Gout Gout's call on running at Commonwealth Games adds fresh layer to $380m controversy

Revelations that Gout Gout is keen to run at the Commonwealth Games next year has added an unwanted new layer to Victoria's decision to relinquish the hosting rights back in 2023. It means Australian fans have been robbed of the chance to see Gout run at the global event in person, as they'll now be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland instead.

Gout had initially been expected to prioritise the junior world championships in the United States in August next year, where he'll be aiming to emulate Usain Bolt - who won the under-20 title in the 200m back in 2002. But the teenage sensation's manager revealed on Tuesday that he's keen to compete at the Comm Games if the schedule allows it.

Gout Gout could have been running at the Commonwealth Games on home soil had the Victorian government not relinquished the rights. Image: AAP

The 100m is expected to be held at the start of the Comm Games schedule in late July, meaning there's now every chance Gout could contest it before jetting to the US for the 200m at the world juniors. If Gout does compete, it will be another dagger to the Australian public after the Victorian government gave up the hosting rights.

After initially winning the bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, then-Victorian premier Dan Andrews backflipped and declared it was too expensive for the state. The Victorian government had to pay the Commonwealth Games Federation - since rebranded Commonwealth Sport - $380 million in compensation, with $200 million diverted to Glasgow.

Gout Gout is making waves in the athletics world. Image: AAP

Glasgow will instead host a 'modified' version of the Games, but it won't be funded from the public purse. Gout’s manager James Templeton revealed on Tuesday that the teenager is eyeing an appearance in Glasgow. “We need to wait for the full Commonwealth Games program to be released, but yes we are planning that Gout will be available to run an event in Glasgow before going onto the World Juniors in Eugene," Templeton said, according to the Herald Sun. 

Legendary commentator Bruce McAvaney said Gout's involvement would be a huge boon. “Gout Gout is arguably the sporting story of a generation," he said. "And the prospect of him lining up in Glasgow next year, taking on the best sprinters from the Caribbean, South Africa, Canada and Britain, is just so exciting."

The Victorian government backed out of hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

The Victorian government couldn't have foreseen Gout's rise to stardom, as he wasn't making waves in 2023 like he is now. But commentator Scott Gullan pointed out the missed opportunity that Victoria won't be hosting. 

"Missing the opportunity to see the next big thing in Australian sport wearing the green and gold is a body blow to Victorian sports lovers," Gullan wrote in the Herald Sun. "Victoria blew the chance to see Gout Gout run for gold."

Tellingly, a poll of over 2000 Yahoo readers shows the majority felt Andrews was right to scrap the Games. The event has lost a lot of popularity in recent years, with many of the belief it's become irrelevant and meaningless.

Australia's chef de mission Petria Thomas told AAP on Tuesday that Victoria's decision is "not going to fade quickly". She said: "Obviously, try not to look too much back into the past. But that disappointment of the Victorian government cancelling the Games, it's not going to fade quickly ... particularly in the way it was done as well (with not much warning).

"Incredibly grateful and fortunate that the Scottish have stepped up to the mark here. It was obviously highly disappointing that the Victorian government pulled out and it left the Commonwealth sport movement in a very difficult position.

"It's fantastic that the Games will be on in Glasgow. Obviously a little bit of a different look to them this time with fewer sports which is a shame. But it's the reality of the position that the Commonwealth sport movement was put in, unfortunately."

The scaled-back Glasgow Games will only feature 10 sports - nine less than in 2022 in Birmingham. Traditional Aussie strongholds of hockey, rugby sevens and diving have all been chopped, but 82 per cent of the events in which Australia medalled in Birmingham remain.

The Glasgow program will feature athletics, swimming, 3x3 basketball, track cycling, weightlifting, lawn bowls, artistic gymnastics, netball, boxing and judo. "We don't shy away from the fact that we would like to finish on top of the medal tally," Thomas said.

"To be honest, our Australian public expect the Australian team do well. We will be doing everything we can to help our athletes across as many sports as possible win as many medals, and preferably gold ones - that's nothing to shy away from."

And the future of the event appears to be safe. Five nations including 2036 Olympics hopefuls India, Canada and Nigeria have tabled bids to host the 2030 Comm Games, while New Zealand is among two bidders for the 2034 version.

with AAP

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/gout-gouts-call-on-running-at-commonwealth-games-adds-fresh-layer-to-380m-controversy-004110435.html

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