GOLD COAST: Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Louise Martin on Sunday declared the 21st Commonwealth Games a success.
Terming Gold Coast 2018 ‘Games of Firsts’ in her closing ceremony speech at the Carrara Stadium, Martin highlighted the five Commonwealth countries that won their first ever Commonwealth medals on the Gold Coast; and stated that the medals won by Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, British Virgin Islands and Dominica demonstrated the fast-growing impact of Commonwealth sport.
The Games also broke the record for the most number of countries winning medals at a Commonwealth Games (43 out of 71), beating the previous total of 39 set at Manchester 2002 and Melbourne 2006.
Commenting on the success of the Games, Martin said: “Gold Coast 2018 will forever be remembered as the Games of Firsts. When I spoke at the opening of the Games, 11 days ago, I asked the assembled athletes to grasp the opportunity of the Commonwealth Games and create their own history and fulfill their dreams. I must sincerely thank and congratulate them for rising so magnificently to this challenge.”
“Nine World Records and 83 Games Records were broken. From the first ever medals for Commonwealth islands and states; the first ever Jamaican Lawn Bowls team, the Reggae Rollers, or the first-ever Ugandan netball team competing so strongly – these captivating stories, and the many others we witnessed here in Australia, are what Commonwealth sport is all about. It is what sets us apart in the world of sport and confirms that the ‘Friendly Games’ is alive and well, indeed more relevant than ever before,” she continued.
“The inspiring and impactful performances of our Commonwealth athletes have delivered on the promise of a historic collection of ‘firsts’ that were achieved in the run up to Games; whether that be the ground-breaking Reconciliation Action Plan, the equal number of medals for men and women for the first time, or the largest ever fully-integrated para-sport programme seen in Commonwealth and world sport,” said Martin.
CGF chief executive officer David Grevemberg said: “One of the real talking points has been the way the Games has recognised, respected and championed greater discourse surrounding reconciliation and indigenous rights in Australia. It’s part of a far-reaching commitment to equality – which has seen para-sport, gender equality and LGBTI inclusion also take centre stage – which has truly shifted the dial in what are hugely important and current conversations for society today.
“Gold Coast 2018 is by no means the end of our reconciliation journey. We were privileged to have the indigenous peoples of 15 different countries with us on the Gold Coast, and we now look forward to taking this important conversation concerning first nation’s peoples’ rights to other parts of our family of nations as we continue to champion Commonwealth sport as a force for good in the modern world.”
GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie AC noted, “We’ve brought meaning to the definition of the ‘Friendly Games’. For the more than one million spectators and the hundreds of millions of people watching across the world, the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will be remembered for many reasons; for a significant number of firsts that will set the standard for future Games.”
“Inclusion is the Commonwealth Games future. It’s what makes us extraordinary. From its beginnings in Canada more than 80 years ago, the Games were always designed to be more than just a sporting spectacle. They are a way for us to come together and share what we have in common. If you’ll excuse the gentle boast, I can think of no better place for that vision to be realised than here on the Gold Coast.”
Calling on the Commonwealth to join together again in 2022, Birmingham mayor Anne Underwood said: “Birmingham is extremely excited and honoured to have been selected to host the XXII Commonwealth Games in 2022. Whilst we can’t promise the sun, sand and sea of these Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, we can promise youth, energy, creativity and a love of sport. As lord mayor and first citizen of Birmingham, I too can guarantee the warmest of welcomes to our city in 2022. Birmingham is the heart of the United Kingdom and the soul of the Commonwealth and we are already putting our hearts and souls into making the 2022 Commonwealth Games a celebration that everyone can be proud of.”
