealth Games

Hippobee said:
Time to finish it.

Australia were meant to host, but pulled out citing they couldn't afford it. Glasgow stepped in, but apparently the opening ceremony was rubbish. Like you, a major event 30-40 years ago.

The only things I've read in the past week are numerous athletes pulling out citing injury. I wonder how injured they'd be if it was Olympic year.

I tuned into channel 5 highlights last night. It was some kind of Paralympic weightlifting. The British bloke was about 4 ft tall.

I'm not always the most up for inclusivity, but if that's the leading event for CG highlights, good luck finding an audience
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I read an article which commented on the Aussie withdrawal, stating that the budgeted costs had doubled since they were first awarded them, and that the state would lose a load of money, so they pulled out. It looks like they were right,
 

Commonwealth Games

I subscribed to HBO Max via Prime for £5.99. You can cancel after 30 days, so it's worth it for me. I'm watching the swimming atm and will be glued
to the athletics when it starts.

Downside is the commentary team; no idea who they are but one guy seems to be there just to pick holes in everything 🙄
 

Commonwealth Games

snowstormbee said:
I subscribed to HBO Max via Prime for £5.99. You can cancel after 30 days, so it's worth it for me. I'm watching the swimming atm and will be glued
to the athletics when it starts.

Downside is the commentary team; no idea who they are but one guy seems to be there just to pick holes in everything 🙄
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What's his GPG handle?
 

Commonwealth Games

Just managed to catch the men's 50m swimming para final . Incredible how these guys perform given three of them came out in wheel chairs and had to do a sitting start. Dived further than I can swim.
 

Commonwealth Games

I just got back from five days in Glasgow, went to seven different sports, had a great time.

It was lower key than the 2014 games in Glasgow - in which they made use of Hampden Park, Ibrox and Celtic Park - both the number and size of venues and in the city seemed at a lower scale - but it felt to me like had made a decent fist of the opportunity. A chunk of the budget (I think I read 10%) came from Victoria's exit fee to get out of the contract.

The only downside was getting absolutely drenched at the athletics on Tuesday evening sat on the open seats... felt like a bad night at Gillingham or the old Brighton. But at least it wasn't cold.

Can't comment on what's wrong with the TV coverage as didn't see any. Apparently as @snowstormbee says you can get access to it all for £5.99 if you're interested - about the price of a pint these days for 12 days of live sport - or make do with highlights if you're not.

I saw plenty about it on social media last week mainly people asking "did anyone else know there was a Commonwealth Games starting this week?" which in a way was bringing a fair amount of attention to it. To be honest it's always seemed a bit an event that sneaks up and then disappears, I was on holiday when Manchester had it in 2002 and one or two UK newspaper back pages was the only evidence I had it even happened, Ian Thorpe's gold medals and whatever else seemed to have been forgotten completely within a few days. In 2014 The Times did their "wraparound" front covers for major stories every day, repeating what they'd done for London 2012, but even then I think only in Scotland.

The next one ins in Ahmedabad in 2030, they won't struggle for a big stadium for athletics!
 

Commonwealth Games

This athletics stadium looks incredibly non-league.
 

Commonwealth Games

Good stuff at the track cycling tonight.
Awang (38) from Malaysia winning the Keirin & his interview with Adam Blythe & Chris Hoy being the highlight for me.
I suppose track cycling is the event that’s nearer a world championships than the others, so really competitive.
The Welsh did ok as well.
 

Commonwealth Games

Georgia Hunter Bell wins 800m gold for the Bees!
 
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