Are Games relevant in modern age?

By Sarah Holt
BBC Sport in Melbourne

The opposition is nowhere near as strong as we're used to Badminton star Nathan Robertson

The 18th Commonwealth Games have opened in spectacular style in Melbourne but, for all the fanfare and fireworks, a question-mark still hangs over the importance of the Games on the sporting calendar.

Australian idols Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett as well as England's leading international star Paula Radcliffe have already pulled out.

With a host of Asian, European and American stars ineligible to compete, many medals will be contested without the world's best athletes.

While sports like squash insist the Commonwealth Games offers a genuinely world-class field and is "the most important thing on the calendar", others cannot boast the same.

In basketball, Australia is the only top-10 country at the Games, while table tennis and weightlifting have no contenders from the top of the world rankings.

Badminton has been included in the Games for 40 years but it is also still way below the competitive standards set on the world circuit.

England's Nathan Robertson, favourite for badminton gold with Gail Emms in the mixed doubles, says that does take the shine off the Commonwealths.

"You always want to test yourself against the best and obviously the likes of China, Indonesia, Korea and Denmark aren't here," Robertson told BBC Sport.

"So the opposition is nowhere near as strong as we're used to."

However, in events such as athletics, rugby sevens, hockey and cycling the standard of competition is much closer to world level.

Another unique feature of the Games is that the sports included are intended to reflect the pastimes of a bygone Commonwealth era.

The Commonwealths are the summit of some sports - but not all

That means that for disciplines such as lawn bowls and netball, in which the world's top eight are all Commonwealth nations, the standards in Melbourne are world class.

"To win Commonwealth gold is the highest medal you can win," England bowls contender Steve Farish said.

"To me this means more than a world title."

As well as giving sports such as lawn bowls - which is not yet on the Olympic agenda - a place on the international stage, the Games provide the same opportunity for many peripheral nations.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fernell believes that can only reap long-term benefits.

"The Games are so important to teams from the small nations because they are a vital stepping-stone in the development of sport in their country," Fernell told BBC Sport.

"The Commonwealths are second only to the Olympic Games in the way people from every corner and every continent are brought together in sporting celebration."

Most people that are not in the Commonwealth are very jealous Melbourne 2006 chairman

Nonetheless, the Commonwealth Games continues to attract criticism as an outdated concept because of its association with a British Empire that died with the independence of many nations across the globe.

But Ron Walker, chairman of the Melbourne 2006 Games, says the sporting aspect of the Games has long since overridden any uncomfortable historical ties.

"Most people that are not in the Commonwealth are very jealous of the coalition of 71 countries," Walker told BBC Sport.

"Today the Commonwealth is all about sport and helping young kids have dreams for the future and that is an enormous fillip."

The Games, however, are still intrinsically tied to the Commonwealth Federation, which promotes common social and political causes across its nations.

Fernell admits the Games can only survive as long as the Federation continues.

"I hope the Games don't die out, but if the federation still exists, so will the Games."