I’m one of these people who every four years, vacillates over the value of the Commonwealth Games.

‘They’re outdated!’ I think, before the competition starts.

‘They’re a relic of the past!’

‘What’s the point in sending our best athletes to a global competition that's missing 130 countries?’

But then, truthfully, the competition begins and inevitably, I lean in. A couple of golds in a couple of unlikely sports, and all of a sudden I’m sold again.

The Commonwealth Games are the Homebrand Olympics. But truthfully, it’s the fact the  Commonwealth Games always seemed a bit budgo that makes them so fun. Our athletes get to experience the bonding and camaraderie of a Games Village without the same intensity and pressure of the Olympics. And for sports like netball, lawn bowls and squash- which aren’t played at the Olympics- it’s a really massive occasion.

That being said, how many of New Zealand’s 20 gold medallists from last year’s games can you name off the top of your head? And how many of us, if unprompted, can even remember where the games were held?

Victoria’s right. Hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games is not worth $6 or $7 billion. It follows in the footsteps of Durban, which pulled out of hosting last year’s games because of financial pressures.

In an age where so many different things compete for our attention, justifying the cost of hosting an event like the Commonwealth Games is going to get more and more difficult. I suspect it’ll get harder and harder for cities to justify all manner of events, even the Olympics. 

That leaves two options, I reckon.

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The first is that you could host the games in one city, every four years. London being the obvious choice.

The second is that in 2030- the Centenary Commonwealth Games- the Commonwealth associations pull together for one last great hurrah. Host it in Hamilton, Ontario, the same place as they hosted the very first games in 1930. Put on an almighty show, a Commonwealth Games for the ages. And make it the last.

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