Visa requirement is seen as threat to Games

The Australian government is adamant on its requirement for all athletes and officials to obtain visas to attend next year’s Commonwealth Games and people in the business are not happy, saying this might threaten the Games in the longer run.

According to news sources, the government is defying decades of international sports convention by insisting that accredited Games attendees must obtain a “temporary activity’’ visa via an online application.

Normally, as a tradition, Olympic and Commonwealth Games host nations waive visa requirements for accredited athletes and officials. This system was in place for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.