Should Commonwealth Games Be Replaced By An 'olympics Lite'?

[mfw]

The Commonwealth games seem a little outdated to me, however, the concept of 'in-between-olympics' games is still appealing, so how could we update it?

If I was an athlete ascending the ladder of competition I would want to compete:
- Locally
- Nationally
- Regionally (e.g. Oceania)
- Globally (against the best in the world)

With this view the Comm games is clearly in no-mans land and outdated. I was thinking about an Olympics Lite concept, this could be an event with cut down cost and size, including only the primary events e.g. Athletics, Cycling, Swimming, Rowing, Weight lifting. So athletes would still get to compete against the best in the world.

Comments? If you give me feedback I will promise to pass it on to Hon. Michael Fennell OJ, CD (Commonwealth Secretariat).

[XCguy]

I think you should run it yourself... mfw taking his leaderboards to the world

[E Dogg Capizzle]

The Olympics are an outdated concept too. I think it's about time we got over our obsession with competitive sport and focused on things that actually matter. Like wet t-shirt nights and cheap booze.

[Bigfoot]

Don't forget competitive eating

[j2hyde]

The problem with the Olympics is it's lost it's roots. I'd be happy to watch a bevvy of adonis types, naked, lathered in olive oil, engaging in herculean feats of ancient origin, to be rewarded with nothing but glory and a laurel wreath.

But I don't give a stuff about some overhyped, made for TV, advertising fest in Beijing or London or wherever. Same goes for the commonwealth games and the rugby world cup.

[znomit]

Galactic games FTW

[danose]

The problem with the Olympics is it's lost it's roots. I'd be happy to watch a bevvy of adonis types, naked, lathered in olive oil, engaging in herculean feats of ancient origin, to be rewarded with nothing but glory and a laurel wreath.

and of course they'd have to be involved in PROPER 'sport' - i.e. there has to be a significant risk of loss of life or limb as a penalty for failure. Hence boxing, wrestling and most of the field events will be fine - but we'll be letting shoals of piranhas loose in the pool to keep the aquatic events honest (might finally make synchronised swimming worth watching )

[happybaboon]

You want a real risk of a loss of life? Easy. Just run all of the events in the landing area for the javelins and discuses

[wuffy]

You want a real risk of a loss of life? Easy. Just run all of the events in the landing area for the javelins and discuses

OR you could go even more danerous and have it in Delhi...

oh wait...

[snr_merv]

I think it's good that some countries of common heritage get together and play sports that are common to them that aren't necessarily in the Olympics. Nobody gets hurt (unless the venue is totally bungled like India at the moment... ), and people enjoy themselves, sweet as. Do something with your spare time other than mindlessly watching whatever is on TV if you don't like it Note: couldn't give a shit about watching it personally, but that doesn't mean I think it should be scrapped.

[j2hyde]

Why is everyone dissing India? Haven't you seen 20/20 cricket? Cheerleaders on mini stages spread around the front of the stands performing all match. I tells ya they're onto something.

[FLATULENTFRIEND]

Scrap the Commy games(I know, it's happening as we speak ).
No one can even agree on a definition of what a Çommonwealth country is these days.

[Henry Dorset Case]

Scrap the Commonwealth games. It was epic fail after they re named it from the Empire Games.

Now the Empire Games are cool as hell. As long as it was the Klingon Empire.

[j2hyde]

Nonsense. Zimbabwe is the clearly the quintessential example of a commonwealth country

[FLATULENTFRIEND]

Scrap the Commonwealth games. It was epic fail after they re named it from the Empire Games.

Now the Empire Games are cool as hell. As long as it was the Klingon Empire.

"Scrape them off Captain..." (this is NOT a comment on the state of the toilets at the Games accomodation )