It’s not the team with the best players that win. It’s the players with the best team that wins.
– Inspirational Quotes
WE, in Malaysia, do not pay much attention to the Commonwealth Games in general and there is not much conversation about it. Until recently, that is.
I don’t think I have ever written about the Commonwealth Games or even mentioned it in passing, not even when a Malaysian had won a gold medal at the Games.
Yes, I can recall that some of our badminton players had won gold at the Commonwealth Games in the past but there was no talk of a million ringgit reward, unlike that for an Olympic gold.
While the Commonwealth Games may not receive as much global attention as events like the Olympics, it must also be said that they remain relevant and meaningful in promoting sports, cultural exchange, and cooperation among Commonwealth nations.
And possibly, these are the reasons why Malaysia is now talking about hosting the 2026 edition of the Commonwealth Games. But there are also voices against hosting the event in Kuala Lumpur and their reasons are not invalid too.
Perhaps for the uninitiated, it’s fair for a little recap of what the Commonwealth and Commonwealth Games are about.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent countries, almost all of which were formerly under British rule.
The origins of the Commonwealth come from Britain’s former Empire. Many of the members of the Commonwealth were territories which had historically come under British rule at various times by settlement, conquest or cession. Malaysia was also a former British colony.
The Commonwealth Games is a major international multi-sport event held every four years, featuring athletes from countries that are part of the Commonwealth.
The Games contribute to diplomatic relations and collaboration between Commonwealth nations. They provide a platform for governments and sports organisations to engage in dialogue, cooperation, and the promotion of mutual interests.
Perhaps the most significant motivation for hosting such an international event is the expected economic benefits for the host city and country. It stimulates tourism, infrastructure development, job creation, and the growth of local businesses, contributing to the overall economy.
However, that is not always the case. Unfortunately, as talks get underway of Malaysia’s expressed intention of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, a dark chapter of the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur has resurfaced.
(On record, Malaysia was the first Asian country to host the Commonwealth Games 28 years ago.)
After the Games, there were continuous calls from civil society leaders and opposition politicians to Sukom 98 Berhad, the organisers of the 1998 Games, for the accounts of the Games to be made public.
For years, it never did until the audited statement of accounts, which was closed at the end of 2002, saw the company posting a loss of RM11.6 million, according to a report. However, this was just the tip of the iceberg.
BBC even reported then: “Malaysia is the first Asian nation to hold the games, and the organisers were already facing financial problems because of the region’s economic slowdown. Budgets for the opening and closing ceremonies have been slashed.”
Among other things that went wrong were a protracted dispute with the ticketing agent that went to court, the Carlsberg controversy, the money spent on thousands of colourful blazers for officials and delegates, and others.
Instead of an economic impact, Malaysia went through an economic disaster with Sukom 98. It’s understandable if opponents of the 2026 Games do not have much confidence in the government to organise international events at home successfully. Somehow, we seem to foul up, and all too often!
Then, there are other valid reasons why people are not keen to see Malaysia hosts the 2026 Games. One is the attire of athletes which will surely arouse negative reactions from the “Green Wave”.
Additionally, will athletes from countries that did not condemn the atrocities of Israel be harassed?
These are pertinent questions that must be asked and seriously pondered upon by the organisers.
Happily, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was wise enough to ensure that the government scrutinises the details and obtains the views of all parties, before making a final decision on the offer to host the 2026 Games.
The PM said that he had requested information from Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, the National Sports Council and other relevant parties.
“We have to look in detail first. Look at it as the whole before making a final decision,” he added.
Seriously, I’m now thinking of penning a message to Yeoh, suggesting that the Sports Ministry shoot down the proposal to host the Games.
Why? At this point, Malaysia is just not “in the right frame of mind” to showcase anything of significance to the outside world.
We have a lot of unfinished business and problems to resolve at home. If we go ahead, Sukom 2026 will likely be worse than Sukom ’98.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
