Inclusion is the future as sun goes down on the ‘Golden Games’
gold coast — A diverse and contemporary ceremony of music, lights and dance with the words and imagery of indigenous Australia very much at its heart brought an end to the XXI Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
Organisers signed off with the uncontroversial assertion that they had delivered the best possible environment for the athletes from 71 mostly former British colonies to showcase their skills over 11 sunkissed days in the beachside city.
“You have delivered a truly Golden Games for the Commonwealth,” Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Louise Martin said.
“A Games of innovation, inspiration, colour and vibrancy with an exuberant Gold Coast buzz — embracing us all with your warmth and friendship.”
For a CGF constantly fighting the perception that a multi-sport event which sprung from the British Empire is an anachronism, there was confidence that the movement was firmly on the path back to relevancy.
The Gold Coast Games were the first with an equal number of gold medals for men’s and women’s events, included 38 events in a fully integrated Paralympic programme and welcomed a highprofile transgender athlete.
“Inclusion is the Commonwealth Games’ future, it’s what makes us extraordinary,” said organising committee chairman Peter Beattie.
“From its beginnings ... the Games were always designed to be more than just a sporting spectacle. They are a way for us to come together and share what we have in common.”
The CGF were keen to emphasise a greater diversity of medal winners with 43 nations taking at least one and the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands all winning their first.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Anne Underwood, accepted the movement’s flag ahead of their hosting of the next version of the Games in 2022 and their segment of the closing ceremony reflected the diversity of the industrial British city.
“While we can’t promise you the sun, sand and sea of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, we can offer you youth, energy, creativity and a love of sport,” she said.
The closing ceremony came under immediate fire, not least from the presenters on Australian broadcasting rights holders Channel Seven, for sidelining the athletes and spending too much time on long-winded speeches.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate was among the dignitaries who might have cut his contribution shorter after his pithy opening line.
“Gold Coast — you were AWESOME,” he said. —