Speaking at the launch of the newly-constituted board of Commonwealth Games England (CGE), Sir Andrew Foster, the organisation’s chairman, said overhauling the nation which has habitually dominated the event in recent years is a long-term goal.
 
He said: “Australia takes these Games absolutely seriously, but we are trying to challenge them in a variety of ways.

"There’s a big attraction in taking them on four-square when the Games come back to this country.

"It’s not a commitment we have made, but it’s something that is very attractive.”
 
Such an aspiration will resonate particularly strongly with Lawrence Dallaglio, a member of the England rugby side that beat Australia in the 2003 World Cup final, who is one of 13 new recruits to a board that has been meticulously put together with the help of Sports Recruitment International to provide a wide range of skills and abilities.
 
The response to the flag of St George has been unexpectedly great - Sir Andrew was able to choose from more than 100 responses from those within sport, industry and public service keen to assist him in his reshaping of the CGE.
 
While Dallaglio will be heavily involved in matters motivational, not least with the England rugby sevens squad, others such as David Ross, co-founder of The Carphone Warehouse plc, Angus Kinnear, head of marketing at Arsenal FC, David Robinson of Speedo International, Joseph Ryan of PricewaterhouseCoopers and Martin Thomas of Snapper Communications will be turning their abilities - voluntarily - to revitalising an organisation that went to the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne without even a kit sponsor.
 
Also sitting down to the inaugural board meeting at the Commonwealth Club in Northumberland Avenue were Peter King, who took British Cycling from 17th to first place in the world standings in a 13-year period as chief executive, and Dame Kelly Holmes, the CGE’s new President.
 
Dame Kelly said: “If I am here I don’t just want to watch, I want to give my own input.

"I’ve got to walk the talk.” 
 
Dallaglio (pictured), meanwhile, is equally determined to make a difference in his new role.

He said: “Having played for England for 15 years I am passionate about sport, and even more passionate about England."
 
King believes the culture of funding for the Commonwealth Games needs to be seriously altered.

He said: “People are just as excited by someone winning a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games as they are by someone winning Olympic gold.

"But when you ask the powers that be about investing more in Commonwealth Games training you get a blank look that says, ‘No, it’s only Olympic medals that count.’

"Should we try to be second to Australia?

"Absolutely not.

"We are going to be the number one.

"That’s my personal determination.”
 
Instancing the high public profile achieved by England’s cricket, football and rugby teams, Sir Andrew added: “We are talking about the English multi-sports team, and I don’t see any reason why it should not enjoy the same level of public support.
 
 “The level of interest we have started attracting from commercial sponsors is really quite reassuring. 

" Sponsors do see the appeal of looking at a line that runs from Delhi in 2010 to London 2012 and Glasgow 2014.

"That feels like a positive thing to them.

"So we are optimistic.”
 
As far as the next year’s Games in New Delhi are concerned, Sir Andrew and co are also optimistic that the infrastructure will be on spec and completed on time for competition.

But doubts linger over whether the host nation is on top of the operational side of the Games – and whether, like the Chinese in Beijing last year, they will accept the offers of outside help from those with expertise.
 
Contact the writer of this story at [email protected].


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