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“Writing might be on the wall”: Why the Commonwealth Games isn’t viable
Sport Nation • July 27th, 2026 4:34 pm
Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini scored at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
The future of the Commonwealth Games has come under fresh scrutiny, with questions being raised over the event’s relevance, cost and ability to capture fan interest.
Sports commentator Lavina Good believes the Games' challenges extend beyond hosting issues, pointing to a broader disconnect between fans and the competition itself.
The event dropped a number of sports in 2026, including rugby sevens, field hockey, cricket (T20), badminton, table tennis, squash, diving, triathlon and beach volleyball, with Glasgow’s scaled-back edition featuring only 10 sports.
“I always want to cheer on a Kiwi. I really do. It means the world to me, but the programme's reduced to 10 sports.”
Kiwi divers Arno Lee and Luke Peter Sipkes competed in the 2022 Commonwealth Games | Photo: Darren England/Photosport
Good also noted some of the world's leading athletes are choosing alternative events that offer stronger fields and greater prestige.
“You think about these athletes that are representing their country and it means the world to them but then you think about other athletes like Summer McIntosh, the best swimmer in the world that has said, I won't go to the Commonwealth Games, I'll go to the Pan Pacific Championships instead because it's more competitive.”
And for participating nations, the costs associated with sending athletes, coaches, managers and support staff can be substantial. Good says those investments must be weighed against the value generated by the event.
“It comes down to I guess a nation saying, can we afford to send a whole team to the Commonwealth Games plus a chef de mission plus managers for each of the 10 sports and are we reaping the rewards of it?
White Ferns Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine celebrate a win at the 2022 Commonwealth Games | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
“I think the writing might be on the wall because globally, we can't afford to hold these events unless they're repeated at the same venue over and over again.
“I don't think it would even matter if New Zealand was at the top of the table... I just feel as though people are understanding that it's not the very best in the world.” she explained.
She believes the key to the event's revival is public interest, but at the moment, it's little.
“The only way you can justify that and measure that is through fan engagement and from what I can tell and from what I've been told that the fan engagement actually isn't there.
Kiwi vollyballer Bradley Fuller at the 2022 Commonwealth Games | Photo: Dave Hunt/Photosport
“I've struggled to get engaged with the Commonwealth Games, maybe it's post-FIFA, maybe I'm post-depressed that the football's over, I'm not sure.
“So it's my own personal opinion, but I just feel as though the engagement isn't there and as a result of that, discussions will need to be made whether or not we as a nation want to continue to support it and invest funds and resources into it.”
Listen to the full interview below:
