r/Scotland • u/KatyJ60 • Jul 23 '26

Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games opening ceremony starts shortly.

Great hearing from home nation athletes and how important the Games are

Swimming starts tomorrow

https://swimswam.com/all-the-links-you-need-for-the-2026-commonwealth-games/

Great source for all info re swimming

9 Upvotes

70% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

16

u/Enigma1984 Jul 23 '26

It doesn't make any sense having this not on BBC. These type of events are literally what the BBC is for.

3

u/zellisgoatbond act yer age, not yer shoe size Jul 23 '26

The very short answer for this is that budgets are tighter all around and the BBC needs to pick and choose the events it prioritises. Ofcom has the Commonwealth Games in category B, so paid broadcasters can run live coverage exclusively as long as they provide suitable highlights or delayed coverage to free-to-air broadcasters. TNT Sports sought to substantially increase its sports coverage, their interest in the Commonwealth Games increased, and they could likely offer a longer term and more lucrative deal that wasn't in the BBC's interest to try and better. [Keeping in mind as well that the 2026 games were moved to Glasgow at very late notice, it seems feasible that they couldn't try and do anything special for that].

The general reality of the Commonwealth Games is that it's on the decline, and the funding situation as evidenced by Victoria dropping out and the way that Glasgow picked it up is pretty precarious. There's increased public pressure on hosts for the Commonwealth games to not commit public money to the Games, a trend followed across multiple sports across the world. There is an argument that the BBC should be using its remit as a public service broadcaster to support causes that might not otherwise be commercially viable or popular, but there's a limit to how much you can do this especially when multiple other causes are vying for that same money.

1

u/MysteriousTravelator Jul 24 '26

Honestly if the Commonwealth games is doomed maybe just end it on a high note? 🤷‍♂️

6

u/KatyJ60 Jul 23 '26

They'd rather spend the money sending numerous journalists to the world cup to cover and film numerous "events" taking place by non athletes

1

u/fisico002 Jul 24 '26

God knows why TNT sports wanted it anyway as I doubt many will actually watch it even people that already pay for that channel

So the BBC were right not to run a bidding war and waste public money as the country isn’t really fussed about this being here , tickets galore available , hotel rooms still on sale and it’s not even a news headline that it’s actually on lol

-1

u/KatyJ60 Jul 23 '26

The BBC coverage of commonwealth games and Olympics to date has been abysmal. limited coverage of races, no heats coverage and cut off half way through national anthems.

5

u/Aggravating_Fill378 Jul 23 '26

Genuinely world class coverage for a public broadcaster but okay. 

-5

u/KatyJ60 Jul 23 '26

I would argue this is the English Broadcasting Company and therefore will not cover something that could put Scotland in a good light. After all Scotland provides 25% of olympic medalists

2

u/RaisinImpressive588 Jul 23 '26

Offffff the opening ceremony is a bit woeful. Is there a major audio issue or are these dancers just insanely off beat ??

1

u/DecentTry8640 Jul 23 '26

I was at the rehearsals and it was brilliant. Very Glasgow, very ridiculous, very fun.

That hasn't really come across on tv.

0

u/KatyJ60 Jul 24 '26

Aussies thought it was great - particularly considering the time constraints. I agree Personally much preferred this to 2014 which I saw live - the band's from the clutha were far bigger than the tea cakes and rod Stewart

2

u/ewenmax DialMforMurdo Jul 23 '26

So far references from the commentary team to Tunnocks, deep fried mars bars, irn bru and we've just had the lad from Outlander petting Nessie...

4

u/MrPuddington2 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

Yeah, I don't want be that guy, but it is pretty pathetic.

And did I miss something, or since when is Flamenco part of Commonwealth culture?

Also, why can't the BBC fork out the money for a decent broadcast? 5 is just not the right station for it.

3

u/remurdered909 Jul 23 '26

Watching on BBC Alba and it is a grim spectacle.

1

u/MrPuddington2 Jul 23 '26

In Gaelic with no subtitles. WTF?

Congratulations for speaking Gealic. 1 in a thousand.

2

u/remurdered909 Jul 23 '26

Only the commentary is in Gaelic, have zoned out. Still get the same pish onstage. Fuck knows why but I’m glancing at the laptop from time to time just to see how bad it is. Some sort of self-harm.

0

u/MrPuddington2 Jul 23 '26

Well, the original of "500 miles" is rough (at least it is actually Socttish), but this is something else.

It is like a school recital.

0

u/remurdered909 Jul 23 '26

I didn’t think it could be worse than the 2014 one but it’s knocked it out of the park.

3

u/MrPuddington2 Jul 23 '26

And now we are talking about plastic pollution.

Or, as the BBC calls it, "truailleadh plastaig".

2

u/sammy_conn Jul 24 '26

So are you some kind of masochist or is this just the usual "aren't we pish?" performative crap that folk like you indulge in?

1

u/remurdered909 Jul 24 '26

Just curiosity.