This year’s Commonwealth Games will look a little different. After Victoria withdrew from hosting duties for the 2023 event, Glasgow entered as host why would it now be a Scheduled Games version with 10 scheduled gamesinstead of 19 games at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Former swimmer and competitor Johanna Griggs, part of the host team covering the Seven event, feels that despite the changes, the sporting community was particularly relieved that the Games would go ahead, even in a later edition.
“To be completely honest, I think they’re over the moon that got picked up,” says Griggs. “Everyone was a bit shocked when Melbourne made the announcement that they were going. I think there were a lot of people who wondered whether or not that would be the death knell for the Commonwealth Games, and there was a lot of relief – obviously the games that would be missing would have been completely ruined – but I think we’ve just looked at it as, ‘Hey, Games.’
The Glasgow Games are set to begin on July 24 at 4.45am with the opening ceremony, and more than 3000 athletes from 74 nations and territories will compete. Griggs, who won a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke at the 1990 event in Auckland, is passionate about the Games.
“They have a very important role in sports,” says Griggs. “That started my swimming career. I had just turned 16 when I went to the Comm Games and won a medal there and then I got a medal at the world championships the next year and I never made it to the Olympics. So, of course, it has a special place in my heart because it was some amazing memories.”
For co-host of the Glasgow Games and former athlete Matt Shirvington, the competition plays a particularly important role for up-and-coming athletes.
“I love the Commonwealth Games,” says Shirvington, who took part in the 1998 and 2006 Games. “It’s the final step for any young athlete coming up. It’s like going to university for elite sport, it teaches you so much. Anytime you wear green and gold it’s a proud moment, and especially the Commonwealth Games, when you think of the people who have gone before. Australia’s best athletes – Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman – all those impressive Commonwealth Games States.”
Shirvington, who now shares Sunriseis also very positive about Australia’s chances at the next Games, following a 2022 win with 180 medals, closely followed by England with 176.
“Yeah, we’ll do it again,” says Shirvington. “There are 200 gold medals up for grabs at these Games and we’ll be right at the top of the medal table. I think most of those medals will come in track and field and in swimming. (But) it’s going to be a competitive race all around.”
When Griggs and Shirvington are asked about whether they would have been a match in their heyday for today’s athletes, they are blunt.
“I don’t think so,” says Griggs, laughing. “Look at that Australian team now, how different they are physically. It’s just amazing to watch how smart the games are and how much smarter they’ve gotten in their training.”
Shirvington adds: “No, they’re flying. This current crop of Australian athletes is the best we’ve ever seen, hands down. Obviously they haven’t broken Patrick Johnson’s national record yet, (but) I think that’s going to happen. We’ve just got great athletes, and they’re just pushing each other to go faster and faster.”
With swimming and athletics enjoying a golden era for Aussie athletes, Griggs and Shirvington hope audiences will tune in to cheer on competitors in all disciplines.
“Australian sport has never been in a better position,” says Shirvington. “Some of our youngest and brightest stars are coming to the Commonwealth Games, let’s leave them.”
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will be shown from July 24 to August 3 on Seven and 7Plus.
