Commonwealth Games

Parksville para-swimmer Nicholas Bennett will compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England. (Swimming Canada Facebook photo)

Vancouver Island swimmer to compete at 2022 Commonwealth Games in England

Ravensong Breakers product Nikolas Bennett is one of eight para-swimmers on Canadian team

 

Opening ceremonies for the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria (University of Victoria photo)

Commonwealth, Invictus Games good for B.C. recovery, Horgan says

Commonwealth bid for 2026 proposes Victoria, Richmond venues

 

Haley Smith won the bronze medal in mountain biking at the Commonwealth Games in Australia. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Duncan

West Shore mountain biker takes bronze in first Commonwealth Games

Haley Smith adds a highlight to her reel

 

Greater Victoria would be enriched by hosting Commonwealth Games

Greater Victoria would be enriched by hosting Commonwealth Games

Honourary board member from 1994 Games keen to support bid, unlike last time

  • Nov 7, 2017
Greater Victoria would be enriched by hosting Commonwealth Games
Medallists from the women’s 100-metre breastroke celebrate their podium finishes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. A News reader writes that the impact on young Victoria athletes of hosting another Commonwealth Games in 2022 can’t be understated. Photo glasgow2014.com

More support for Victoria’s Commonwealth Games bid

Former UVic chancellor, construction company boss, says Games invaluable for youth

  • Oct 19, 2017
Medallists from the women’s 100-metre breastroke celebrate their podium finishes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. A News reader writes that the impact on young Victoria athletes of hosting another Commonwealth Games in 2022 can’t be understated. Photo glasgow2014.com
It was hard to disguise 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics committee CEO John Furlong’s sense of satisfaction and national pride during his speech at the Games closing ceremonies. Furlong writes that while serious discussions must be had and tough decisions made before deciding to host an event like the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the long-term effects of hosting can be well worth the risks. Photo public domain

OPINION: 2010 Winter Games CEO fully behind Victoria’s Commonwealth Games bid

John Furlong sees opportunity as chance to continue building country’s stellar rep as event host

  • Oct 17, 2017
It was hard to disguise 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics committee CEO John Furlong’s sense of satisfaction and national pride during his speech at the Games closing ceremonies. Furlong writes that while serious discussions must be had and tough decisions made before deciding to host an event like the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the long-term effects of hosting can be well worth the risks. Photo public domain
Celebration scene from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. Greater Victoria’s bid to host the 2022 Games is back on the table after the Commonwealth Games Federation extended the bid receipt deadline to Nov. 30. Photo Commonwealth Games Federation

Deadline extension for Games puts Victoria back in the ball game

Commonwealth Games Federation refuses Birmingham bid as ‘not fully compliant’

Celebration scene from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. Greater Victoria’s bid to host the 2022 Games is back on the table after the Commonwealth Games Federation extended the bid receipt deadline to Nov. 30. Photo Commonwealth Games Federation
Saanich Commonwealth Place Pool receives much community use and is the training and competition site for the region’s high-level swimming and diving clubs. photo Courtesy Saanich Parks and Recreation

DAVID BLACK: Saanich Commonwealth Pool the site of many accomplishments

Long-term, varied use of facilities one of the keys to 2022 Commonwealth Games bid

  • Sep 21, 2017
Saanich Commonwealth Place Pool receives much community use and is the training and competition site for the region’s high-level swimming and diving clubs. photo Courtesy Saanich Parks and Recreation
(From left) Victoria-born brothers Geoff, Russ and Bruce Courtnall are collectively throwing their support behind the Victoria 2022 Commonwealth Games bid. YouTube

Victoria’s Courtnall brothers support Commonwealth Games bid

Opportunity to inspire residents to be more active, healthy and connected

  • Sep 17, 2017
(From left) Victoria-born brothers Geoff, Russ and Bruce Courtnall are collectively throwing their support behind the Victoria 2022 Commonwealth Games bid. YouTube
Young cyclists ride around the Juan de Fuca Velodrome, one of the legacies from the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Greater Victoria. Black Press file photo

DAVID BLACK: Facilities and legacies a big part of 1994 Games

Similar additions to local recreation infrastructure possible with another Games in Victoria

  • Sep 14, 2017
Young cyclists ride around the Juan de Fuca Velodrome, one of the legacies from the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Greater Victoria. Black Press file photo

Commonwealth Games benefits remain illusory

B.C. government right to decide against financially backing Victoria’s bid

  • Sep 11, 2017
The 2022 Commonwealth Games would help build $900 million worth of affordable housing for the region, says bid chair David Black. File photo

DAVID BLACK: More money for affordable housing in Victoria with Commonwealth Games bid

Applying for funding using the traditional route would yield far less, bid chair says

  • Sep 10, 2017
The 2022 Commonwealth Games would help build $900 million worth of affordable housing for the region, says bid chair David Black. File photo
Facilities such as the gymnasium at the Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence in Saanich could be funded more easily by hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games, says bid committee chair David Black. File photo

DAVID BLACK: Private citizens step up to cover potential Commonwealth Games cost overruns

Budgeting done conservatively; province, Greater Victoria municipalities would receive new revenues

  • Sep 7, 2017
Facilities such as the gymnasium at the Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence in Saanich could be funded more easily by hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games, says bid committee chair David Black. File photo
David Black speaks about Victoria’s bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Since B.C. Finance Minister Carole James rejected the funding request from the Games bid committee last month, the bid has new figures showing less risky financial scenarios for B.C. and local taxpayers. Arnold Lim/Black Press

New figures more rosy for Commonwealth Games bid in Victoria

Provincial commitment far less; municipalities stand to come out ahead: economic analysis

David Black speaks about Victoria’s bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Since B.C. Finance Minister Carole James rejected the funding request from the Games bid committee last month, the bid has new figures showing less risky financial scenarios for B.C. and local taxpayers. Arnold Lim/Black Press
Facilities such as Saanich Commonwealth Place were among the legacies of the last Commonwealth Games in Greater Victoria in 1994. Others could result from the current Games bid, says bid committee chair David Black. FILE PHOTO

DAVID BLACK: Greater Victoria’s 2022 Games bid fine-tuned, still alive

Reworked plan to be unveiled at home in advance of Commonwealth Games Federation submission

  • Sep 5, 2017
Facilities such as Saanich Commonwealth Place were among the legacies of the last Commonwealth Games in Greater Victoria in 1994. Others could result from the current Games bid, says bid committee chair David Black. FILE PHOTO
Staging the Commonwealth Games again in Victoria would have brought the community together in various ways, but organizers of the 2022 Games bid simply ran out of time to sell their good ideas to the public. Wikimedia Commons

EDITORIAL: Best of intentions not enough for Victoria’s Games bid

Plenty of good ideas and outcomes in plan, but buy-in from the masses lacking

  • Aug 29, 2017
Staging the Commonwealth Games again in Victoria would have brought the community together in various ways, but organizers of the 2022 Games bid simply ran out of time to sell their good ideas to the public. Wikimedia Commons
Athletes run in a track event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Victoria’s bid for the 2022 Games was defeated at home last week when the provincial government announced it would not be supporting the bid financially. Graham Campbell/Wikimedia Commons

Not focusing on financial message hurt chances: Games bid committee member

Time crunch spelled doom for Victoria’s Commonwealth Games bid

Athletes run in a track event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Victoria’s bid for the 2022 Games was defeated at home last week when the provincial government announced it would not be supporting the bid financially. Graham Campbell/Wikimedia Commons
A packed house at the University of Victoria watches the opening ceremonies at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. The region is trying to land the Games for 2022, but at least one municipality is reluctant to support the bid. Photo courtesy University of Victoria

UPDATE: Province will not fund Victoria’s Commonwealth Games bid

Bid committee chair David Black ‘terribly disappointed’ with turn of events

A packed house at the University of Victoria watches the opening ceremonies at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. The region is trying to land the Games for 2022, but at least one municipality is reluctant to support the bid. Photo courtesy University of Victoria
A packed house at the University of Victoria watches the opening ceremonies at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. The region is trying to land the Games for 2022, but at least one municipality is reluctant to support the bid. Photo courtesy University of Victoria

Esquimalt a holdout on region’s Commonwealth Games bid

Council looked for specifics in plan, saw little direct value for Esquimalt

A packed house at the University of Victoria watches the opening ceremonies at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. The region is trying to land the Games for 2022, but at least one municipality is reluctant to support the bid. Photo courtesy University of Victoria
Victoria 2022 Commonwealth Games bid committee chair David Black believes there are many reasons why hosting the Games makes sense for the region. Don Denton/Black Press

Victoria 2022 bid committee chair offers costs/benefits of hosting Commonwealth Games

David Black says there’s never been a better time to leverage government funding for local projects

  • Aug 23, 2017
Victoria 2022 Commonwealth Games bid committee chair David Black believes there are many reasons why hosting the Games makes sense for the region. Don Denton/Black Press