Former English athlete Dean Macey has insisted that the 2014 Commonwealth Games will maintain their prestige despite coming in the shadow of London 2012.
There have been suggestions that the Glasgow competition will fail to live up to the standards set by the hugely successful Olympics in England two years ago.
These fears have been heightened following the withdrawal of several high-profile stars, but Macey, who claimed decathlon gold at Melbourne 2006, has stressed that the Commonwealth Games still matter and is confident that they will be a huge success this summer.
"After the Olympics there seems to be this attitude the World Championships, the Europeans and Commonwealth Games don't really matter and I don't like that at all," he told reporters. "It's elitism at its very worst because all of those events are still hugely important.
"OK they're not going to be as special as the Olympics, but the Commonwealth Games is still the second biggest multi-sport event in the world so of course it should be taken seriously.
"Nine times out of 10 Olympic champions first come through and get noticed at the Commonwealth Games so I think they're excellent. And I'm sure the Games in Glasgow will be a huge success."
Macey also twice medalled in World Championships during a 13-year professional career that was plagued by injury.
Joe Fish
