Commonwealth Games
OLYMPIC CHAMPION FREEMAN WELCOMES CHANGE TO AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM
Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman has led welcomes for a change to the Australian national anthem which has been introduced today.
“What a way to start the year”, Freeman 400 metres champion at Sydney 2000, wrote in a social media message.
“A phone call from our Prime Minister to say that we are ‘One and Free!’
“Thank you!!!”
A stanza of the anthem has been altered from “young and free” to the words “one and free” in a move announced by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“While Australia as a modern nation may be relatively young, our country’s story is ancient, as are the stories of the many First Nations peoples whose stewardship we rightly acknowledge and respect,” said the Prime Minister.
“In the spirit of unity, it is only right that we ensure our national anthem reflects this truth and shared appreciation.”
Freeman had supported the Recognition in Anthem Project (RAP), an initiative with the same acronym as the Reconciliation Action Plans which were introduced to widen opportunities for indigenous groups and seen at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Freeman had famously flourished the Aboriginal flag on her lap of honour after 200m and 400m victories at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, and did the same in 2000 after her Olympic gold in Sydney.
Ken Wyatt, Minister for Indigenous Australians, described the lyric change as “small in nature but significant in purpose”.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian insisted the lyrics had previously ignored Australia’s “proud First Nations culture”.
Although there are plans to add an additional verse, boxer and former rugby league star Anthony Mundine said that “one word change isn’t good enough” and called on the country to “scrap the song and start fresh” with a new national anthem.
Last month, the anthem was led by 17-year-old Olivia Fox, a member of the Wiradjuri people and a student from the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, before a rugby union match between Australia and Argentina.
Fox sang in the indigenous Eora language, as well as English.
This followed the example of New Zealand and South Africa, where anthems are also performed in indigenous languages.
In 1988 at the Calgary Winter Olympics, Canadian anthem O Canada was sung by Daniel Tlen in Southern Tutchone, the language of a First Nation language spoken in Yukon communities.
Although written in 1878 by Scottish-born composer Peter Dodds McCormick, Advance Australia Fair was not officially adopted as the Australian national anthem until 1984.
In 1956, when Australia hosted the Olympics for the first time, God Save the Queen was played in Melbourne.
At the Sydney Olympics, Advance Australia Fair was played in what the official Sydney 2000 report described as “a distinctive rendition”.
The quartet “Human Nature” sang the first verse acapella before soloist Julie Anthony, accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, carried on the melody to great applause.
The indigenous flag was also flown on Sydney’s municipal buildings throughout the 2000 Olympics.
Tokyo 2020 later this year will likely hear the new lyrics sung at an Olympic event for the first time.
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Commonwealth Games
Nigeria Steps Up Bid to Host 2030 Commonwealth Games as Delegation Arrives London
A high-powered Nigerian delegation has arrived in London, United Kingdom, for the decisive phase of the country’s campaign to host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030.
The team is led by Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, and the Commission’s Director General, Bukola Olopade, who are set to present Nigeria’s final case before the Games’ decision-makers on Wednesday.
Dikko had delivered Nigeria’s preliminary pitch last month, laying the foundation for this week’s crucial engagements. If successful, the bid would make Nigeria the first African nation to host the Commonwealth Games since the event’s inception in 1930.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeatedly reaffirmed the Federal Government’s full backing for the bid, assuring the international sporting community that Nigeria is ready to deliver a world-class Games.
Only last week, the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, joined other senior government officials in welcoming the Commonwealth Games Bid Evaluation team during their inspection visit to Nigeria.
Further demonstrating the administration’s commitment, the President’s Special Assistant on Public Communication and Presidential Spokesperson, Sunday Dare, is part of the London delegation.
Other members of the Nigerian contingent include Bid Coordinator Mainasara Ilo; President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel; Minister of Arts and Culture, Hannatu Musawa; five-time Olympian and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Mary Onyali; and current para-badminton world number one, Eniola Bolaji.
Nigeria’s 2030 bid is anchored on themes of inclusivity, legacy, and development, with promises to stage a Games that not only reflects the Commonwealth spirit but also creates lasting opportunities for sport, culture, and youth empowerment across Africa.
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Nigeria’s push to become the first African country to host the Commonwealth Games gained momentum on Tuesday as the National Sports Commission (NSC) received the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee in Abuja.
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director General Bukola Olopade reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to secure the hosting rights for the 2030 Games, describing the bid as a landmark opportunity for Africa and a historic milestone for Nigeria.
Dikko stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has thrown his full weight behind the bid, highlighting it as a platform to showcase Nigeria’s growing influence in global sports.
“We are delighted to welcome the Evaluation Committee to Abuja as a sign of our seriousness,” Dikko said.
“President Tinubu sees the Commonwealth Games as more than just an event; it will be a celebration of Africa’s sporting passion and Nigeria’s role as a continental leader.”
Olopade added that Nigeria’s bid is built on four critical pillars—modern facilities, political will, private sector support, and strong public enthusiasm.
He noted that the Bid Committee, led by veteran sports administrator Mainasara Illo, has prepared a “robust document” to strengthen Nigeria’s case.
“With our preparations, engagements, and strong government backing, we are confident Nigeria can win the right to host the Games,” Olopade said.
Underscoring government commitment, the delegation was hosted at the Presidential Villa by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside nine Federal Executive Council members, including Minister of Youth Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa, and Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.
The visiting delegation, led by Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance at the Commonwealth Sport, included Ann-Louise Morgan, CS Director of Sport, and Ezera Tshabangu, Regional Development Manager for Africa and Europe.
Nigeria’s bid, if successful, would make the 2030 Commonwealth Games the first ever to be hosted on African soil, fulfilling a long-standing call for inclusivity in the Commonwealth sporting family.
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Nigeria may have a major African challenger in the bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. South Africa is preparing to join the competition. The Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) had announced a Nigerian bid in April. This follows the failed bid in 2007 for the 2014 Games.
The earlier bid was made to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the amalgamation. This amalgamation joined the Northern and Southern Protectorates with the Lagos Colony to form Nigeria.
Sports Village Square has gathered that South Africa, through its Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), is making a bid and is merely waiting for cabinet approval.
The country intends to use the Commonwealth Games of 2030 as a dress rehearsal for the bigger Olympic Games.
According to the SASCOC president, Barry Hendricks, the 2030 Commonwealth Games hosting will be part of the learning curve for the Olympics. “… it teaches us what we can do over the next eight years to get to 2040.”
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