Cut the nonsense: CWG must be laid to rest

The Commonwealth Games (CWG), once celebrated as a unifying event for countries tied to the British Empire, are now facing a precarious future. After Victoria, Australia, pulled out due to escalating costs, Glasgow has agreed to take on the 2026 edition, but with a meager offering of just 10 sports. This situation has sparked serious questions about the event’s relevance. Is it time to consider putting the CWG to bed for good? Initially launched in the 1930s as the British Empire Games, the event was intended to project strength and cohesion among the colonies at a time when the British Empire was fading.

Rebranded as the CWG in 1978, it has since failed to evolve beyond its colonial roots. As former colonies and Commonwealth nations move on from their past, the relevance of such an event seems more tenuous than ever. Recent editions of the CWG have faced a series of setbacks, with top-tier athletes frequently sitting out to prioritize more prestigious competitions like the Olympics, World Championships, and regional events such as the Asian Games. This lack of participation from the sport’s biggest names has diminished the competitive standard. For instance, sprint legend Usain Bolt skipped the 2010 Delhi Games, Malaysia’s badminton icon Lee Chong Wei was absent in 2014, and Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra missed out in 2022. Without its star power, the CWG struggles to capture fan interest or media attention, making it harder to justify its existence. The removal of key sports such as wrestling, shooting, badminton, table tennis, and hockey from the Glasgow-hosted edition further highlights the disconnect between the CWG and its most engaged participants.

India, the Commonwealth’s largest economy, loses significant medal prospects with these exclusions, further dampening enthusiasm. With no major benefits and increasing costs, why should nations continue to participate? As colonial history recedes and new global alliances emerge, the CWG feels like a relic of the past, trying to maintain relevance in a world that has moved on. The fanfare, the sense of competition, and the grandeur that once surrounded the event have all but faded.

For Glasgow, the decision to host a smaller, stripped-down version of the Games may address some financial concerns, but it does nothing to solve the deeper issue: the CWG has lost its place in the modern sporting world. The CWG has ceased to be relevant and should be axed without any ifs and buts. With more prestigious and impactful sports events taking center stage, the CWG has become an unnecessary burden. Continuing to uphold this outdated competition only drains valuable resources. Nations should redirect their focus to events that align with the modern sports world. It’s time to end the CWG for good.