It may not be as prestigious as the Olympics, but the Commonwealth Games still hold a special place in the hearts of many New Zealanders.
This time the quadrennial event is in Birmingham and more than 230 Kiwi athletes are expected, with athletes from over 60 Commonwealth countries taking part.
Here in New Zealand Sky Sport and Prime will be covering the Games. Sky Sport has a team of reporters and presenters based in Birmingham.
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Sky Sport presenter Laura McGoldrick will be based in an Auckland studio.
It will also have hosts including Laura McGoldrick, who will be presenting from an Auckland studio.
McGoldrick, a veteran cricket host who is married to noted batsman Martin Guptill, says the sport she’s really looking forward to is women’s cricket.
“I’m completely biased,” she says before talking about how Birmingham will mark the Commonwealth Games debut for the White Ferns, who will be playing the sport in a T20 format.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the White Ferns and seeing how they go.”
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Another sport that Laura says is worth checking out is weightlifting.
“It’s both a mental battle and a physical battle and I just think it’s a fascinating sport to watch,” McGoldrick says.
Andrew Mulligan, who will present Prime coverage in New Zealand, is also excited about the Games.
“It’s a celebration of New Zealand sport because of the huge numbers we send out,” he says.
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Sky Sports presenter Andrew Mulligan becomes Prime’s main man.
“I think as New Zealanders we lose a little bit of the joy about the Commonwealth Games because of, you know, some people who think, ‘Why are we worrying? Are we still doing this?’ But it’s such a great event.”
When it comes to New Zealand’s best medal odds, Mulligan points to several sports.
“Well, we are always strong when it comes to Rugby Sevens.
“We always do well at the Commonwealth Games.”
Mulligan cites New Zealand’s performance in Tokyo last year, where the Black Ferns 7s won gold and the men’s team silver.
He also keeps his fingers crossed for medals in boxing, basketball and korfball.
“I think New Zealand netball has progressed so well under Dame Noeline Taurua,” said Mulligan.
“She also selected a team with versatility and that is necessary. With the upcoming Cadbury Series (July 13-16), she had to pull the strings and come up with a few tricks and pull them off her sleeve.
“But she is a master coach with her ability to bring out the best in everyone and push their buttons and push their limits.
“It’s not just between New Zealand and Australia. I think England will be fired in the hometown.
“Malawi would like to raise their hands and say, ‘Hey, we really upset the apple cart by beating you’ and I can imagine they will try again.”
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The Silver Ferns have a versatile squad, says Andrew Mulligan.
(The Silver Ferns were defeated by Malawi 57-53 at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.)
“It can be a breeze if they play against Northern Ireland and Uganda. We still have to play Malawi and England in our group.”
If you’re looking for reasons to watch the Commonwealth Games, Mulligan has some thoughts.
“I think we need to look at it because, as we’ve seen with the Warriors, it’s going to be full,” he says.
“Tokyo (the Tokyo Olympics) was different. Tokyo didn’t have that vibe. It was just a privilege to have real sports without crowds for the past few years.
“But now there will be crowds and once it starts, we’ll get caught up in it.”
He hopes Kiwi sports fans will be excited about the Commonwealth Games.
“Once it starts, embrace it,” Mulligan says. “It’s great because it’s something different, including in the rugby months.
“That’s what I like about it. You can participate again or discover new athletes and sports.
‘You know, to be honest, who has watched bowls between the Commonwealth Games, if you’re not a member of the bowls club? I know I didn’t. That’s not a lack of respect for bowls. This is the time of squash, this is the time of bowls. Now is the time for those sports to show how good we are with our athletes.”
The Commonwealth Games, Sky and Prime starting July 29