"Bolt's candid opinion of the Commonwealth Games"

[rsb3]

Link on the homepage. What an absolutely classless jerk Bolt is. Of course, it's not the Olympics, everyone knows that! But dumping his negative opinion all over the athletes, fans and organizers from his almighty throne, while they are all in the midst of competing and cheering and hosting this great event is about as self-centred an act as I can imagine - what an idiot!

[ExCoastRanger]

Blame lies with the writer of that POS article.
Bolt is only quoted seven words, including, "the Olympics were better."
Wow. This just in: The Olympics are more competitive than the Commonwealth Games! Do we really need charts and graphs and and a statistical beatdown of the CG winners to confirm it?

[beebee]

Dear Mr. Bolt,

These Commonwealth Games are a great steppingstone for young athletes who inspire to be what you are. They have to start somewhere.

[aaronk]

As I just tweeted....
Wonder if the JAMAICAN women who SWEPT the 400 feel that way!! Methinks NYET!!

[beebee]

I've always enjoyed the Commonwealth Games...my first was the 1978 Games in Edmonton where at nine I discovered Allan Wells and the great Daley Thompson.

This asinine comment by Bolt is Carl Lewis level insensitivity.

[Per Andersen]

Blame lies with the writer of that POS article.
Bolt is only quoted seven words, including, "the Olympics were better."
Wow. This just in: The Olympics are more competitive than the Commonwealth Games! Do we really need charts and graphs and and a statistical beatdown of the CG winners to confirm it?

Yes, People ask Bolt all kinds of questions all the time. Thoughtless for sure, but this man is no idiot!

[Dixon]

Why does anyone ever talk to athletes to begin with?

I've never ever ever ever heard any athlete tell it like it really is and I never will. I don't like to hear them talk to be honest. Never heard any of them ......"he runs a 9.7 I have never broke 9.9, now what chance do I really have?" Boxers/MMAer are the worst, they live in a total fantasy world.

Now once retired and they are talking about a career, that's diferent and usually interesting.

[shivfan]

What a rubbish article...some journalist eavesdrops on a private conversation that Bolt was having:

'Usain Bolt has reportedly said that the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are "a bit s***" and that the Olympics "were better."...However, the Times reports that Bolt - who is due to run in the 4x400m relay this weekend - made less than flattering remarks about the Games as he prepared to leave the village. He reportedly said the Commonwealth Games were "a bit s***" before leaving the site to "do some business."'

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/athletics/usain-bolt-says-commonwealth-games-3933541#ixzz38vtqP39L

Please note the journalist's use of the word "reportedly" more than once...it was not an official interview.

[FrankS]

In the UK, the Commonwealth Games are really high profile!
An athlete could win a string of Diamond League events and still the general British public wouldn't have a clue who they are but get a silver at the Commonwealths and everyone knows you!
And, that is important for the growth of the sport.
I still bet Usain had pressure put on him to attend these games ( Virgin?), and is probably not very happy about it!
Around a lot of the world, the Commonwealth Games are a lot more high profile than anything outside the Olympics ( even the Worlds ! ) and those who don't support them really do damage the sport.

[norunner]

Around a lot of the world, the Commonwealth Games are a lot more high profile than anything outside the Olympics ( even the Worlds ! ) and those who don't support them really do damage the sport.

A lot of the world, really? Outside of the Commonwealth countries, where do these games get any coverage at all? The only thing i read about them in german newspapers was about an australian swim relay breaking a world record, ZERO seconds of tv coverage here and i doubt things are different in other parts of the world that were never part of the Commonwealth.
And i admire Bolt for saying what he thinks (if he actually said it) instead of what is politically correct.

[AS]

The Commonwealth amounts to 2.4b people. That's a decent audience from anyone's perspective (especially sponsors wanting to reach India, Nigeria, Malaysia, South Africa, the Caribbean).

And the Games are getting some coverage in the Italian press (well, in the whacky sports only daily, after about 40 pages of football, some waterpolo, local basketball, the Tour de France aftermath etc).

[Powell]

The Commonwealth amounts to 2.4b people. That's a decent audience from anyone's perspective (especially sponsors wanting to reach India, Nigeria, Malaysia, South Africa, the Caribbean).

But even within the Commonwealth, my impression is that the Comm Games are a big deal for the Brits and the countries dominated by the descendants of colonists (Australia, Canada, New Zealand) and not quite so much for Africa and the Caribbean.

[AS]

But even within the Commonwealth, my impression is that the Comm Games are a big deal for the Brits and the countries dominated by the descendants of colonists (Australia, Canada, New Zealand) and not quite so much for Africa and the Caribbean.

My experience is that some countries tend to get excited by sport/event rather than the overall games. For example, Malaysia/Singapore tend to get really into the 'racquet' sports (badminton, table tennis, squash), India into the weightlifting, wrestling and shooting. Surprise, surprise these are the sports they perform better in!

Countries where are fans are savvy about the hierarchy of track and field champs recognise the Games for what they are: a stepping stone for up and comers and an opportunity for lesser lights to win a medal in events that don't stack up...

Smart Aussie sports fans understand this and are as dismissive of the hype as anyone else. Alas, there aren't that many of us (smiley face).

But, we could have the same conversations )and we have loads of times around here) about Euro Champs, Asian Games, African Champs etc.

[Powell]

Countries where are fans are savvy about the hierarchy of track and field champs recognise the Games for what they are: a stepping stone for up and comers and an opportunity for lesser lights to win a medal in events that don't stack up...

Smart Aussie sports fans understand this and are as dismissive of the hype as anyone else. Alas, there aren't that many of us (smiley face).

But the point is this: all top Australian athletes compete in the CG and consider them important enough to peak for. Ditto for the Brits. If you look at Jamaicans and Kenyans, it's nothing like that. Some of their stars do compete, some don't; and even those who do, don't necessarily consider them the high point of the season.

[norunner]

But, we could have the same conversations )and we have loads of times around here) about Euro Champs, Asian Games, African Champs etc.

How many athletes ever got chastised for criticising the ECs? I remember Robert Harting and Nadine Müller voicing their criticism about the pseudo euros in 2012, nobody called Harting a classless jerk. But Bolt voicing his opinion instead of the usual politically correct bull is just an abomination and he should be flogged for that.