Why Gout Gout's new plan to win gold is a shocking blow for one Australian state

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

Gout Gout has confirmed he will compete in next year's Commonwealth Games in an announcement that will be a hard pill to swallow for Victorians after the state reneged on its plan to hold the event next year.
The 17-year-old 100m and 200m sprinter hasn't revealed which event he'll run in Glasgow next July, but he will race in Scotland before heading to the World Junior Championships in the USA.
'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 at an event in Glasgow,' said the runner's manager, James Templeton.
The announcement opens the door for Gout to compete against his Aussie rival and friend Lachie Kennedy, who beat him over 200m in Melbourne in March.
Two years ago, the Victorian Government backed out of its hosting duties for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in a decision that rocked Australian sport.
The state is funding the event in Scotland to the tune of almost $200million in taxpayer money - and now Gout Gout is part of an upswing in interest in the Games, which were meant to provide a big economic boost to rural Victoria.
'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,' Australia's Commonwealth chef de mission Petria Thomas said.
Victoria gave no warning to Games officials before dropping the bombshell about the state's hosting duties in July 2023.
For the next 'tumultuous' year, as Thomas put it, the future of event first staged in 1930 was threatened before Glasgow saved the Games.
'Incredibly grateful and fortunate that the Scottish have stepped up to the mark here,' Thomas said.
'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.'
Beyond Glasgow, five nations including Olympic 2036 hopeful India, Canada and Nigeria have tabled bids to host the centenary 2030 Games.
New Zealand is among two bidders for the 2034 version.
All will be keen observers of Glasgow's pared-down Games featuring 10 sports, nine less than in 2022 in Birmingham.
Trusty sources of Australian medals such as hockey, rugby sevens and diving have been chopped.
But crucially for Australia's ambitions, 82 per cent of the nation's medal events in Birmingham remain on the Glasgow program.
'We don't set specific medal targets,' Thomas said.
'But we don't shy away from the fact that we would like to finish on top of the medal tally.
'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.'
The Glasgow program will feature athletics, swimming, 3x3 basketball, track cycling, weightlifting, lawn bowls, artistic gymnastics, netball, boxing and judo.
'If you look at the past, Australians generally have wanted to compete at the Commonwealth Games because they know it's an amazing event and a special team to be a part of,' Thomas said.
'Of course we hope that all of our best athletes are there ... I am confident we will have our best athletes available.'
Four Glasgow venues will host sports and the Games won't be funded from the public purse.