One thing’s for sure about tonight’s IAAF
meet at Olympic Park – Ron Walker and his Commonwealth Games cronies will be
wetting themselves leading up to world record-holder Asafa Powell’s hit-out in
the men’s 100m and the relay. You only had to see the shockwaves that
travelled around Olympic Park this week when he pulled up short mid-training
session to know that.

And Walker and co have
every reason to be nervous – the international credibility of the Commonwealth
Games’ athletics rests fairly and squarely on Powell’s shoulders. He is the
only genuine superstar left following the withdrawal of British guns Kelly
Holmes, forced into retirement by injury, and Paula Radcliffe, seemingly going
after the dollars on offer elsewhere.

They also should be truly grateful that an
athlete of Powell’s stature still sees the Commonwealth Games as a significant
event. Particularly when you consider the Games are taking place in what is
normally his off-season, that it will be his first serious hit-out after a major
groin injury seven months ago, and that he could so easily have opted to stay
at home, rest up and then cash in on the lucrative European summer circuit.

Tonight’s grand prix will be a test of
nerve for everybody until the moment Asafa walks safely off the track on two
strong legs, and smiling. And maybe wearing a sandwich board reading: “Tickets
still available”. God – and Ron – knows the Melbourne Commonwealth Games need
him more than ever at the moment.

As for Radcliffe’s decision to withdraw
from the Games because of a bruised foot, Trevor Grant in the Herald Sun broke ranks among the
official newspapers for the Games today and hinted strongly that her decision
was a financial one.

Pointing to the fact that the injury will
apparently not interfere with her preparations for the London marathon in
April, Grant also mentioned that the English runner is reportedly receiving
$350,000 to run in that event.

It’s easy to rail against the idea of
putting cash before country but it’s an exercise in futility these days
… Whatever the truth behind her withdrawal, there is one certainty.
It is
a stunning blow to the Games credibility. … The sight of her winning a
gold
medal in Melbourne would have placed an international focus upon these
Games, helping
to bring some much-needed credibility to a sporting contest that is
increasingly seen as a quaint throwback by the wider world.

Man, lucky Grant doesn’t work at Fairfax. Chairman
Ron would be on the phone.