Commonwealth Games vice-president challenges Daniel Andrews's version of Games decision
Commonwealth Games vice-president challenges Daniel Andrews's version of Games decision
Commonwealth Games Federation vice-president Kereyn Smith questions Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews's integrity over his decision to axe the 2026 Games.
It wasn't the best way to do it and I do feel sorry for athletes that won't get a shot at competing but honestly I couldn't give less of a shit about the Commonwealth Games and whether it was a billion or three billion it would be better spent elsewhere.
Then they shouldn’t have bid on it in the first place. Once you’ve been awarded something like this, it’s an embarrassing dick-move to back out.
Embarrassing, yes... and yet still the only option.
They didn’t, no one wanted to do it and Vic was asked
Focusing on the Games and/or the money is missing the real story I think. The version of events being given here is pretty damning of the Victorian Government and suggests serious issues with its communication and organisation.
I think it's clear as day that this is a money issue. The VIC Commonwealth Games has been projected to cost six times more than the Gold Coast and Birmingham Games. It's also about same price as the 2032 QLD Olympic budget.
Being int he same ballpark as the Summer Olympics is outrageous and Victoria joins a very long list of governments that have planned to host the games and then withdrawn. And if the Commonwealth Games tries to make that withdrawal process as painful as it appears they're going to, that will make future governments even more reluctant to touch the games.
Why would Daniel Andrews do this‽
Seriously the media has such a hard on for trying to discredit him for the most pathetic things.
In cancelling the Games, Premier Daniel Andrews said he felt the 2026 event would be too expensive and that money could go towards essential services, like hospitals and schools.
He said hosting the Games was "all costs and no benefit".
The fucking monster, how did he not care about how this career event organiser would feel about her event being cancelled.
Trying to cast Dan Andrews as being anti-inclusivity for the decision is an interesting strategy.
"Gender equality for inclusivity, for seeing disabled athletes, and for demonstration of pride and heritage and culture," Ms Smith said. "I'm not sure that all of those things were at the front of his mind."
"I was incredibly impressed when I was in Victoria, with some of the First Nations planning, you know, and, and the reconciliation work and how those communities were going to be involved in a global event and the excitement and inspiration. That's what I thought that Victoria had signed up for."
Frankly, this is just a bad look. Reconciliation efforts aren't inspiration porn, marginalised communities are not weapons to be wielded for disappointment over sporting events. No matter how poorly handled the cancellation.
Yeah I noticed that. Weird take.
How dare you not spend $7b to make minorities feel more included.
Australia loves its sportswashing, so I guess it should come as no surprise the rest of the world has a warped view of the reality here.
I'm not really sure what this woman has to say.
Ok she's gutted because she no longer has a committee to run, but beyond that there's no new news here.
As recently as June the Games were supposedly on track. A month later, the board was informed that they would be cancelled - just one hour before the public announcement was made. Some co-signatories were not notified at all.
I'm not really sure what you're getting at.
Everyone was informed, just not in a manner that made them feel respected.
What if they'd messed around for a month making sure everyone felt respected before announcing, world that have made it any better?