Opinion: Commonwealth Games turning people into sports fans

Rotorua's Amanda Landers-Murphy is doing the city proud. Photo/file

Something has dawned on me in recent days - the Commonwealth Games is bringing out a crazed sports fan in me that I didn't even know existed.

You may be thinking 'yeah, you and everyone else in the country, Stephanie'.

But this sudden passion for triathlons and race walking is coming from a woman who has literally no interest in sport on any other day. I've even been guilty of *gasp* turning off All Blacks games as soon as the haka is finished.

But this year's Games has me absolutely hooked.

I don't know what has me so enthused but I keep finding myself sitting in front of a television, both at work and home, watching the gymnastics, weightlifting, volleyball and, even as I write this, the women's hockey.

Perhaps part of the appeal this year is that we have some brilliant local athletes representing our city.

Our squash player Amanda Landers-Murphy may have been knocked out of the singles but she is one of the favourites to win a medal in the women's doubles with Joelle King.

Then our netballer Sam Sinclair has been one of the stronger players in a couple of underwhelming Silver Ferns wins over Uganda and Wales.

A little further afield Taupo's Nicole van der Kaay, a first-timer at the Games, has done the country proud, winning a bronze in the triathlon mixed team relay after placing seventh in the women's triathlon - the first Kiwi across the line.

And of course we like to claim Valerie Adams as one of our own. Though we are yet to see her, I'm sure she will not disappoint.

I'm pegging that as soon as the Games are over, I'll go back to my normal sports-indifferent self, but you never know - maybe you'll see me cheering on the sidelines at Saturday afternoon rugby games.