The importance of athletics (and a few nations) to future Commonwealth Games

However, both the CG and OG do not offer prizemoney whereas the Athletics World Championships does with the 2022 competition providing $US8.5 million with $US70,000 to $US5,000 awarded from first to eight for individual events and $80,000 to $4000 for relays, along with $US100,000 to gold medal winners who break an IAAF World Record in the process.

And, for Australian athletes, there is no financial incentive to win CG medals, as is the case with the with the OG given that the Australian Olympic Committee Medal Incentive Funding program provides $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.

Nevertheless, there is some financial assistance for Australian athletes to prepare for the CG.

While a 2021 Australian Sports Foundation survey found that half of Australian athletes competing at a national or international level earn under $A23,000 per year after training costs and other expenses, the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) offers those with winning potential grants of up to $A17,500 to do well at the Paralympics, Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

The means-tested grants of up to $A17,500 comes in six-month blocks, which means that eligible athletes can claim up to $A35,000 a year.

In addition to AIS grants, Commonwealth Games Australia also has its "Breakthrough2022" assistance program which provides athletes with up to $A8,000 for training and competition including international or domestic travel and medical support.

Other countries also offer significant financial incentives for athletes to do well at the CG.

South Africa will reward athletes and coaches with R60 000 and R10 000 for gold in 2022, R35 000 and R7 5000 for silver, and R20 000 and R5000 for bronze.

India will provide ₹20 lakhs for gold, ₹10 lakhs for silver and ₹7.50 lakhs for bronze.

It remains to be seen how successful future CG will be despite less financial resources to be spent, a reality that is likely to end the days of large crowds as was the case at the 2006 CG in Melbourne when five evening sessions had crowds above 75,000 with four others above 40,000.

It is hoped that a leaner 2026 games to be hosted by Victoria's regional cities will enhance the reputation of the CG as the friendly games and help make future CG viable through its example.

As the 2022 WC in Eugene proved, great atmosphere can created by relatively small crowds, albeit Eugene's reputation as TrackTown USA has developed from the American jogging craze born in the 1960s when the Oregon coach Bill Bowerman introduced it to the masses after a trip to New Zealand.

Only time will tell how successful future CGs will be, but I believe that the sport of athletics is key, as will be the desire of Australia, the UK nations, Canada and New Zealand to continue to play an important role as regular hosts.