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EILISH McColgan storming to victory in the final lap of the 10,000m at Birmingham 2022 just like her mum Liz before her decades ago. The bulging eyes of Ross Murdoch as he struggled to process clinching gold in the pool at Glasgow 2014. Chris Hoy becoming king of the velodrome in Manchester and Melbourne.
All of these Commonwealth Games moments Scots hold in their hearts, because it was a chance to see athletes compete for Scotland who don't normally get to wear the Saltire on a global stage in their discipline.
Some of Scotland's finest moments on the sporting stage have come about because of the Commonwealth Games. Whatever your beliefs are about whether this is a contest that should still take place, this is undeniable.
But when Glasgow hosts the 2026 edition of the Games, these iconic moments will not be seen by anywhere near as many people, because the BBC will not be showing it . Instead, it was outbid by subscription channel TNT Sports.
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Speculation this could happen has been rife for months now. It is a much smaller competition this time around with only 10 sports, so you can see why it may have been more difficult for the BBC to justify investing in it.
But any predictions the Games was on its last legs have now been put to bed after the 2030 edition was awarded to India , with almost 20 sports to be staged there. There are plans in the offing to stage future contests in Africa and bosses are talking about keeping the Games alive for the next century. So the fact this historic event is disappearing from free-to-air TV is concerning.
It will be the first time since 1954 the BBC has not broadcast the Games and it is a travesty, because many Scotland sports fans will now not get to make those special sporting memories.
It is understood the BBC made an offer to continue its 72-year coverage but was outbid by TNT’s owner, Warner Bros Discovery, with the Commonwealth Games prioritising a larger financial offer above the bigger audience guaranteed by terrestrial television.
The major part of the problem here is to do with Ofcom. Under UK legislation, major events can be put into two categories, A and B, with the former – such as the Olympics or the World Cup – guaranteeing live, free coverage, while the latter does not.
The Commonwealth Games is in category B and so it was up for grabs and has gone to the highest bidder.
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It's a sign of the times and it's worrying what could happen to other sporting competitions in this category including the Rugby World Cup and Six Nations. These contests are enjoyed by neutrals and more casual fans of sports because of the way in which they bring people together under their nation's flag, and they must be protected.
What Ofcom needs to start getting to grips with is that these sporting events are more than just that. They create moments of national pride, moments for families to get around the TV and enjoy a global spectacle, inspire people to take up sports and be resilient and take on new challenges.
There will be dedicated fans out there who will fork out the money to watch the Games but there will so many more who only would've watched the Commonwealth Games because it was on the TV for free.
Opportunities for young people to learn more about their country and others, be inspired by superhumans and realise what is possible in their life with belief and dedication are being stripped away.
How often do we say that to be it, you have to be able to see it, and there could be a sporting genius waiting in the wings out there for a moment of inspiration that may never come if these events are taken off their screens.
The impact of the Games has been and can be so far-reaching, but only if it is accessible to everyone.
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