The Commonwealth Games

[David Graham]

There are 6 days left before the start of the Commonwealth Games in India. In the past I have been almost as excited about these games as I am about the Olympics, mainly because Australia always tops the medal tally, but also because some of the smaller nations that cannot win a medal at the Olympics have an opportunity to do so at these "friendly" games.

However, these games so far are overshaddowed by the threat of terrorist attacks (and apparently our team and the British are among those targetted by terrorist organisations) and sub-standard workmanship of some of the venues and the athletes village, not to mention the fact that they will barely be completed on time. Some leading athletes have already pulled out of this event for one or all of the reasons mentioned above.

In recent years these negative factors have threatened to scuttle the Games at each successive city in which the Olympics were held and now it is happenning at the Commonwealth Games. Maybe the time has come when no single city will want to hold an event of this magnetude by themselves because of spiraling construction costs and security concerns.

So what do you think, are the days of the Olympic and Commonwealth games as we presently know them numbered?

And for you other members of the commonwealth out there are you getting excited about these games?

And if you are, how many gold medals will Australia eventually win by???? :smilies1722:

Cheers,
Dave

[Susan Unger]

I seem to recall one time someone suggesting that the Olympic games be only held in Greece. Due to spiraling building costs, that might not be a bad idea at least for the summer games.

[Ryan Scott]

I think its all about the disease of more. Each country feels inclined to outdo the previous host. Now with the magnitude and expense of the 2008 summer games in Beijing, I think things may have crested. London will not be able to compete with that exhibition, nor are the trying to do so.

One of the reasons the winter Olympics worked so well for so long was because they were generally held in remote ski towns. There were only so many accommodations to be made. Vancouver had a lot of expense because it's not really a winter city.

The committees may have to be more selective as to which locations receive a games and host nations will have to be prepared for less opulent and expensive projects. That might require changing the selection process, which is currently a battle over who can provide the biggest, most elaborate plan for the Games.

[Ian Gentles]

Terrorism threat is real

[Bill Morrison]

I am a philatelist, with a special appreciation for the stamps of British Commonwealth countries. These games (I believe held every four years like the Olympics) are accompanied by the issuance of some quite beautiful stamps by many of the Commonwealth nations involved.

BILL

[David Graham]

I am a philatelist, with a special appreciation for the stamps of British Commonwealth countries. These games (I believe held every four years like the Olympics) are accompanied by the issuance of some quite beautiful stamps by many of the Commonwealth nations involved.

BILL

Okay Bill I'll keep my eye open for Australian Stamps that celebrate the event and let you know if if get some..... I might be able to send you a few.

Blessings,
Dave

[David Graham]

I think its all about the disease of more. Each country feels inclined to outdo the previous host. Now with the magnitude and expense of the 2008 summer games in Beijing, I think things may have crested. London will not be able to compete with that exhibition, nor are the trying to do so.

One of the reasons the winter Olympics worked so well for so long was because they were generally held in remote ski towns. There were only so many accommodations to be made. Vancouver had a lot of expense because it's not really a winter city.

The committees may have to be more selective as to which locations receive a games and host nations will have to be prepared for less opulent and expensive projects. That might require changing the selection process, which is currently a battle over who can provide the biggest, most elaborate plan for the Games.

Ryan, I think that you've hit the nail on the head...... "outdoism" is a big part of the problem for sure.

[Roland Hearn]

Talking to my Indian security guard late Friday night/early Saturday morning I came to understand that the Indian people hope desperately that the world will see what they achieve in these games in a positive light. They feel like it reflects on their status as an emerging super power. Of course as many, if not more, Indians will be glued to the test cricket series going on between Australia and Inda at the moment.

I wonder, too, the extent to which Australia will dominate these games. Actually I think that for the first time in a few decades Australia may struggle to dominate but I hope that is not the case. Can you ever get tired of green and gold, boxing kangaroos, the Southern Cross and the lilting tones of "Advance Australia Fair?" Certainly Aussies can't get enough of it. So here is to more domination at the Commonwealth games and taking the now #1 Indian test team down a peg or two in the cricket.

[David Graham]

Can you ever get tired of green and gold, boxing kangaroos, the Southern Cross and the lilting tones of "Advance Australia Fair?" Certainly Aussies can't get enough of it. So here is to more domination at the Commonwealth games and taking the now #1 Indian test team down a peg or two in the cricket.

Hear, Hear, Roland......... More power to the "Green and Gold" at the Commonwealth Games as well as we regaining our "rightful" position as being number one in the Cricket. :ihe_cowboy:

On a serious note, however, I agree with those Indian Security Guards that you know, and hope that these games are a resounding success. India is an emerging Super Power and a vibrant (mostly stable) democracy that shares similar values to ourselves, including our passion for sport..... particularly Cricket. In an area of the world which is often plagued with religious sectarian violence, success in this "world" sporting event could mark another turning point in Indian and Asian Sub-continental societies to a greater level of personal freedom of the individual from the power of the sects and the sectarian leaders. Sport then in this sense has the potential to be a catalyst towards peace in a volatile region of the world.

[David Graham]

Well, we've made an impressive start after day one of the competition...... 4 Gold medals, and 2 silver.......

3 Gold won in the pool as we often expect, but our first Gold medal in the Gymnastics team event. I'm not sure if Australia is leading the competition after day one, but an excellent start nonetheless. Go the Green and Gold! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie...... Oi, Oi, Oi !

[David Graham]

Our count is up to 22 medals after day two, hey but who'se counting?!:tongue:

One downside is that another Austalian Silver medalist, was stripped of his medal after making a "rude" gesture to officials after the contest. Such acts of bad sportsmanship are never acceptable, and I hope that the man learns something from his penalty. Someone I once admired when a teenager, told me , that Character is more important than success. Thus I have more respect for the athlete who does his/her best, competes in the proper spirit of the games and wins or loses graciously, than the most talented athlete who is disrespectful of others.

[Ryan Scott]

I saw that India won its first gold in a pairs shooting event.

I also saw that India managed a miraculous comeback to take the first test. Sounds exciting.

[David Graham]

Yes I too am glad for India, but with regard to the Cricket, it appears that we've still got a bit more "team rebuilding" to do, and we're going to have to do it quickly if we are to reclaim the ashes from England next year.

[Roland Hearn]

I saw that India won its first gold in a pairs shooting event.

I also saw that India managed a miraculous comeback to take the first test. Sounds exciting.

It wasn't such a massive comeback as one of the all time great games that see-sawed backwards and forwards through the whole game. Right down to the last minutes anyone could win. India were on the ropes at one stage but they had smashed through the Australian batting in the second innings so it was really a champion effort on the Australian team side that had them in trouble. It was a game that gives you the reasons for watching cricket.

On the commonwealth games side of thing its - oh well it sure is hard to be humble...

[Marg Shurtliff]

Our count is up to 22 medals after day two, hey but who'se counting?!:tongue:

.

Heard on the news last night Canada had 2 gold and 5 bronze . I was surprised there wasn't more about the games.I really had to search for that bit .

[Roland Hearn]

Current medal tally: Australia 69 of which 32 are gold. Next closest India with 34 of which 14 are gold, England has 47 medals but only 12 gold.

[David Graham]

Why does it take officials 4 hours to make a decision. An Australian Lass in the 100 metre sprint, was "finally" stripped of her win because of a false start, but nothing was said to her until shortly before the Medal ceremony.

Apparently she also was concerned about her start and said so to her team officials. In an age of "high" technology, decisions should be able to be arrived at in minutes, not hours.

[David Graham]

So far the Gold medal winners at these games have come from the following Nations/ Semi Autonomous Territories:
Australia.... (32), India.... (14), England.... (12), Canada.... (11), South Africa..... (5), Nigeria.... (4), Malaysia.... (3), Singapore.... (2), Scotland.... (1), Kenya.... (1), Jamacia.... (1), Nauru.... (1), Uganda..... (1).

New Zealand is struggling to win Gold at this stage, but I'm hoping that they will score at least one Gold.

I'm also surprised that Pakistan has only won one medal so far..... a silver. I recognise that that the richer countries can spend a lot more money on sport and developing top level athletes, but there seems to be other factors at work, for one would be loathe to suggest, e.g. that Kenya was richer than Pakistan, and yet Kenya has won three times as many medals. They have also only a fraction of the population of Pakistan as well. So maybe there are other cultural factors in play here? Yet if that was the case, why is it that India is coming second on the medal tally when culturally, they have much in common?

So, what makes particular countries more successful in sport than others. In my country, sport is almost "innate" in the national psyche, and we love to do well at it. In fact I would suggest that we often measure our national successs by our success on the sporting field. (Particularly if we have just beaten England :ihe_cowboy:)

[Ryan Scott]

Way to go Nauru!

[Marg Shurtliff]

Just heard on the news that Canada is up to 39 medals now . 14 gold , 5 silver and 20 bronze .Go Canada!!!

[Roland Hearn]

The Canadians won the 1500 metres gold. For the first time in a couple of decades Australia has not had a dominating force in this event, not even placing. The 1500 metres has been our event for so long at every world championship that it is kind of distressing to not even take a place.

[Ryan Scott]

The Canadians won the 1500 metres gold. For the first time in a couple of decades Australia has not had a dominating force in this event, not even placing. The 1500 metres has been our event for so long at every world championship that it is kind of distressing to not even take a place.

He's talking about swimming folks, not track and field.

[Marg Shurtliff]

The Canadians won the 1500 metres gold. For the first time in a couple of decades Australia has not had a dominating force in this event, not even placing. The 1500 metres has been our event for so long at every world championship that it is kind of distressing to not even take a place.

Thanks for the update , Roland . It really is hard to get any news about it here . Certainly not individual events . What I posted was all I got and then only because I had it taped so could reverse it to get all the details. Rather surprising as to me it should be more important than that . But then hockey has started up again so here that is sooo important ,even if I don't agree . So anything you can share about what events Canada has done well in would be appreciated .
Sure is so different from the Olympics . Dedicated channel almost just for that .

[Marg Shurtliff]

OK , tonight's news says we're up to 50 medals now . 17 gold, 11 silver and 22 bronze but I have no idea what they are in as that is all they say .

[David Graham]

Our medal count at present...... 120
Gold: 56; Silver: 31; Bronz: 33

Our Kiwi Cousins now have two gold..... good for them.

[Marg Shurtliff]

9 more medals today to 59 . 22 gold ( 5 more today ) , 12 silver ,25 bronze .

[David Graham]

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie...... the Gold rush continues..... 61 so far and still 6 days to go.

Reality check....... will we do as well in the London Olympics with the "big guns" (i.e The USA, Germany & China) back in play..... Probably not..... but, you never know!

[Marg Shurtliff]

Our total medals have finally caught up to the Aussie golds ! We now have 66-- 23 golds , 15 silver and 28 bronze and stand 4th overall. I know Australia is first but who are 2nd and 3rd ? Roland ? David ?

[David Graham]

Second is India with 32 Gold (I think?), and third is England with 26 Gold

[Marg Shurtliff]

Tonight its 73 medals for Canada . 25 gold, 16 silver and 32 bronze .

[David Graham]

Well after a thrilling penalty shootout in the hockey, the Australian girls finally triumphed.

Our last count included 70 gold medals going into the last day today with Gold medal opportunities in the Men's hockey, and in the Netball.
There's a strong possibility that we could win both.

[Roland Hearn]

He's talking about swimming folks, not track and field.

Of course swimming Ryan, you mean there is some other form of individual races? Actually I don't think there is a 1500 metre run is there, I think it is 1600 - the old mile. But who uses miles anymore anyway?

[Roland Hearn]

Thanks for the update , Roland . It really is hard to get any news about it here . Certainly not individual events . What I posted was all I got and then only because I had it taped so could reverse it to get all the details. Rather surprising as to me it should be more important than that . But then hockey has started up again so here that is sooo important ,even if I don't agree . So anything you can share about what events Canada has done well in would be appreciated .
Sure is so different from the Olympics . Dedicated channel almost just for that .

There are five dedicated channels for the Commonwealth games - Australia loves its sport and particularly when we win. Which is why everyone is now watching the games rather than the cricket 'cause painfully India beat us and we are now for the first time in history in 5th spot in the world rankings. Only just a couple of points out of second but oh it hurts, it hurts.

[Ryan Scott]

Of course swimming Ryan, you mean there is some other form of individual races? Actually I don't think there is a 1500 metre run is there, I think it is 1600 - the old mile. But who uses miles anymore anyway?

If there's a 1600m track event, they only run it at the Commonwealth Games. The 1500 is the standard middle distance track event - often called "the metric mile."

[Marg Shurtliff]

Canada got a few more today . 75 total and we'll finish in 4th place (which we seem to have been throughout ) . 26 gold , 17 silver , and 32 bronze .

[David Graham]

Australia's final medal tally: 74 Gold, 55 Silver and 48 Bronze: 177 medals in total.

The teams that came from the British Isles, together won 1 more gold than us, which is a challenge to some of our Gold medal prospects at the London Olympics.... however, that is still two years away, and these games have been one step among many towards an adequate preparation for that event. My feeling is that come the Olympics we'll still "pip" the Brit's at the post when it comes to winning Gold.:ihe_cowboy:

[Roland Hearn]

The Brits did beat us last Olympics, they were so shaken up by our dominance in the last couple of Olympics they really tried to do something about it -good for them. While it may sound like there is a nationalcentricity in that comment the fact is the Brits love to beat us almost as much as we love to beat them. It's a mother/daughter relationship at high level of love/hate responsiveness.
I've just done a count myself and here is what I came up with
England: 37
Scotland: 9
Nth Ireland: 3
Wales:2
Isle of Man:0

That gives them a total of 51 - where are the other 25 gold? Am I looking at old numbers? Shouldn't be it is the CWG web site. Did I miss a couple of countries?

Anyway here is where it gets really interesting:
Australia 1 gold per .3 million head of population
Indian 1 gold per 38 million head of population
England 1 gold per 1.38 million head of population
Canada 1 gold per 1.31 million head of population
RSA 1 gold per 4.16 million head of population

We should declare ourselves the mother country to the Commonwealth ha ha ha ha (evil dominating laugh implied).

[Marg Shurtliff]

They are reporting that this is the first year in over 40 years we haven't made it into the top 3 . Haven't paid much asttention before but with Roland and David couldn't help it this year ! lol ! Seriously , thanks , guys .