Save money, no to 2026 Commonwealth Games

Let us not be suckers for punishment. Let us not be swayed by sweet promises just for pride. We lost billions previously and let us not go down the same disastrous route.

Do not waste taxpayers’ money. The government should drop the idea of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Yes, the Malaysian Olympic Council (OCM) is for it and its affiliates, the national sports associations (NSAS) have jumped on the bandwagon to support it.

OCM president Norza Zakaria says Malaysia should consider this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – and the associated support and financial investment - which will build on the success of Kuala Lumpur 1998 and put Malaysia back onto the world sporting map.

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Build on 1998?

Utter bunkum. This opportunity was offered to Malaysia after the Australian state of Victoria, which had previously agreed to host it, pulled out last July citing costs and no other country wanted to host it.

OCM president Norza Zakaria

Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrews said the cost had ballooned and he was not prepared to redirect money from other parts of his government’s budget to make up the shortfall.

“What’s become clear is that the cost of hosting these games in 2026 is not the A$2.6 billion (about RM7.8 billion) that was budgeted and allocated,” he said.

“It is in fact at least A$6 billion (RM18 billion) and could be as high as A$7 billion (RM21 billion).”

The hosting, Norza said, will involve minimal government spending and bring significant socio-economic benefits to the country.

Except that when we spent billions on the 1998 Games, did it put us on the world sporting map? What have we to show since then? What benefits did it then bring?

The Commonwealth Games Federation’s offer comes with a sweetener - a significant financial investment of £100 million (about RM600 million) to support the local delivery and legacy planning of the 2026 edition.

But this amount is tuppence compared to what will be spent. Even Victoria, which already has excellent infrastructure and has hosted major sports events including the Australian Open tennis tournament and the Ashes Test cricket series, finds the costs too much.

With existing world-class facilities, Norza said Malaysia is well-equipped to host an international event of Commonwealth magnitude involving nations and territories.

The claim of world-class facilities is subjective. Millions have already been spent on the national stadium and more will have to be spent on other venues.

Unlike in 1998, when a new block of apartments was built (and later re-sold) to house athletes, will there be a new purpose-built Games Village?

Grandiose projects upgraded in the lead-up to the 1998 Games are no longer used for what they were meant for.

Take the PKNS field in Kelana Jaya, Selangor. The field and related facilities were upgraded for RM21 million to bring them to the level of international cricket games.

After the Games, the cricket pitch prepared by Australian experts no longer existed. Even domestic matches are no longer played there and it has since been turned into a training ground for the PKNS football team.

Are we ready for pro-LGBTQ+ remarks?

But more importantly, is Malaysia ready to take on criticism from athletes on its stand on the LGBTQ+ community?

Will foreign athletes be pulled up for wearing apparel with rainbow colours? What happens when spectators intentionally or otherwise wave rainbow-coloured flags? Will they be evicted?

Before the 2022 Birmingham Games, British Olympic diver Tom Daley condemned homophobia across many Commonwealth countries.

Out of 56 member states, 35 criminalise same-sex relations, making up half of the countries globally that outlaw homosexuality. Seven Commonwealth nations have a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

At a time when we are asked to tighten our belts and with ministers taking a pay cut and the prime minister working without pay, is this big splurge of public money necessary?

Learn from the past

In 2017, I wrote: “The Commonwealth Games hosted by Malaysia is now a distant memory. After almost 19 years, five sports ministers and three prime ministers, Malaysians do not have a clue as to how much was made or lost.

“We know that millions were received in the form of government grants, sponsorship, sale of number plates, tickets, and the like.

“We are also aware of the extravagance - the building and upgrading of venues, accommodation for players; multi-coloured blazers for officials, payment of salaries for officials and allowances for volunteers and, of course, highly-paid foreign consultants.

“There was also a trail of unpaid bills which ended up in legal disputes.

“So, how much was received and how much was spent? This question has been repeatedly asked since 1999 and no answers have been forthcoming. Even Sukom 98 Berhad - the company set up to organise the Games - has undergone voluntary liquidation.”

Now, somebody will be busy setting up Sukom 26 Berhad to undertake the 2026 Games. However, the million-ringgit question is - will history repeat itself with billions going down the drain with nothing to show, not even its income and expenditure? - Mkini

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R NADESWARAN started as a sports reporter and continues to comment on sports but he feels it will be a colossal waste of people’s money to host the 2026 Games.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.