Tayler’s time a bygone era

Dick Tayler. Christchurch. 1974. To New Zealand’s older citizens it remains an unforgettable moment, not only in the history of the Commonwealth Games, but of sport. Almost as one, we threw our arms into the air to celebrate with Tayler as he jumped for joy and then collapsed in euphoric exhaustion at the end of a stunning 10,000m win.

There have been many more Commonwealth golds in many more stadiums around the world since then. Some have been equally dramatic and inspiring: golds in sevens, netball and cycling among those best remembered.

There will be many more over the next couple of weeks on the Gold Coast.

But none has been or will be as iconic as that incredible moment 44 years ago.

Neither are the Games themselves as prominent in sporting folklore and calendars as they used to be. Though they remain significant.

Forty years ago the Commonwealth family was tighter, stronger; as young children of that family the nations competing in the Games strove to outdo the parents and bloody the noses of bigger brothers. We were flexing our muscles and building our own empires.

Those victories doubled as a form of soft power in an era and geopolitical arena where the Commonwealth had more clout and influence.

That has dissipated somewhat as the political interests of New Zealand and other ‘young’ nations have grown, the world has become more connected, and other countries have become more important to us in terms of global trade and regional impact.

Similarly, we have increasingly looked beyond the Commonwealth for arenas to display our sporting ambitions; the Games are now just one of many competitions vying for our attention and sponsorship. That appears to have lessened the prestige of the Games for some athletes in what has become a busier, more monied, global sporting schedule.

Many sports have their own prestigious world championships and, of course, the Olympic Games as the summit, with the Commonwealth counterpart merely a base camp.

Sometimes athletes have simply needed to rest weary bodies in a longer term quest for world titles. A number will not be on the Gold Coast because of injury and fatigue.

That’s the case for Canada’s triple Olympic sprint medallist Andre De Grasse, who has declined a trip to Australia in order to focus on his fitness ahead of the outdoor season. His withdrawal is a double blow given superstar Usain Bolt’s retirement. Kenya’s 800m star David Rudisha is also not competing, preferring instead the lure of Diamond League cash.

Still, what remains is a grand opportunity for nations and athletes whose great endeavours are often overshadowed by bigger players on bigger stages.

There is an opportunity too for up-and-coming Kiwi athletes to flex their own muscles in a significant sporting event in our own backyard. To give us that first view of future stars who might go on to bigger and better things.