Commonwealth Games

[D Mitchell]

Re: Commonwealth Games

[QUOTE=EasternWest;859448]God I love some of the directions you take. Please never stop.

Humbled, really humbled. Thankyou, EW. It's the wonder of our Age that things that excited us in our youth are instantly available. I agree with you about the Opposition, If you stand, EW, count on my vote. This is a good place.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Commonwealth Games

I anticipate the union is already planning on ways to make a claim for our share of the 5.62 billion saved.

I for one look forward to purchasing my second Bentley.

How are you meant to get to work quickly to respond to a job with only two Bentleys? This government has warped priorities. We are not safe!

[D Mitchell]

Re: Commonwealth Games

It looks like the Australian girl , Georgia Griffiths, got through in Heat 1 Womens 1,500. Men's 100 m dash upcoming, it'll be the heats, always worth watching. Another, ? Hull in Heat 2.

[D Mitchell]

Re: Commonwealth Games

She came in 2nd, looked untroubled. 4.06.92. Tha Australian girl got through in Heat 3, too

[Jasper]

Re: Commonwealth Games

Loss.

There's no defending it by saying "better than 6 billion". That's revisionist history that could go back to "better if Daniel Andrews parents never met" (which is silly and I don't think it but where do you stop.)

Every now and then it's ok to say the side you're on got one wrong. And they did on this.

Im as staunch labour voter as there is but anyone trying to spin a 380 million write off in a positive light rivals the Iraqi information minister back in the dessert storm storm days. There are no winners here and we have all taken a whack.

[whythelongface]

Re: Commonwealth Games

It's a substantial number isn't it to not get anything return?
Spread that money around some regional towns and wonderful things could be built.

Has another venue for the Games been located yet?
It would be a shame to lose the games all together.

No it wouldn?t. The Commonwealth Games are a joke and should be scrapped- waste of money and waste of time. Good riddance I say.

[whythelongface]

Re: Commonwealth Games

She came in 2nd, looked untroubled. 4.06.92. Tha Australian girl got through in Heat 3, too

All three got through. Love the World Athletic Championships- pity most finals are own at some ungodly hour.

[Dogs 24/7]

Re: Commonwealth Games

I love you BAD, but sometimes you need to take the L.

Absolute howler from the Government.

If I come home from a trip to the Pokies and said to the missus that I lost $300 but she should look on the bright side because I had $500 in my wallet as fair minded as my lovely wife is Im likely to be sleeping on the fold out
The it could have been worse argument at this financial level is a nonsense.

[D Mitchell]

Re: Commonwealth Games

No it wouldn?t. The Commonwealth Games are a joke and should be scrapped- waste of money and waste of time. Good riddance I say.

Even the Olympics are usually run at a loss on paper but make economic sense when you factor in temporary boost to parts of the economy and international prestige. Logic suggests that indirect benefits would be significantly less for the C'wealth Games. Melbourne should have been able to afford it. If its a failure because of the Games themselves, then they will inevitably disappear or a different model for funding emerge. If failure is because of Government misadventure, then the Games will survive. Budding athletes and the value of the Commonwealth of Nations will be real losers should the Games disappear.

[whythelongface]

Re: Commonwealth Games

Even the Olympics are usually run at a loss on paper but make economic sense when you factor in temporary boost to parts of the economy and international prestige. Logic suggests that indirect benefits would be significantly less for the C'wealth Games. Melbourne should have been able to afford it. If its a failure because of the Games themselves, then they will inevitably disappear or a different model for funding emerge. If failure is because of Government misadventure, then the Games will survive. Budding athletes and the value of the Commonwealth of Nations will be real losers should the Games disappear.

Commonwealth Games does not make economic sense. Little benefit these days for Cities hosting the event. As for the athletes sure there will be losers but there are many other pathways to showcase their talents on the world stage. Regional events I get eg Oceania games or something like that but an event just for nations of the Commonwealth (including those that now have independence) makes zero sense. You may as well have the alphabet games ie those countries that begin with the letter ‘A’ etc compete against each other. About the same relevance.

[D Mitchell]

Re: Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games does not make economic sense. Little benefit these days for Cities hosting the event. As for the athletes sure there will be losers but there are many other pathways to showcase their talents on the world stage. Regional events I get eg Oceania games or something like that but an event just for nations of the Commonwealth (including those that now have independence) makes zero sense. You may as well have the alphabet games ie those countries that begin with the letter ‘A’ etc compete against each other. About the same relevance.

Oceania or Alphabet games would face the same economic issue the C'wealth Games face. Retaining a competition to which young athletes can aspire is really valuable to them. The Commonwealth is different, it brings together nations which lack regional, alphabetic, economic even political commonality and non confrontationist. In an increasingly polarised world, there's value in that.

[Sedat]

Re: Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth is different, it brings together nations which lack regional, alphabetic, economic even political commonality and non confrontationist. In an increasingly polarised world, there's value in that.

Only in the lead-up to an election so you can dust off the hard hat and hi-viz to make an announcement to your regional constituents that you have absolutely no intention of honouring.

[EasternWest]

Re: Commonwealth Games

Only in the lead-up to an election so you can dust off the hard hat and hi-viz to make an announcement to your regional constituents that you have absolutely no intention of honouring.

And don't forget "have your acolytes nodding their head behind you".

[D Mitchell]

Re: Commonwealth Games

Only in the lead-up to an election so you can dust off the hard hat and hi-viz to make an announcement to your regional constituents.

Very astute, Sedat. In 1998, the Kennett government first expressed an interest in hosting the 2006 C'wealth Games, on your analysis, with the 1999 elections in mind. The only other interested City was Wellington which pulled out, Melbourne last man standing. If so, it didn't work, the ALP won in 1999. The 2006 Games were brilliant, Wikipedia contains a better eulogy than I ever could. Again on your analysis, State elections in 2022 so the Andrews' government bid for the 2026 Games, arguably it worked. Sharing your suspicion, beyond mere re election imperative, of the motivation of State politicians, Bracks ran good governments.

[MrMahatma]

Re: Commonwealth Games

Oceania or Alphabet games would face the same economic issue the C'wealth Games face. Retaining a competition to which young athletes can aspire is really valuable to them. The Commonwealth is different, it brings together nations which lack regional, alphabetic, economic even political commonality and non confrontationist. In an increasingly polarised world, there's value in that.

I dunno. There's also a cost.

I gotta say, I'm not a comm games fan at all. Didn't go to any of the GC games even though it was relatively close to home. Went to 3 WWC matches though. Much more interesting.