Commonwealth Games
COMMONWEALTH GAMES HERO LOSES PART OF LEG ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF GOLD MEDAL VICTORY
BY DUNCAN MACKAY.
Scotland’s Lachie Stewart, whose victory in the 10,000 metres was one of the highlights of the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, has had part of a leg amputated almost 50 years to the day of his gold medal performance.
Stewart, who is now 77, had his lower left leg amputated last week after a problem with his toe failed to heal and circulation in his leg started to fail.
Details of the operation were revealed by his son Glen, who, coached by his father, himself competed at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
“He is actually in good spirits and quite chipper,” Glen Stewart told The Times.
“I think to be honest he has accepted what has happened.
“He has had a shot of a prosthetic leg and he was walking around a bit with that so we will see what happens.”
Stewart’s victory at Edinburgh 1970 saw him move from third to first place on the final lap of the 10,000m, sweeping past Australia’s then world record holder Ron Clarke.
After crossing the line, Stewart celebrated his win by kissing the Scotland team’s unofficial mascot, a giant teddy bear called Dunky Dick, with the moment one of the enduring images of Edinburgh’s “Friendly Games”.
Stewart has faced several challenges in recent years.
In 2018, he suffered a cardiac arrest while swimming at his local pool and was rescued by a friend with a lifeguard then administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Stewart, who is also diabetic, then went on to have a mechanical valve fitted and a quadruple by-pass, spending 10 weeks in hospital.
“Dad had a sore on his toe which didn’t clear up and they removed that in March,” Glen Stewart told The Times.
“Then he was told that his leg might have to come off during that operation if they weren’t happy with it.
“Dad really didn’t know what he was waking up to.
“They decided to do more work on his veins to improve circulation, but they weren’t happy with it.
“They said, ‘You can either live with the pain or we take the lower left leg off’.
“We can do it tomorrow or you can have two or three weeks to think about it’.
“He said, ‘Do it tomorrow, I can’t live like this’.
“The pain was so bad for him.”
Stewart was unable to see any of his family while he was in hospital due to the restrictions forced upon them by the coronavirus crisis.
Ian Beattie, the chair of Scottish Athletics, led well wishers in hoping that Stewart recovers.
“Lachie Stewart’s contribution to athletics in Scotland has been immense,” he said.
“His incredible performance at the 1970 Commonwealth Games has inspired the generations of athletes that have come since.
“Even those of us who were too young to remember those Games will have seen footage of his bold dash for the finish of the 10,000m – surely one of the most memorable moments in the sport in Scotland.
“Even after retirement, he has been an enthusiastic and encouraging figure to others and is rightly held in fond regard by all those who meet him.
“We wish him all the best for a speedy recovery from his recent surgery and of course thank him for all he has given our sport over the decades.”
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Commonwealth Games
Scotland which beat Nigeria for 2014 Games may step in for ‘stepped-down’ 2026 Commonwealth Games
Scotland’s Commonwealth Games body has developed a “cost-effective” way to host the troubled 2026 event in Glasgow amid continued uncertainty over its long-term future. Glasgow beat Abuja, Nigeria for the 2014 Games which Nigeria had intended to use to mark the 100th anniversary of the creation of the nation state.
Nigeria became a geographical entity 0n 1 January 1914 when the northern part and Southern part as well as the Lagos Colony were amalgamated.
The 2014 Games were awarded to Scotland which is now likely to use the same facilities for the troubled 2026 edition following the withdrawal of Australian state of Victoria as hosts.
Glasgow commissioned a feasibility study in December. Estimates suggest Scotland could run the event for between £130m and £150m – with the potential to bring more than £100m into the economy.
Existing sports facilities like the Emirates Arena would be used again instead of new builds, and competitors would be housed in local hotels rather than an athletes’ village.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has said it will provide £100m for the chosen host nation, with the remaining budget funded by ticket sales and broadcasting rights.
The usual programme, however, would need to be cut down to between 10 and 13 events.
Malaysia has rejected an offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to uncertainty over costs and insufficient funding offered, its government said on Friday, in a major setback for the quadrennial multi-sport event.
Malaysia was asked to step in after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as host, citing ballooning costs, with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) offering 100 million pounds ($126 million) in supporting funds.
Malaysia ruling itself out raises the possibility that the Games may not take place for the first time since being cancelled due to the Second World War.
The funding offered was not enough, officials said, and Malaysia could not commit to hosting the event at such short notice and with little time to assess the potential economic impact.
“If we had a longer time, we would definitely do it, but because there’s such a short time, we definitely can’t do it,” government spokesperson and Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil told a regular briefing.
“When we assessed the viability of hosting the Games, the length of time needed and the cost was seen to be particularly prohibitive.”
The London-based CGF did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on Malaysia declining its offer.
The youth and sports ministry said the 100 million pounds funding it had offered would not be enough to cover the costs of hosting a large-scale sports event.
“Additionally, the economic impact could not be identified in this short timeframe,” it said in a statement.
RELEVANCE QUESTIONED
The Games are typically contested by about 70 countries and territories of the former British empire and medals tables have in recent editions been dominated by Australia, England, Canada, India, New Zealand and South Africa.
Victoria’s withdrawal had already placed the future of the event in doubt and raised questions about whether a Games with colonial origins was still relevant in the modern era, and over its place in an already packed global sporting calendar.
The Games has struggled to find a willing host in recent years and five of the last six editions have been held in Australia or Britain.
The English city of Birmingham, which had been due to host in 2026, stepped in to save the 2022 event after South Africa were stripped of hosting rights over a lack of progress in preparations.
Birmingham’s move led to the CGF scrambling to find another host for 2026 and Victoria had been the only viable candidate after several other cities withdrew from the bidding process over cost issues.
The proposal had received a mixed response in Malaysia, which hosted the 1998 edition, due to concerns about costs and the lack of preparation time.
The Malaysian Olympic Council had this week proposed holding a downsized Games, with limited spending on athletes’ accommodations and smaller opening and closing ceremonies.
-Reuters
Malaysia has rejected an offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to uncertainty over costs and insufficient funding offered, its government said on Friday, in a major setback for the quadrennial multi-sport event.
Malaysia was asked to step in after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as host, citing ballooning costs, with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) offering 100 million pounds ($126 million) in supporting funds.
Malaysia ruling itself out raises the possibility that the Games may not take place for the first time since being cancelled due to the Second World War.
The funding offered was not enough, officials said, and Malaysia could not commit to hosting the event at such short notice and with little time to assess the potential economic impact.
“If we had a longer time, we would definitely do it, but because there’s such a short time, we definitely can’t do it,” government spokesperson and Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil told a regular briefing.
“When we assessed the viability of hosting the Games, the length of time needed and the cost was seen to be particularly prohibitive.”
The London-based CGF did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on Malaysia declining its offer.
The youth and sports ministry said the 100 million pounds funding it had offered would not be enough to cover the costs of hosting a large-scale sports event.
“Additionally, the economic impact could not be identified in this short timeframe,” it said in a statement.
RELEVANCE QUESTIONED
The Games are typically contested by about 70 countries and territories of the former British empire and medals tables have in recent editions been dominated by Australia, England, Canada, India, New Zealand and South Africa.
Victoria’s withdrawal had already placed the future of the event in doubt and raised questions about whether a Games with colonial origins was still relevant in the modern era, and over its place in an already packed global sporting calendar.
The Games has struggled to find a willing host in recent years and five of the last six editions have been held in Australia or Britain.
The English city of Birmingham, which had been due to host in 2026, stepped in to save the 2022 event after South Africa were stripped of hosting rights over a lack of progress in preparations.
Birmingham’s move led to the CGF scrambling to find another host for 2026 and Victoria had been the only viable candidate after several other cities withdrew from the bidding process over cost issues.
The proposal had received a mixed response in Malaysia, which hosted the 1998 edition, due to concerns about costs and the lack of preparation time.
The Malaysian Olympic Council had this week proposed holding a downsized Games, with limited spending on athletes’ accommodations and smaller opening and closing ceremonies.
-Reuters
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