IS it time for the Commonwealth Games to be permanently removed from the international sporting calendar?<\/p>\n
With the fallout continuing from the Victorian\u2019s Government decision to back out of hosting the event in 2026, many have questioned its future within the international sporting landscape.<\/p>\n
Despite being a raging success in years gone past, public and media interest has dwindled from the last two events.<\/p>\n
The declining interest along with a significant cost to host the games saw then Premier Daniel Andrews cancel his state\u2019s hosting rights, leaving the event in purgatory just over two years away from the proposed start.<\/p>\n
With no secured future for the next two games, Australia\u2019s richest person Gina Rinehart has publicly declared her interest in putting on a \u2018coast-to-coast\u2019 event, with Gold Coast and Perth as the two host cities.<\/p>\n
Despite this, former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Simon Orchard admitted he would be in favour of the event being permanently scrapped.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great nursery for younger athletes to develop ahead of an Olympic games,\u201d Orchard said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I can\u2019t help but say I think it\u2019s past its prime and it\u2019s time to go for the Commonwealth Games, that\u2019s my thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got two [Commonwealth Games gold medals] and this isn\u2019t me big-noting but that\u2019s not what I go to first.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot that I\u2019m a big spruiker of my own horn but that\u2019s not what I lead with if I tell people what I achieve, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Orchard said he believes the game\u2019s time is up, he revealed his confidence in the Reinhart-backed proposal to be a success in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cI reckon it\u2019s a great way to capture two totally different audiences, I know Basil Zempilas [Perth mayor] is big on this, he would absolutely love it,\u201d Orchard said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerth has a new hockey stadium going in, they can host [that], Gold Coast is a party town, I\u2019d be putting my hand up to get a media ticket.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it can definitely work, if Gina Reinhart is adamant that she can put the money in I\u2019m not going to stop because I know there\u2019s a lot of people who still enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n