Edmund Rice Justice Bulletin

A feature of the Commonwealth Games is the participation of countries with tiny populations and limited resources, nations such as the Pacific Island nation of Niue (pop 2,100)

The athletes representing such countries have been warmly applauded by the large crowds who have enthusiastically supported the games events and generously acknowledged the performances of all athletes, regardless of their ability.

Often however, the attitude of the public and media also appears to have been characterized by an emphasis on winning and by a parochial sense of nationalism.

In the midst of the extensive media coverage, some journalists have reflected on some issues of deeper significance in regard to the Games. In an article in the Melbourne ‘Age’ "Humanity before Hubris at the Games” Simon Mann noted the trend towards staging ever more lavish opening ceremonies for such events.

Rather than spending millions of dollars in an effort to outdo previous games, Mann suggested the Melbourne games organizers "could have made a stand and acknowledged the gross inequities in the Commonwealth itself ….. Instead of blowing $50 million on its opening and closing ceremonies, and another $7 million on its river celebrations, Melbourne could have honoured the spirit of the Games with a gesture likely to make a real difference to the countries that compete in them"

Mann pointed out that more than seventy percent of the competing nations are developing nations facing life and death issues of which ordinary Australians (and for that matter Britons, Canadians, New Zealanders) have little real understanding.

For example "Just 50 per cent of Ugandans can access safe drinking water. In Sierra Leone only three out of 10 youths can read and write. Half of Bangladeshi children under five are underweight due to malnutrition," whilst Tuvalu the near neighbour of Niue, faces the prospect of ceasing to exist, let alone compete in future Commonwealth Games, given the predicted effects of climate change.