04/26/24
July 25, 2002
The Commonwealth Games started today. Its the biggest sporting event ever held in Britain and features the old Empire countries - so you get the Aussies, Canadians and, of course, the Niue team - but no Team USA, Russia etc. The question is - who'll be watching?
Bullshit, Fat Buddha. Perhaps there's a certain comedy value in the bowls, but I suspect that given the world class competition in other sports, particularly swimming and athletics, there's a whole lot of 'meaning' for the competitors. Does 'no Team USA, Russia etc' make for a lacklustre 3000m steeplechase? I think not.
posted by etagloh at 08:47 PM on July 25, 2002
The BBC and much of the rest of the British media portray it as an event of massive worldwide importance, which it plainly isn't. The fact that some good events will be had does nothing to change that, most of the world will be completely and blisfully unaware of it. It is a hangover from the days of empire, a tea party. It has as much relevance in the big wide world of sport as the World Series, or the cricket world cup; interesting to the few people, in a global context, who are interested, but pretty insignificant really.
posted by Fat Buddha at 02:47 AM on July 26, 2002
Any time you get to see the Aussies swim it is good. Ian Thorpe says that "I think the relays will be very tough for Australia and also the 100m freestyle will be a very tough event for myself." So there could be some good competition.
posted by eckeric at 01:10 PM on July 26, 2002
Perhaps they should have it the year before the Olympics as a sort of warm-up competition. then it might have a bit more significance - a bit like the situation with the BAFTAs and the OSCARS(tm).
posted by Ben at 01:21 PM on July 26, 2002
So, Fat Buddha, the cricket World Cup is 'insignificant' in a global context, with its potential audience in the hundreds of millions? That apply to the rugby union World Cup as well, with its much smaller audience? In terms of the number of interested participants, it also fits your definition: but the fact that both these events will have a) the world's leading teams/competitors; b) an international audience, suggests otherwise. The same applies to the Commonwealth Games: there'll be events where the standards aren't world-class (though in most cases, sports without Commonwealth countries as world-ranking competitors aren't featured), but there'll also be de facto world championships in a majority of others. Frankly, to call it a 'tea party' from your position in front of the telly strikes me as an odd combination of arrogance and ignorance. I have quite a few friends competing there -- one who made an Olympic semi-final in Sydney -- and for them it's a far purer sporting event than, say, the Grand Prix athletics meetings, which are saturated with appearance fees, pace-makers and corporate sweeteners.
posted by etagloh at 10:43 AM on July 27, 2002
Well, if you ask anyone outside of about 6 countries, the cricket world cup is incredibly insignificant. Even within those countries it is probably a minority sport. It isn't even cricket really, but a bastardisation of it. They can't play proper cricket, because no one is interested in it. When was the last time a test match sold out in India? Who, under the age of 50 gives a toss in the West Indies? The ypouth are all playing Basketball. Rugby, don't make me laugh 8 nations play to anything like a level where they compete on anything like an even basis, and I am being very kind to at least 3 of them. I have nothing against the commonwealth games, if people want to participate let them, if people want to watch let them, don't pretend it has any importance though, it hasn't. Some performers might use it as practice for more important events and some competitors from obscure dependencies like Australia will have their 5 minutes in the sun, thats it. The most keenly fought contest I ever witness is the dads race at the school sports day. Much honour is at stake and every sinew is strained in an effort to win, it isn't of global significance though. Outside of the interested parties, nobody cares. Not even the athletes can be bothered at the commonwealth games, something like 1500 haven't even bothered to turn up.
posted by Fat Buddha at 03:23 PM on July 28, 2002
Despite being sceptical about how much fun this would be to watch from my worn-out world cup sports-sofa I actually really enjoyed the commonwealth games. Especially as England won loads for once (but still couldn't top those darn Aussies!) . Maybe we'd have a chance if the Australian states competed as seperate nations.
posted by Ben at 11:34 AM on August 01, 2002
Just to follow up on the swimming thing, I read today in the local paper that Ryk Neethling (South Africa)split a 48.04 in the 4 X100 Freestyle relay. That is damn fast. It doesn't really matter to him who was watching. He had a great race, and I think it is good that there are games like this where folks have a chance to have great races.
posted by eckeric at 12:06 PM on August 21, 2002
Not me, in the grand scheme of things I can think of little that is more meaningless. The hyperbole on the BBC is beyond belief; again they are trying to lead the news rather than report it. The reality is, the games are the equivalent of school sports day.