The Commonwealth Games peaked in Birmingham - now call it a day

One of my emails to BirminghamLive subscribers - you can sign up for them here -?https://lnkd.in/ePAcVtMN

When you've reached your peak, there is something?to be said for stepping back.

After 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers, they called it a day - and secured a legacy for generations?to come.

Well, allow me to segway you to... the?Commonwealth?Games.

The Games, it appears to me, has been in crisis for about a decade other than the few years Birmingham took it on.

The city originally bid to host in 2026 but was called in at the last moment to fill in when Durban accepted it couldn't host it.

Well, it didn't turn out badly, did it? In the space of two or three years we turned around basically the best?Commonwealth?Games ever, while not spending very much at all.

We had great infrastructure and decent transport networks ready to go - and then 20,000 of the most amazing volunteers in the world popped up.

Anyway, in the latest low for the Games, the?Australian state of Victoria will not host the 2026 version, after admitting it isn't worth the multi billions it would cost.

The Games, which have only been cancelled twice in their history – in 1942 and 1946, look in the worst shape ever.

Frankly there are a lot of problems. Neither of the world's superpowers care about it, nor do many others.

Then there is the little problem of its colonial origins. I think if there was a failure of the Birmingham Games, it's that this was insufficiently addressed -?despite our rather excellent podcast?on the issue.

Out of 56 member states, 35 criminalise same-sex relations, making up half of the countries globally that outlaw homosexuality - this has to be addressed.

So anyway, I am getting to my point. I reckon there are two options:

1) Call it a day. The Games peaked in Birmingham and go out on a high.

2) If you must do it, always have it in Birmingham.

While I have you, I must share with you my favourite story of the week.

I salute the teachers and children at St Dunstan’s Catholic Primary School, in Kings Heath, who this week taught the Government a little about empathy.

After Home Office Immigration?minister Robert Jenrick ordered staff at a refugee centre to paint over a Mickey Mouse mural - because it was too "welcoming", the school said "not in our name".?

The kind-hearted pupils have drawn dozens of pictures in support of the refugees. They?plan to send their artwork to Mr Jenrick himself, and to children at the refugee welcome centre to put on their walls.