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Australian Paralympian Christie Dawes says the Gold Coast’s scrapping of its Commonwealth Games bid is “bitterly disappointing”, but argues it’s “sensible” because of the cost-of-living crisis.
While Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas and Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart campaigned for the Gold Coast and Perth to join forces for “a coast-to-coast Games”, Tate said this week he withdrew the Queensland city’s involvement because he “couldn’t generate support from the state or federal governments”.
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The co-hosting concept was put forward after the Victorian government’s abandonment of the Commonwealth Games in July, due to projected costs ballooning from $2.6 billion to as much as $7 billion.
Dawes, a wheelchair racer who’s contested three Commonwealth Games, was blunt about the messy situation.
“I think it’s very disappointing for up-and-coming athletes who use the Comm Games to springboard to Olympic and Paralympic Games, but at the same time … I’m also a parent, a home owner, I do the groceries,” Dawes told Wide World of Sports.
“The cost of living is crazy and I think we probably need to prioritise other needs before big sporting events like this. Economically it just wasn’t going to sort itself out. So I think it’s probably a sensible idea [for the Gold Coast mayor to withdraw his bid].
“It’s a huge shame if it doesn’t go ahead in Australia, but I can also understand when I watch the news every night and see there are policemen who aren’t getting paid properly, our teachers aren’t getting paid properly, our ambulance staff aren’t getting paid properly. All of these essential workers are not getting paid properly and they keep going on strike and we’re stuffed, basically.”
Dawes added that she’s “a realist and a mum and a tax payer”.
“And do I see my money going somewhere more useful at this time?” she said.
“Yes, probably I do.
“So I’m mixed about it.”
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) chief executive Craig Phillips said this week that although he hadn’t ruled out Australia hosting the 2026 event, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) should “seriously consider” other offers.
“We have indicated to [the CGF] … they would have our support in doing that,” Phillips told the Australian Associated Press.
“It’s our preference to host here and we will keep going while we think we have got options to explore.”
Dawes is in favour of another country stepping in to rescue the 2026 Games.
“I think if other countries are in a position to do so, both financially and logistically, it would be great to see them go ahead,” Dawes said.
“I was at the Games in Birmingham in 2022 and it was run really well … and we had great competition.
“So I’m definitely up for it going to another Commonwealth country.”
Athletics Australia (AA) last week unloaded on the cusp of a public hearing amid the inquiry into the Victorian government’s cancellation of the Games.
The governing body is on Tuesday being represented at the public hearing by president Jane Flemming and director Steve Moneghetti.
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