What is the best Commonwealth Games sport? Photos / Photosport
OPINION:
A celebration of sport, "friendliness" and the British Empire returns after four years in Birmingham this week.
The Commonwealth Games, sometimes (apparently) referred to as the Friendly Games, is basically like the Olympics, but with more colonialism, fewer world-class athletes and lawn bowls.
But it's also where New Zealand gets to shine and the team looks set for another major haul this year.
Here's a ranking of every sport at the Games – based on entertainment value, strength of competition and, of course, friendliness. (Bonus points if New Zealand are good at the sport.)
20. Basketball 3x3
After the half-sport – it's literally half the court and half the shot clock of basketball – made its debut at the Tokyo Olympics last year, the Comm Games have also jumped on board to try and make basketball 3x3 a thing. But unlike other shortened sporting variations at the Games – T20 cricket, beach volleyball, rugby sevens – that offer something new and interesting, basketball 3x3 (even its name is awkward) is vastly inferior in all aspects to traditional basketball.
19. Judo
Out of the 60 medals that were handed out for Judo in Tokyo last year, only three were won by Commonwealth nations. It seems the British Empire simply can't fight (within the set rules of Judo). Plus, Judo is a pretty punishing to watch if you're not clued up on the technical side of the sport.
18. Wrestling
Wrestling is another sport that is normally dominated by eastern Europeans and, weirdly, Iran, so it won't be as competitive at the Commonwealth Games. But it's slightly more exciting than Judo. Here's a wild idea: mixed martial arts at the Comm Games – what a concept.
17. Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball suddenly becomes a lot more brutal during the UK heat wave, but it still gets no sympathy for being a pretty bang average sport.
16. Table tennis
Even though the Brits invented the sport, a table tennis tournament without China just doesn't seem right. It's still pretty awesome to watch though.
15. Badminton
Badminton is another sport invented by mother England, but mostly dominated by Asian countries. As a sport, it's pretty cool. Would've been ranked higher if New Zealand were still called the "Black Cocks".
14. Gymnastics
No America or Russia really hurts gymnastics in the strength of competition stakes. It will still showcase some elite athleticism and performance, as usual, but just not quite as elite. Gymnastics is also not really an arena New Zealand is known to excel in.
13. Boxing
Let's be honest, outside of supporting fighters out of sheer national pride, no one really watches the Commonwealth Games for the boxing. And less so for New Zealanders now with medal favourite David Nyika having to pull out with injury. Saying that, it's always still pretty fun to watch people punch each other in the face at any level.
12. Cricket T20
Women's T20 cricket will make its Comm Games debut in Birmingham. There will be no men's version. This will go into the wait-and-see pile – it could very well turn into a great competition and showcase like the rugby sevens, especially with basically all of the top ranked nations competing. But at the same time, cricket just doesn't feel very Comm Games-ey, despite it being the second best "British sport" behind football.
11. Diving
Yeah, sure, diving is cool. Unfortunately, and this is becoming a bit of a theme, there's no China. The Chinese are so mind-blowingly good at diving that they will surely be missed from a viewing experience perspective. Still a good Comm Games sport but not quite top 10.
10. Hockey
Hockey is a pretty solid sport in general, but it is not quite as prestigious at the Commonwealth Games when compared to the Olympics or World Cups. The women's World Cup, which was won by the Netherlands (not a friendly country), only recently concluded earlier this month.
9. Triathlon
Triathlon surprised me at the Olympics, in terms of how entertaining it was to watch. It was made more special for Kiwis when Hayden Wilde took out the bronze medal in Tokyo, New Zealand's first medal of the Games, and he will hope to improve on that in Birmingham. He will, however, have two Englishmen in Alex Yee (silver in Tokyo) and Jonny Brownlee (fifth) as his main rivals for gold.
8. Weightlifting
Two words: David Liti. The Kiwi big man was one of the most charismatic and joyous competitors in the Gold Coast four years ago on his way to gold medal glory in the +105kg event. No doubt he'll continue to win hearts in Birmingham and is a favourite for gold once again. The man just loves to lift.
7. Cycling
More than a third of New Zealand's medals in the Gold Coast came from bikes – from track, road and mountain bike events – and the Kiwi team looks set for another strong haul in Birmingham. Unfortunately for the road event, it pales in comparison to the recently concluded Tour de France and the first ever women's Tour de France Femmes, which is still going.
6. Squash
Squash continues to get snubbed by the Olympics, despite the IOC including breakdancing in Paris 2024 for some strange reason, but it has been a welcome inclusion at the Commonwealth Games. This year, New Zealand will have legitimate medal shots once again with flag bearer and three-time gold medallist Joelle King and world No 2 Paul Coll leading the team.
5. Rugby sevens
In perhaps one of the greatest games of sevens ever, the Black Ferns Sevens went toe-to-toe with Australia in the last Comm Games gold medal match in the Gold Coast for the entire game, before a sensational Kelly Brazier try won it for New Zealand in the sixth minute of extra time. If this year's event is even half as good as that, we're in for a treat.
4. Swimming
The individual medley is one of the best spectacles in all of sport. And it so happens to be where one of New Zealand's greatest swimmers – at the ripe age of 23 no less – Lewis Clareburt plies his trade.
With Kiwi legend Sophie Pascoe only competing at one event, eyes will be on Clareburt to see if he can win a rare gold for New Zealand in the 400m IM, his specialist event, and maybe even the 200m IM. Even outside of New Zealand's exciting young team, which includes 18-year-old Erika Fairweather, swimming in general is just an awesome sport.
Bonus stroke rankings: 1. Freestyle 2. Breaststroke 3. Butterfly 4. Backstroke.
3. Netball
The Commonwealth Games will be the first big tournament since the Silver Ferns sensationally won the world champs in 2019. Since then, coach Noeline Taurua became a Dame and the team hasn't quite looked at their best during the disrupted Covid era. The Comm Games squad also raised eyebrows. But if there's anything Kiwi sports fans know not to do is doubt Taurua. It promises to be one of the most exciting events in Birmingham, with all the usual contenders gunning for gold.
2. Athletics
Athletics is the peak of 'Games' sports, whether it's the Olympics or the friendly version. What makes athletics special is the fact that it's a true measure of pure athleticism and it's by far the most entertaining sporting category on this list.
In Birmingham, we'll get to see some of New Zealand's best athletes, who sometimes don't even get to compete at the Olympics even if they've qualified due to the NZOC's strict policy. One of those athletes will be sprinter Zoe Hobbs, who finished 14th in the 100m at the recent world champs and seems to be getting better and better. Also, we may as well put a strike on the gold medal tally for New Zealand as Tom Walsh will be a shoo-in for another gold in the men's shot put, with his pesky American rivals not in the picture.
1. Lawn bowls
When I think about the Commonwealth Games, I think of lawn bowls – the skill, the form, the boomers. It's the only sport where almost everyone can compete at a high level, regardless of disability or age, and the Comm Games is where the sport gets to truly shine.
Kiwi Jo Edwards, who has won three gold medals at the Games, won't be in Birmingham but New Zealand will still be hoping to bag a few medals this year. Lawn bowls is also home to one of the great stories in Birmingham, with 75-year-old Sue Curran, who is New Zealand's oldest ever Comm Games athlete, competing in the B2-B3 event.
She aims to start a family after the Rugby World Cup in England.