ISN'T it wonderful how events coincide to underline the fact that certain myths are just that and no more? In the main news pages of The Herald we had all the pageantry and expense of the Commonwealth Games baton being set in motion with all the "great and the good" turning up (“Baton down the hatches as Queen starts relay for the Gold Coast Games”, The Herald, March 14). However, when we look deep into the Sport section we find the announcement that the 2022 Commonwealth Games have been taken away from Durban because the South African government cannot afford the massive infrastructure costs to stage the games (“Durban stripped of the 2022 Games”, Herald Sport, March 14).
Surely it is time to admit that these vanity project games are unsustainable and even more importantly finally admit that there is zero legacy from them. I would ask everyone if sport is really about one massive event every four years or an invaluable tool for society to improve participation in physical exercise and hence greatly influence the physical and mental health of the nation.
As John Dunlop points out in his letter (March 14) the structures required for these events are rarely built where they are most needed and are mostly abandoned at the end of the event. Available funding must be used more effectively for the good of the many and not the few.
David Stubley,
22 Templeton Crescent, Prestwick.
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