Sports Commentary - The Challenges of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, UK

- April 20, 2020

By Dale Brown

Jamaica’s Women 4x100m Gold Medal at World Championship 2019, Doha, Qatar.

(l-r); Jonielle,Smith, Nataliah Whyte, Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson.

NEW YORK, NY. Monday, April 20, 2020 --- The World Championships were originally scheduled to take place in Eugene, Oregon, USA, from August 6 to August 15, 2021. Due to the COVID- 19 related postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games from this summer to July 23 to August 8, 2021, the World Championships had to be rescheduled.

The World Championships are now slated to be held from July 14 to July 24, 2022.

Now, these new dates have created an interesting challenge. The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to start on July 27, 2022, just three days after the conclusion of the World Championships.

Athletes from the 54 Commonwealth of Nations, plus those from dependent territories who compete at the Commonwealth Games, find themselves in a complicated situation because of the short turnaround between Games.

Solution

World Athletics formerly known as IAAF, after consultation with Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games organizers, announced that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), plans to stage the athletics events toward the end of the Games.

This move would allow athletes who competed at the World Championships in Eugene, a little more time to acclimatize after the transatlantic trip from Oregon, USA, to Birmingham, England. They would also have additional time to recover and compete without additional risk of injuries.

Not so fast

What about the athletes? Despite the efforts of both organizations to address the concerns, there is a risk of the withdrawal of several top athletes. The absence of the superstar athletes would definitely remove most of the ‘gloss’ from the Commonwealth Games.

Can you imagine superstars such as Shelly – Ann Fraser- Pryce (Jamaica) and Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bahamas), not competing at the games? It would be disastrous for the Birmingham hosts not to have Dina Asher – Smith (GB) and Katarina Johnson- Thompson (GB), not available for their show piece event.

This could be a strong possibility, if they decided not to compete in the Commonwealth Games after the World Championships.

The Money Trail and Incentives

The World Championships provides athletes with an opportunity to earn much needed prize money.

The prize money for the individual finalists at the 2019 World Championships was distributed in this manner:

Gold Medal - $60,000, Silver- $30,000 - Bronze- $20,000 - 4^th $15,000,

5^th $10,000 – 6^th$6,000 – 7^th$5,000 – 8^th $4,000

The relay teams are also compensated. (Per Team) Gold $80,000- Silver $40,000- Bronze $20,000- 4^th $16,000 – 5^th $12,000 – 6^th $8,000 – 7^th $6,000 and 8^th $4,000

The professional athletes also earn bonuses from their respective sponsors depending on the bonus clause in their contracts for winning medals.

By comparison, the Commonwealth Games does not offer any prize money to the athletes. Sponsors like Puma, Nike or Adidas may offer bonuses. However, these bonuses are much less than the ones offered for the World Championships.

In short, there is no financial incentive for the star professional athletes to participate with the Commonwealth Games following so closely after the World Championship.

Jamaican Concerns

It is therefore unrealistic and even unfair for the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), at this stage cautioning athletes not to be preferential when they make their plans for the 2022 season. The primary goal for any ambitious athlete is to compete at the global events with the Olympics occupying pride of place and the World Championships, an uncontested second in the order of Track and Field life.

Potential Beneficiaries

These are early days yet. Let us consider the possible concerns of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA). If the Jamaican superstars are unavailable for the Commonwealth Games in 2022, then the JAAA will have no choice but to select the best available athletes.

Silver lining

At the completion of the Jamaica National Championships (Trials), the World Championship team would have to be named earlier than usual and the selected athletes should then be required to declare their availability for the Commonwealth Games.

The absence of the established stars would present the younger, inexperienced athlete with an unexpected opportunity to compete against possibly more seasoned athletes.

Let us be realistic and hope that the athletes will take advantage of all opportunities which will be presented to them.

This silver lining may turn out to be a blessing for the sport of Track and Field in that it accelerates the grooming of the up and coming young stars.

Jamaica’s Men 4x100m Gold Medal winners at Rio Olympics 2016, Brazil.

(l-r); Yohan Blake, Nickel Ashmeade, Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt.

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Editor’s note: Dale Brown is sports historian and co-host of the sports talk show SECOND BASE, aired on Tuesdays at 7-8 pm (DST), on the Wee Radio Network at; www.weeradioonline.com.