 |
| The first European Games will be hosted in Baku in summer 2015. Will this cause long-term problems, or opportunities, for Welsh "sporting independence"? (Pic : gamesbids.com) |
Back in December, the
European Olympic Committee (EOC) voted overwhelmingly in favour of
creating a "European Olympics". It'll be a multi-sports
event for EOC members, and the first European Games is due to take
place in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, in 2015. It's been compared
to the Pan-American Games and the Asian Games.
There'll be around 20 sports included, including some Olympic and non-Olympic events, though the shortlist is still being drawn up.
I'm surprised it's taken this long to be honest. Presumably, most of the current European championships in sports such as : athletics, cycling, gymnastics, swimming etc. will be folded into the European Games – if not for 2015, then at some point in the future.
It might lead to bigger sponsorship revenues, bigger global/continental interest and it might be easier to host than holding separate continental championships in separate countries. Perhaps understandably, many European sport-specific bodies are sceptical, but many athletes and national governing bodies welcome the development.
When it comes to Wales there's several issues.
Let's get the first one out of the way. Wales is represented on the EOC via the British Olympic Committee, so wouldn't be able to compete in our own right at a European Games. It's unlikely the Home Nations would be able to compete separately, as it would spur demands from other stateless nations like Catalonia and the Basque Country. I doubt that would be acceptable to the EOC or IOC. Should Scotland vote yes in 2014, Baku could well be the last hurrah of Team GB as we know it.
The problem is Wales competes separately in athletics for the Commonwealth Games and in continental championships for sports such as hockey, boxing and basketball.
So, if those continental championships in which Wales competes separately are folded into the European Games at some point in the future, it could lead to a "Team GB" situation (Home Nation sides having to merge to compete) but for practically every single sport.
That's not a guarantee, as I noted further up earlier, many sport-specific bodies aren't fond of the idea of "their" competitions being taken away from their control. It could, hypothetically, happen in the future though, and would be - in many respects - a logical decision.
It might also leave the future of the Commonwealth Games up in the air. A European Games would add to a crowded calendar, and might take priority over a sidelined Commonwealths as a "top tier" competition against stronger opposition.
There could be positives though.
As a slimmed-down version of the Olympics, this could be an event – alongside the Commonwealth Games – that Wales might be able to bid to host in the future.
If the European Games does include sports like handball, basketball and volleyball, then it might give those sports enough prestige and exposure in Wales/UK for bodies like Sports Wales and the Welsh Government to justify new strategies to develop them.
So, I'd welcome this in principle. It's long overdue, but obviously I'd want Wales to participate in our own right – ideally. I think this is the best opportunity to see long-term development of so-called minority sports here, not short-term development as seen for the London Olympics.
There'll be around 20 sports included, including some Olympic and non-Olympic events, though the shortlist is still being drawn up.
I'm surprised it's taken this long to be honest. Presumably, most of the current European championships in sports such as : athletics, cycling, gymnastics, swimming etc. will be folded into the European Games – if not for 2015, then at some point in the future.
It might lead to bigger sponsorship revenues, bigger global/continental interest and it might be easier to host than holding separate continental championships in separate countries. Perhaps understandably, many European sport-specific bodies are sceptical, but many athletes and national governing bodies welcome the development.
When it comes to Wales there's several issues.
Let's get the first one out of the way. Wales is represented on the EOC via the British Olympic Committee, so wouldn't be able to compete in our own right at a European Games. It's unlikely the Home Nations would be able to compete separately, as it would spur demands from other stateless nations like Catalonia and the Basque Country. I doubt that would be acceptable to the EOC or IOC. Should Scotland vote yes in 2014, Baku could well be the last hurrah of Team GB as we know it.
The problem is Wales competes separately in athletics for the Commonwealth Games and in continental championships for sports such as hockey, boxing and basketball.
So, if those continental championships in which Wales competes separately are folded into the European Games at some point in the future, it could lead to a "Team GB" situation (Home Nation sides having to merge to compete) but for practically every single sport.
That's not a guarantee, as I noted further up earlier, many sport-specific bodies aren't fond of the idea of "their" competitions being taken away from their control. It could, hypothetically, happen in the future though, and would be - in many respects - a logical decision.
It might also leave the future of the Commonwealth Games up in the air. A European Games would add to a crowded calendar, and might take priority over a sidelined Commonwealths as a "top tier" competition against stronger opposition.
There could be positives though.
As a slimmed-down version of the Olympics, this could be an event – alongside the Commonwealth Games – that Wales might be able to bid to host in the future.
If the European Games does include sports like handball, basketball and volleyball, then it might give those sports enough prestige and exposure in Wales/UK for bodies like Sports Wales and the Welsh Government to justify new strategies to develop them.
So, I'd welcome this in principle. It's long overdue, but obviously I'd want Wales to participate in our own right – ideally. I think this is the best opportunity to see long-term development of so-called minority sports here, not short-term development as seen for the London Olympics.
