These were once known as the British Empire Games, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and then the British Commonwealth Games. What was originally a fact about Britain and its colonies is now a useful tool for Britain to distract from its past woes by presenting itself as a more compassionate nation compared to other former imperial powers, the country that broke up its empire to befriend former subjects. The royal family, with Queen Elizabeth II still head of the Commonwealth, is often positioned as graciously uniting nations under one roof. A transformation took place without ever fully addressing the lasting effects of slavery and colonialism in many of the countries within it. Wealth, of course, is not common. The vast majority of Commonwealth countries are former colonies, and 14 excluding Britain are still officially headed by the British royal family. Relations between nations are hierarchical, with large power imbalances within. Canada, Australia and New Zealand are of much greater interest to Britain than any country in Africa or the Caribbean. Even since the last Commonwealth Games just four years ago, the world has changed enough that this is a particularly remarkable time for the Games to return to Britain. Thus, many of the Commonwealth realms are calculating and seeking to redefine their relationship with the country on their own terms. Barbados’ decision to become a democracy last year set off a chain reaction of change, with Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda openly discussing the possibility of following suit. Celebrations in Bridgetown as Barbados becomes a democracy in November 2021. Photo: Reuters The ill-fated Royal Platinum Jubilee tours only reinforced these feelings. As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge toured Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas in March, their presence inadvertently put them in the spotlight of protesters and other citizens trying to expose the lasting damage colonialism has done to their countries. Others pointed out that the wealth and luxury that allows the royal family to roam their countries was built on the backs of their ancestors. This was followed by tours of Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia by Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, with protests demanding recognition, apologies and reparations from Britain until they left. When Gaston Brown, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, calmly explained to Prince Edward why they were seeking remedial support to deal with the long-term effects of colonialism, Edward responded with a pitiful joke and laughter. The betrayal of the Windrush generation remains at the forefront of minds. As the flags of the Commonwealth countries fly at the Alexander Stadium, it will be hard not to think about the treatment of former citizens of those countries and their descendants, who were called to these shores for their talents and skills. They settled and lived full lives, yet Britain spent much of the 2010s trying to deport them. Only public shame led the government to change aspects of its harsh immigration policy, by which many lives had been permanently changed, and it was too late. There are other issues at play, with more than half of the countries at the Games criminalizing homosexuality, which will be the source of protests on Thursday in Birmingham. These laws and attitudes were originally implemented by Britain itself, homophobia introduced through colonization, another branch of the colonial legacy. LGBT+ protesters at Aston Hall as the Queen’s Baton Relay arrives on the day of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA On the courts, in the pools and on the track, the Commonwealth Games will thrive. Whether played in front of a crowd or not, contested by a small, select group of countries or the entire world, there is always tension and danger in sport. There are also other positive, distinguishing features, from the inclusion of disabled athletes to the gender balance in the medals and even the spirit of civility among the athletes. Subscribe to The Recap, our weekly email of editors’ picks. But this is an era when the relevance of the Games has long been questioned for a number of reasons, particularly the cost of staging such an event. The fallout from this year’s edition included the displacement of homeless families housed in Birmingham hotels at short notice. Its relevance should also be scrutinized due to the weight of the story. It is particularly notable in Birmingham, a city home to large African, Caribbean and Asian immigrant communities who originally arrived here from Commonwealth countries and over the decades have experienced many reminders of the fragility of their Britishness in the eyes of the government. It is not possible to separate the Commonwealth and its Games from the memory of the British Empire from which it has grown.
