Not worth the trouble

THERE is nothing “common” about the Commonwealth Games.

The multi-discipline event features some 5,000 athletes from 74 countries that were once part of the British Empire.

Held every four years, the Games were once viewed as a prestigious event, second only to the Olympics.

But that was in the past when countries were queuing up to play host. The Commonwealth Games has lost its lustre.

The Games has been mired in controversy in recent times. Many of the world’s top sportspeople choose to skip the Games for other more prestigious events and this has devalued the competition.

Birmingham, the last host of the Games in 2022, was a last-minute replacement host after Durban was stripped of the event in 2017.

The UK government had to step in to bail out the Games because it coincided with the Queen’s jubilee. This bailout cost the British taxpayers almost £600mil.

But the main reason why the Games are no longer viewed as a tier one event is because of the spiralling costs associated with hosting such a gargantuan sport.

The 2026 Games is just two years away, but the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has yet to find a host because two Australian states – first Victoria and then the Gold Coast – withdrew their bids as host nations.

And the reason? The 2026 version is expected to cost a whopping RM21bil. No host country can hope to recoup such a massive outlay even if there is the promise of job creation and an economic multiplier.

It is no surprise then that other Commonwealth countries are not rushing to play host to the 2026 edition. It is a surprise though that Malaysia is actually considering doing so.

The CGF has offered us a sweetener to the tune of RM600mil to host the Games, to “support the local delivery and legacy planning”.

No small potatoes, but where are we going to get the balance of RM20bil?

Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has announced that the Cabinet would be discussing the issue and decide next week.

Let us hope saner heads prevail because whichever way you look at it, it would be a huge drain on the country’s resources now especially in these tough economic times.

In fact, it is utter madness that we are even considering this.

The proposal to host the 2026 edition was mooted by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM). Its president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria revealed that the Commonwealth Games Association Malaysia (CGA) and the CGF have been in discussions regarding the opportunity for Malaysia to host the Games.

“The last time Malaysia hosted the Commonwealth Games was in 1998, thus CGA Malaysia is of the opinion that the Government of Malaysia should consider this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – and the associated support and financial investment – which will build on the success of Kuala Lumpur 1998 and put Malaysia back onto the world sporting map,” he said.

He added that the hosting will involve minimal government spending and bring significant socio-economic benefits to the country.

I beg to differ.

Yes, the 1998 Games was a source of huge pride for all Malaysians back then. It is still the single largest sporting event this country has witnessed. But till today, we still do not know how much was spent or lost on the 1998 Games.

Even Sukom 98 Berhad – the company set up to organise the Games – has undergone voluntary liquidation.

If the 1998 version, with a much lower cost, incurred huge losses, what can we expect from the 2026 edition?

So, “minimal government spending” and “significant socio-economic benefits” ring hollow in the midst of the nation tightening its purse strings. It just does not make any sense to splurge on a “syok sendiri” exercise that will cost the Malaysian taxpayer dearly.

Even before the Cabinet has discussed this proposal, another minister has jumped on the bandwagon.

Lauding the fact that Malaysia was offered the chance to host the Games, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming posted on social media site X that the move showed that the country was increasingly respected on the world stage.

He then asked his followers if they supported this offer to host. The answers were predictable and swift. Rejected overwhelmingly by netizens, a sampling of the derisive and witty responses can be viewed on X.

It is clear that even if the Government were to undertake a larger poll – the answer would be a resounding no to this ludicrous proposal.

It would be better for the Sports Ministry and the OCM to focus on grassroots development. Spend the money on developing future world class talents like Azizulhasni Awang, Lee Chong Wei and Nicol David.

It is through nurturing talents such as these that will put us back on the world sporting map. Not hosting a Games that frankly does not have a future in this present format.