No one wants the Commonwealth games

The Commonwealth games have been abandoned by the city of Victoria, as the Australians say it is too expensive. Malaysia and Singapore politely declined the chance to take them on, and it is now being suggested the Glasgow step in to take them over.

It will, of course, like all international jamborees of this sort done for tuppence ha’penny, be a roaring success, make a profit and unite the Commonwealth.

But this is now getting to the stage where you have to ask, who is fooling whom?

If the only country willing to pay up to host the Commonwealth games is the UK, what does it say about the Commonwealth itself? Not much.

After all, several members are really very wealthy, Canada, Australia and even New Zealand could easily afford the huge losses involved, or should that be the triumphant and profitable celebration of the young sporting talents of the former Empire? They won’t because they don’t think the games are worth the candles. They are not alone.

India is a new superpower and could do it with one hand tied behind its back, Pakistan would be insulted if you said they couldn’t manage it easily too and doubtless South Africa and Kenya and several other countries could make a very good job of it.

But, and here is the rub, none of them seems to be stepping forward to take up the baton. Is that because they cannot really afford it or because they don’t think it is worth it?

The Commonwealth is a nice talking shop which kept going so long, I think, out of deference to HM the Queen, who was widely admired for her ability to navigate the minefield of post-colonial independence and her obvious commitment and devotion to her foreign realms.

But the idea that the Commonwealth is going to get stronger is a joke, the idea, touted by some of the nuttier Brexit types that it is somehow a replacement for the EU is absurd. We have left the EU without another major organisation to support or lead. Dreams of Empire, which died in the 1940s, have done their worst and led to this.

At least one ex colony is on the way to becoming a superpower that will soon overtake the UK, many of the others are now significant regional powers. But they are not looking to the UK for leadership or anything else, nor is there any reason why they should.

That is what the problems with the Commonwealth games tell us. We should stop fooling ourselves and pay attention.

You can read more from Jonty on Substack at Jonty’s Jottings